Life with Jesus
Part 6: The Greatest Welcome of All
My father’s mother used to babysit my brother and me on occasion. Grandmother would come to our home and care for us while mom and dad were away. Grandmother had a tough reputation in our family. Dad claims that when he got into trouble as a child, Grandmother would insist that he go out to a tree and cut off a switch with which she would spank him. If the branch wasn’t large enough, legend has it that Grandmother would go out and pull the tree up by its roots herself.
One sunny day, I was riding my bike. I was not permitted to cross the railroad tracks near our house. But given that grandmother couldn’t see very far, I assumed I could cross safely without her knowing it. What I didn’t know is that in a small town everybody talks. I mean everybody. Before I pulled into the driveway, Grandmother had a tree waiting just for me. Yet to my surprise, she didn’t use it. Instead, she cried. With tears in her eyes, she said, “Boy, when I heard that train coming, I thought I might lose you.” Then she hugged me even though I deserved otherwise.
Mercy came running to me that day. Those aren’t my words. They are the words of the music group, Phillips, Craig, and Dean who wrote the lyrics: “Mercy came running like a prisoner set free, past all my failures to the point of my need. When the sin I carried was all I could see. When I could not reach mercy, mercy came running to me.”
“Surely,” King David wrote. Not maybe or perhaps or even possibly but with confidence and certainty David said, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life…” (Psalm 23:6, KJV). Note that word follow, as in mercy shall follow me. The Hebrew origin of the word has an even stronger emphasis, as if to read, “Mercy shall chase me.” Not that I shall chase after mercy. Mercy shall chase, shall pursue, yes, shall run after me.
Isn’t that a twist? Most of us believe we have to chase blessing in order to take hold of it. We are taught that good things can be ours if we work hard enough or sacrifice long enough. For example, it takes lots of work to become a professional athlete. It takes great effort to make a lasting marriage. It takes a lot of time to build a successful career.
Yet Scripture claims that when it comes to goodness, and particularly mercy, the opposite is true. Such blessings pursue us. The word mercy is defined in the Old Testament as lovingkindness or unearned love. When you think about it, is there any other kind of love than that which is unearned? I mean is it truly possible for parents to win the affections of their children by shouting, “This is the way you treat us after all we’ve done for you?” Can love be achieved by one spouse berating the other by wailing, “This is the thanks I get for all the sacrifices I’ve made?” In other words, can love (true love) really be earned?
Well, there’s one man who found out just how unachievable goodness and love can be. At one point in his life he was a convicted felon—a murderer sitting on death row. His destiny was to have been the cross. Yet instead of being punished, he was granted a pardon. Rather than death, he was given a second chance at life. Watch and listen closely to this video portrayal of Barabbas.
[Skit Guys video, “Our Risen Savior: Barabbas on Good Friday”]
On Good Friday, good things followed Barabbas. Mercy freed Barabbas. Love opened the prison doors for Barabbas. I’ve often wondered if Barabbas was present at Calvary when Jesus died. Did he count each of the thirty-nine lashes that stripped Jesus’ flesh from his body? Did he cringe as the nails were driven into Jesus’ hands and feet? Did Barabbas bow his head in gratitude when Jesus bowed his head to die?
I suppose we may never know for certain where Barabbas was between nine and three on Good Friday. Yet even if Barabbas was not at the cross physically, he most certainly was present spiritually. In fact, we all were. There’s an old hymn of the church that sings, “Were you there when they crucified my Lord.” The language is presented, not in the form of a question but a statement, as in, “You were there.” In other words, you were there. I was there. All of creation was there when they crucified our Lord. The great Reformer, Martin Luther, once said, “We [all] carry his nails in our pockets.” Our sin was fixed to the cross of Christ. And the reason, the only reason, that Jesus’ name is on the death certificate and not ours, is because goodness found us. Mercy came running to us. At the cross, grace pursued and met us. What’s more is that we are blessed, not because of anything we have done but because of what Jesus has done for us. Even when we are at our worst, God’s saving work is at its best.
Now, I realize some of you may conclude that what I’m telling you is just too good to be true. You may argue, “Pastor, you have no idea of the things I’ve done. You have no clue as to the shame I’ve brought on my family. You have no inkling of the pain I’ve inflicted on my spouse or the heartache I’ve given God.”
Well, all that you say may be true. I know little to nothing of your personal history. What I do know is that God is just dying to fill the cup of your heart to overflowing. In Psalm 23:5, David wrote, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows” (NIV). The metaphor David used was a common practice in his day. Whenever a dinner party was thrown, the host would see to it that the cup of each guest is filled to the brim with wine. Cups were routinely filled as the guests drank. As long as the cup was filled, the guest knew that he was welcomed. Only when the cup ran dry did the guests get the subtle hint that the hour was late and it was time to leave. However, there were occasions when the host was so smitten with a particular guest that the host would pour the wine over the edge of the cup, onto the table, and spill all on the floor. This action was a strong indication that the host wanted his guest to stay indefinitely.
My friends, this is the message Jesus gave to the world on Good Friday. “You have accepted my invitation to dine at my table,” Christ says. And, I have filled your cup to overflowing. In fact, Jesus issued the invitation to come and indefinitely stay with him when he lifted the third cup at the Last Supper (what the Jews call the Cup of Salvation) and said “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you” (Luke 22:20). This is my grace that spills forth for you. This is my mercy that chases you. This is my love that like a hound from heaven continues to run after you.
I have a friend named David. David is from the great Commonwealth of Kentucky. Every summer, David’s grandpa would host a family. He’d take down a plank of wood from the hayloft in the barn. He’d set the plank onto legs. The length of the table stretched for yards. Grandpa would then go into town and invite everyone he could find. Neighbors, strangers, rich folk, poor folk, black folk, and white folk would come to Grandpa’s family reunion. When the guests arrived there would be fried chicken, mashed potatoes, freshly picked green beans, coleslaw, apple pie, and homemade ice cream. It was a veritable feast. On one occasion, a guest who was not kin, not part of the Gibson clan, pulled David aside and asked, “What are all of these outsiders doing here at a family picnic?” And, David replied, “When Grandpa invites you to dinner, you are family.”
Friend, God through the person of Jesus Christ has issue you an invitation to feast with him at his table indefinitely, in fact, for all eternity. Jesus came running all the way from heaven just to welcome you into his Father’s family. If you have never taken it upon yourself to formerly and deliberately accept his offer, I welcome you to bow in the silence of your heart and pray with me now.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I thank you for loving me despite everything I have done to hurt you. You treat me better than I deserve. So, today I accept your gracious offer of forgiveness. I want nothing more than to live the life of spiritual abundance you offer, both in the world and in the world to come. The thought of living even another day apart from a relationship with you haunts me. So, please take my hand and I will follow you wherever you lead me. Through the blessed name of Christ I pray. Amen.