Yesterday, I preached a sermon based on the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. I hid a joke in the message, but I don't think anyone caught it. The joke was wrapped in the idea that the Pharisee was the one you'd expect to get things right. The tax collector was someone most people would write off.
I didn't say it was a good joke! But the point still stands. It's like saying the criminal went home forgiven by God, while the pastor didn't even come close. Of course, that's not an impossible scenario. It does represent a reversal Luke likes to highlight in his story.
What I didn't emphasize in the message that I would want to spend more time on is the tax collector's prayer. It was short, but meaningful. We recognize that he asks God for mercy. But we might not fully appreciate the depth of his understanding of mercy. It wasn't just a cry to forgive my mistakes. Jesus ensures the tax collector speaks in a manner that demonstrates his belief and trust in God's atonement.
Someone like him might think God's atoning work can't or shouldn't apply to him. He knows he needs it. What chance does he have for it? Only that God is willing to give him grace. And that's what he understood more than the Pharisee. Of course, we're supposed to understand that the man was asking for something God is always willing to give. That's the point.
Your religious life may or may not be all that great right now. We go up and down, but God's grace remains constant and sure. That’s why the tax collector’s prayer matters so much. It isn’t about getting it all right. It’s about knowing who God is and trusting that God’s mercy reaches even you.
Stay blessed...john | 
No comments:
Post a Comment