Someone needs a reminder today that God has made a new and life-giving way FOR YOU.
Christ died on the cross, something that was necessary for a new covenant to be ushered in. What the old covenant could not do, Christ bridges the gap–for everyone!
As Jesus began to call his disciples, he began to introduce to them the new way of having access to forgiveness. Up until this time, the religious leaders of that day looked down on those that were sinners. One translation even calls them “scum.”
Then Jesus steps onto the scene and life begins to look different.
I want to stop here for a moment and remind you; life always looks different when Jesus steps on the scene.
The impossible becomes possible. Hopeless situations become hopeful. The end of your rope becomes a ladder. The bad diagnosis report becomes a miracle report.
All because Jesus steps on the scene.
Look what happened when Jesus calls one of his disciples and then goes to visit him with his guests in Luke.
“Later on as Jesus left the town he saw a tax collector—with the usual reputation for cheating—sitting at a tax collection booth. The man’s name was Levi. Jesus said to him, ‘Come and be one of my disciples!’ So Levi left everything, sprang up, and went with him.” Luke 5:27-28 TLB
When you encounter Jesus, you change!
“Soon Levi held a reception in his home with Jesus as the guest of honor. Many of Levi’s fellow tax collectors and other guests were there. But the Pharisees and teachers of the Law complained bitterly to Jesus’ disciples about his eating with such notorious sinners.” Luke 5:29-30 TLB
The religious leaders were STUCK in the old covenant, the old way of doing things.
“Jesus answered them, ‘It is the sick who need a doctor, not those in good health. My purpose is to invite sinners to turn from their sins, not to spend my time with those who think themselves already good enough.” Luke 5:31-32 TLB
If you are reading this and feel that you are “good enough” and don’t need any help, Jesus didn’t come for that purpose.
He didn’t come for the spectators. He didn’t come for perfect. He didn’t come for the well. He didn’t come for the know-it-alls.
He came for the sick. He came for the sinner. He came for the lost.
If you are whole, you have no need for a savior. But, if you are broken, if you are bruised, if you are hurting, if you are empty, if you are hungry, if you are thirsty, if you are desperate – you are His purpose!
You are the reason God decided to come to this earth in the flesh and die on the cross!
Because of that, you and I have life!
Because of that, we have full access to Him!
“And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.” Mark 15:37-39
Because the veil was torn, the old covenant is now fulfilled in the new covenant.
We have now full and direct access to His mercy, grace, and forgiveness.
“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:4-9
“And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place.
And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.” Hebrews 10:19-22 NLT
