Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson clears his throat and adjusts his sunglasses slightly before beginning his story of Jeremiah. “So let me tell you about this book in the Bible called Jeremiah. Now, this guy was a prophet and he really did not have an easy job. He was tasked with warning the people of Judah of their impending doom and boy, did Judah not want to hear it.”
“You see, they were pretty comfy in their ways and didn’t want anyone coming in to rock the boat. But Jeremiah wasn’t about to let them ignore the warning signs. He spoke out against their idolatry, their mistreatment of the poor, and their general wickedness. And boy, did they not like that.”
“But Jeremiah was not deterred by their threats or their plots against him. He kept on preaching and prophesying, even when everyone else turned against him. Whether he was preaching to the kings or to the common folk, Jeremiah did not hold back in his message of repentance and obedience to God.”
“And let me tell you, he had some pretty epic moments. Like when he was lowered into a cistern by a group of angry officials, and he sunk up to his armpits in mud. Or when he bought a field even though the land was in enemy hands, as a sign of hope for the future. Now that’s some serious commitment!”
“But even with all that, Jeremiah’s message of warning and judgment was not an easy one to hear. He watched as his beloved city of Jerusalem fell to the Babylonians and the people were carried off into exile. But even in the midst of all that destruction and despair, Jeremiah remained faithful to God and continued to speak out for what was right.”
“And that’s the story of Jeremiah in a nutshell. A prophet who never gave up, even when things got tough. And let me tell you, if there’s one thing I know about tough times, it’s this: ‘When life puts you in tough situations, don’t say “why me?” Say “try me!”‘”
The Rock winks and flashes his signature grin, wrapping up his retelling of the Book of Jeremiah with a lighthearted quote that reinforces the message of perseverance in the face of adversity, tying his own personal brand to the themes of the biblical story.
