I'm in Luke now and playing catch up this week. I am still sick and tired of being sick, but finally feeling some brain power returning, which is surprising as I am on three different forms of steroids, (I promised Steve he need not fear roid rage, as my energy is still lacking), a new antibiotic, (the Mercedes of antibiotics was a total disappointment) and some sort of narcotic that is meant to suppress my cough, (I wonder what it would be like without this).
I was reading one of Paul's letters yesterday, hence the run-on sentence, he inspired me.
Back to Luke. In chapter 11 Jesus brings up Jonah and Nineveh and I was struck by the contrast between the mercy of God and the judgement of Jonah.
In Jonah's eyes the people of Nineveh weren't worthy of mercy, in God's eyes they were.
Earlier, in Luke chapter 7 a sinful woman comes to anoint Jesus, weeping with every drop of scented oil, cleaning the dirt of the road with her tears and wiping it away with her hair. The comment of the host is, "Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, 'If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.'" Luke 7:39.
Jesus knew exactly who and what sort of woman was touching him. He saw past her circumstance, her failings and right into her heart. She was a sinner, a repentant sinner, seeking mercy and forgiveness and receiving it.
I want to be like Jesus, but I still struggle with the Jonah in me.
No comments:
Post a Comment