There was a crisis in heaven. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, the three Hebrews who had just defied the mightiest king on earth were about to be thrown into a burning furnace by Nebuchadnezzar's mightiest warriors. Angels were assembled before God in His throne room. And God said, "Who will go and save my sons from the flames?"
Angel Gabriel, Heaven's new archangel, came forward and said,"I will go." and God asked, "How long will it take you to get there?" "Six seconds", replied Gabriel. "Six seconds is too much time." God said, "By the time you get there, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego will all be dead."
A seraph with four wings came forward and said ,"I will go." and God asked,"How long will it take you to get there?" "One second." replied the seraph, "One second because I can get there much faster with four wings." "One second is too much time." God said, "By the time you get there, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego will all be dead."
A cherub with six wings came forward and said ,"I will go." and God asked,"How long will it take you to get there?" "I will get there in the blink of an eye." replied the cherub, "I can get there so fast because I have six wings; two for control, two for acceleration and two for braking." "That is still too much time." God said, "By the time you get there, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego will all be dead."
Finally, Jesus came forward and said, "I will go." and God asked, "How long will it take you to get there?" Jesus answered, "I do not need to go there, because I am already in the furnace."
"I am the fire."
I heard this story while at a rally in Eldama Ravine some time before the year 2008. The narrator was a preacher called Shaaban Naftali Ndege and he told this story in Kiswahili.