Out there is a world full of lies and deceit. A world full of hate and distrust. A mean place that doesn't really care for you. The world, no matter how inviting it looks, only cares about what you can give it, not what it can give you. You know this is true. The world feigns sincerity but when it comes down to it the world doesn't love you at all.
The world is a place that doesn't believe in God the father, the son or the Holy Spirit. The world mocks the Christian. And let's face it the Christian hasn't been the best example of our savior, have we. In fact it is often hard to tell the Christian from the world. Myself included.
But, the world doesn't know my Jesus. I want to introduce you to my Jesus. My Jesus was with God the father and chose to leave his side to come down here to a world that he knew would mock him and eventually abuse and kill him. But he came anyways. My Jesus came out of love and touched the hopeless, healed the sick, ministered to the wounded, and redeemed the sinners. He touched their lives, not with great social programs, not with building projects, not with dazzling shows of light and sound. No, my Jesus reached the people with love. Real to God, honest love and true compassion.
My Jesus shared food and drink with those who were the most horrible of sinners. He reached out his hand in friendship and showed his love for them without worry. The needs of the people deeply moved Jesus and he responded. My Jesus lifted the spirits of those he met, from the prostitute about to stoned in the street to the lowly children he sat lovingly on his knee.
My Jesus noticed the slightest touch of a sickly woman, who had what they called an issue of blood, and that touch was enough to heal her and Jesus who was surrounded by a massive crowd of people noticed the insignificant little touch of that woman. His love was so great AND he took the time to notice the small things like her touch.
He had compassion even on those who did not fully believe. He never begged for money, He never condemned the possessed, he never exploited the infirmed, instead he touched them and ministered to them. He looked into their hearts and loved them in spite of their afflictions or crimes. He healed the leapers, not because it was his job, not because he owed it to them, not because it would make him look good, he did it because he loved them and wanted to sincerely help them.
Then, after healing the sick, ministering to the poor in spirit, touching the lives of the destitute, and changing the hearts of those he touched he allowed himself to be arrested, tortured and executed by the same people he loved so dearly. Even in the last moments of his life he showed unselfish compassion to a common thief that was being executed for his crimes. Then when God the father was so disturbed by what was happening that He couldn't look at Jesus, Jesus prayed for God to forgive us and those who were killing him.
After that he was buried and rose from the grave three days later. No fanfare, no party, no parade. He simple rose from the grave showed himself to his believers and left us to continue on his work. But even still after all that he sent the Holy Spirit as a comfort to us so we would not be lonely without him. Such love and compassion. That is my Jesus.
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2 comments:
Mr. Banks, I enjoyed your little sermonette. I believe you are right on the money.
There was an article written in the Daily Oklahoman last Saturday that would go along very nicely with your comments. It was actually an interview with Jay Bakker and his church in New York.
The main context of the story had to do with him not caring anything about having a mega-church. He was raised in that enviroment and feels like he is called to minister to those people that a lot, if not most, churches don't want. Even though, according to scripture, they should.
His church is made-up of dopers, gays, boozers, stripers, etc. The same people, in my opinion, whom Jesus would be ministering too if he were still on this earth in the flesh.
I'll be the first to admit that I'm not very compfortable around these types of people yet they are the ones that need Jesus and all His glory as much as anyone.
Keep up the good work. I believe in your Jesus because he is my Jesus also.
Thank you for you kind comment and I will look for that article. The Christian walk is a process and feeling the love and compassion for some people is definately not instant. But we must strive to be more like Christ and let his love shine through regardless of how we feel.
God Bless
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