04/04/2019
In this current sermon series, I have shared the stories of two “undesirables”--the woman with an issue of bleeding and the prostitute who “wasted” an entire jar of perfume by pouring it on Jesus. As we read through Scripture, there are so many “undesirables”--the ten with leprosy, the tax collectors, the woman at the well, the Samaritan…
What does Jesus do consistently in all of these situations?
1. He did not reject or avoid them...he walked through Samaria and not around Samaria; he accepted an invitation from Zacchaeus to his home to dine…
2. He was fully aware of their sinfulness...”He told me everything I have ever done.”
3. He did not change his knowledge of what was righteous to accommodate others.
“Go and sin no more.”
4. Even though he was confronting the sinner about their sin, they did not feel
rejected by Jesus. Instead they felt very loved and accepted.
As the calendar tells us that we are moving closer to the events of Holy Week when Jesus would enter Jerusalem on the back of a donkey, we will experience the final week of the earthly life of Jesus. It is a painful week as we share Holy Thursday and Good Friday focusing on Jesus whose body was broken entirely for us. His brokenness again speaks to us of His love for us.
The brokenness that Jesus experienced as He gave his body and His blood was for us to know the kind of relationship and forgiveness we may have with Jesus. We are called to share this kind of love with others. Remember, Jesus rejected none no matter who they were or what they did. Jesus was always bold about teaching the truth with a heart of love for the person. And when persons encountered Jesus, they knew they were loved.
No one is undesirable in the eyes of Jesus. All are loved.
P.S. Never forget the Good News that followed the journey of Holy Week. We get to celebrate Easter as Jesus is resurrected from the dead and lives forever!
Pastor Patti
Archived Posts
A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words
There are several powerful and evocative artworks that depict the scene from Mark 9:14–29, where Jesus heals a boy possessed by an unclean spirit... Some of the following have internet links, the others are worth googling. Enjoy!
The Gift of Ourselves As A Gift of Love
The more the giving of myself costs me something, the greater the power of the gift. You know I love quotes, so after a little research, let me share a few of my favorites on this very subject:
The Loss of a Great Christian Leader
The death today of Pope Francis was particularly poignant, falling as it did on the day after Easter. As Protestant Christians we have a once removed interest in the leader of the Roman Catholic church. Yet the pope is the authoritative leader of 1.4 billion women and men around the world. It is worth our time to pause and consider what kind of man and what kind of legacy Pope Francis left behind.
Everything You Wanted To Know About Judas Iscariot
(Drawn from online sources)
Jesus Hears A Who
Few people know that Horton Hears A Who comes from the 25th Chapter of Matthew.
Matthew 24: One More Thing...
I sometimes stumble on old documents I’ve created but have completely forgotten about. I cannot remember why I created them or what purpose they were originally supposed to serve....
Keeping the Church Doors Unencumbered
Sunday, we considered Jesus’ disruptive actions in the Temple in light of his frustration with keeping gentiles from worshipping in their designated courtyard. We then reflected on how we still tend to throw up roadblocks to those who don’t normally attend church. I found the following, but didn’t have space for it in the sermon. It’s provocative and worth chewing on for a while.