Deserving and desiring

This series is rooted in Matthew 11:29, the passage that speaks of Christ as being gentle and lowly in heart. This follows another descriptor of Jesus, pejoratively given, just a few verses before in Matthew 11:19, where he is called a “friend of tax collectors and sinners” (psst…that’s us).

What does it mean that Jesus Christ is a friend to you? That you are “his”? It speaks of fierce and unbreakable attachment…he’s steadfast towards you. It means he’s for you. It means he opens up his heart and lets you in on what he’s doing in the world. It means that he will never shut you out.

Given enough offenses, given enough backstabbing, given enough times we mistreat someone, every human friend will, understandably, finally build a wall. Every human friend has a limit. Jesus Christ is the one friend who has no limit to what he will put up with from you or from me. The only deal is we have to keep coming to him and falling into his embrace. That’s all.

He’s not only the King of all kings, he’s not only Lord of all lords; he’s our Savior, our intercessor, and our advocate—so he deserves our worship. But he also desires our friendship. And when we open ourselves to him, we discover the friend of all friends.

See you Sunday.