The Joy of Glory

John 18:1-18 (click here)
The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself. (John 18:17-18)

Reflection
This is the world in which we live.

Think about it… Peter had spent three years physically being around Jesus. He walked with him, talked with him, listened to him, etc. Most of the time, he was encountering people who were in favor of Jesus and also wanted to be near him. It was “cool” to be with Jesus.

Then Christ was arrested and everything changed.

For the first time Peter found himself without Jesus…standing amidst a crowd who opposed Jesus. This is the world in which we live.

Jesus is not physically with us and we spend much of our time surrounded by people who are not exactly “in favor” of our savior. We live in a world where it is not “cool” to be with Jesus.

So what do we say about Jesus? When we find ourselves standing around the fire with others…or chatting at work…our out socializing…what do we say when Jesus comes up? Are we with him? Do we know him? Do we love him?

All too often, we take the route of Peter. As soon as being identified with Jesus means insults or isolation (or worse) we plead ignorance. I have been guilty of this too many times.

The good news of the Gospel is that Jesus never pleads ignorance of us. If we truly know, trust, and love him…he is always read to welcome our rebellious hearts back home. He did this for Peter (Jn 21:15-19) and he will do it for you.

Jesus is not ashamed of you and me (Heb 2:11)…so may we never be ashamed of him (Rom 1:16).

*The complete SVCC Lenten reading guide is available here.

Luke 19:1-10 (click here)
He entered Jericho and was passing through.

And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.”

“…the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:1, 5-7, 10)

Reflection
From all outward appearances, Jesus was randomly “passing through” Jericho. Yet once he encounters Zacchaeus, he speaks with the language of divine appointment… “I MUST stay at your house TODAY.”

The passage closes by Christ revealing exactly why he went to Jericho, indeed, he reveals why he came into this world… “to seek and save the lost.”

It was no accident that he was in Jericho. Nothing Christ does is random or accidental. Jesus is never just “passing through.” His entry into your life was no mere coincidence! It was by providential design!

Jesus sought you! Jesus saved you to the praise of his glorious grace! Great joy to us and all glory to him!

But not everyone is able to see Jesus’ mission as glorious. Many grumbled about his seeking of Zacchaeus. Why? It was likely because Zacchaeus had cheated them during his career as a profitable tax collector. Such a person didn’t deserve salvation.

Yet, it is just such a lost person that is in need of salvation. Oh the irony that we would deny salvation to the very people in need of it.

A great evidence of whether or not we have been sought and saved by Jesus is whether or not we desire to see him seek and save others!

Does your heart long to join in Christ’s mission by declaring him as the seeking savior?

*The complete SVCC Lenten reading guide is available here.