You Matter to Jesus!
Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?” (John 4:27)
Arriving on the scene the disciples are amazed to find Jesus talking with a woman–and a Samaritan woman at that! To their credit, they speak not a word! They perhaps wondered why He would stoop so low as to talk with such a contemptible woman–a woman fully deserving of scorn and reproach. And yet, isn’t it interesting how we also so quickly size up others and are blinded to our own flaws?
–Thomas a Kempis
The LORD looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. (Psalm 14:2–3)
We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6)
As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” (Romans 3:10–12)
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)
“The genius of Christianity takes the words of Paul ‘who gave himself for our sins’ as true and efficacious. We are not to look upon our sins as insignificant trifles. On the other hand, we are not to regard them as so terrible that we must despair. Learn to believe that Christ was given not for picayune (petty) and imaginary transgressions, but for mountainous sins; not for one or two, but for all; not for sins that can be discarded, but for sins that are stubbornly ingrained.” Martin Luther, Commentary on Galatians
It seems that the disciples were all too often taken aback by Jesus’ actions only to discover later the purposes behind them. Therefore, this time they appear cautious in asking Him about His conversation with the woman. They acquiesced, realizing Jesus had some good reason for this interaction.
“All is well which Jesus Christ says and does. Whatever they thought, they said nothing.” (Matthew Henry)
We can trust what Jesus says and does because He plainly stated that He came only to do His Father’s will; His good, pleasing and perfect will. Jesus tells us:
For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. (John 6:38)
And what was Jesus’ mission? It is perhaps best summed up in the following words:
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost. (Luke 19:10)
No soul too low, no sin too grave, Jesus came to seek out all who are lost. Ezekiel tells us:
–John Newton
I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice. (Ezekiel 34:16)
Take It to Heart
“You know to what extent You have already changed me, You who first healed me of the lust of vindicating myself, so that You might forgive all my remaining iniquities, and heal my diseases, and redeem my life from corruption, and crown me with loving-kindness and tender mercies, and satisfy my desire with good things.”
(St. Augustine)
