What do Zaccheus, the
Woman at the Well and Mary Magdalene have in common? I can think of at least
two things.
- Each is a person for whom Jesus broke a rule in order to love.
- Each is a person Jesus loved enough to set them free from their sin.
The world is full of
sinners. Our church is full of sinners. Jesus loves the sinners that populate
the world and our churches and desires that his love would transform them.
We can sometimes create
sad rules that prevent people from encountering the transforming love of Jesus
that is found within our church. When we create silly rules that block
“sinners” and welcome the “righteous,” we have ceased to follow Jesus, the Head
of the Church, and the transforming love of our Savior is on its way out.
Paul teaches us the
problem with us sinners is not our sin (see Romans 1.19-21). Sin is rather a
symptom of our greater problem of not knowing God accurately. The greater
problem of not knowing God is what needs to be emphasized. Furthermore, the God
who is one loving community of persons within himself longs to be known within
the community of persons called the church (see John 17.20-21). Jesus made room
within his community for sinners like Zaccheus, the Woman at the Well and Mary
Magdalene. If Jesus welcomed
sinners, and it is Jesus whom we profess to be following – If Jesus, who
welcomed sinners, is the Head of the Body then we as individuals and as a
church family should endeavor to welcome sinners in Jesus’ name, because we are
sinners and he welcomed us. Sinner, you have been welcomed. Sinner, will you welcome other sinners?
Jesus expressed a loving
welcome to all he encountered. Will you do the same? Will our church family do the same?
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