The Redemption of a Wrecked Reputation

When I was a girl, an unplanned pregnancy was a big deal. It was generally hushed up by a quick and quiet wedding, followed by reports that the baby had arrived "early". 

In the time of Mary and Joseph, it was not just a "big deal"; it was catastrophic. Harsh penalties. Public scorn. 

Jesus was born when Mary and Joseph were "espoused". I don't know if they had a wedding or not, but it would not have been the joyful occasion of the wedding in Cana.

You know how people are. We watch someone make a series of bad choices in their youth, then help the story of those choices follow them for years. Even when they have a turn-around and make good choices, we still recall the bad.

I've often wondered how it was for Mary, the mother of Jesus. She didn't make a bad choice. She didn't have a moral failure. She was the chosen one of God to serve as mother to the King of Kings. 

It was a place of incredible trust, but, to the world, it must have looked much different. People would've talked. They would've shunned. They would've kept their young daughters away from her, lest they "do what Mary did." Maybe they excused her because she was young, but that's not the way of humans.

Something turned, somewhere, during the next thirty years.

By the time we get to the miracle of Cana, Mary is more than a guest at the wedding. She's in charge of the servants in the kitchen. I don't know if she was there as a caterer or as a close family friend, but she clearly had a position of responsibility and trust. Hers is not the role of a "failed woman", but people probably still remembered.

What I realized today, for the first time ever, is that Jesus' miracle likely restored Mary's reputation in a way all her "good deeds" and acts of faith could never do. 

She'd likely protested her innocence, but you know how rumors spread. If she told a friend that she was carrying the Messiah, that friend likely told it, too. I can imagine it spreading like wildfire through the village. I can imagine people laughing at her for her grandiose ideas, her wild lies.

If I'd been one of the servants who topped off the wash water pots with water and carried a sample to the wine taster, I'd have told everyone I saw that it turned into the best wine of the day. You probably would have, too. 

That news spread. We can be sure of it, because it's human nature to talk about something so exciting. As it spread, the thought that Mary might have been telling the truth all those years ago likely spread with it.

She said she was carrying the Messiah, and now that child had turned wash-water into wine. No one who sampled that wine ever forgot the taste of the` excellent vintage. Nor the One who created it. Nor His mother, who'd been right all along.

I love it that Jesus' first public act of ministry helped His mother. I love it that His initial demonstration of power helped restore her wrecked reputation. Made her proud. Gave her joy.

I believe God has a special place in his heart for women in a mess (whether of our own making or not). We can be sure of it when we look at the women in Jesus' life. Mary Magdalene. Martha. The Woman at the Well. He loved them, changed them, kept them near as trophies of grace.

No matter what mistakes we have (or haven't) made, Jesus loves us. He cares about us. He longs to change us and make us more like Him. In a moment's time, He can move in such a way that He silences all the whispers, quiets the storm of public condemnation, redeems the years of a wrecked reputation. 

Have you made mistakes? Do you stuff your shame deep inside, hoping no one can see? Hoping no one remembers? Today, why not give it all to Jesus? Today, no matter what burden we carry, let's let Him forgive, cleanse, redeem.

"Then I will make up to you for the years that the swarming locust has eaten..." Joel 2:25 nasb
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n case you missed the story of Sam's project, here's the link: Sam's Project: Rubber Boots for Barefoot Rwandan Children
If you'd like to give to help buy boots for the barefoot school children of Rwandan, you can go directly to the project page here: Help Sam's Kids. We're making good progress. More than 300 pairs of boots have been given so far. 10% of the need has already been met!

In case you missed yesterday's post, here's the link: Five Characteristics of a Miracle
#Jesus #redemption

The Recognition, part 18:

And behold, two men were talking with Him; and they were Moses and Elijah, who, appearing in glory, were speaking of His departure which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. (Luke 9:30-31 NASB)

What Jesus was "about to accomplish at Jerusalem" was his death, burial, and resurrection, followed later by his ascension into heaven. There was still time yet before events would unfold, but heavenly plans were being made and confirmed. When I think of the cross and the empty tomb, mostly I see the cross and the sin of the world that put Him there, my sin that made His sacrifice essential for my eternal survival. 

It's interesting that Moses and Elijah seemed to see things a little differently. The word translated as "departure" is  exodos and literally means departure or the"close of one's career". Their view was not focused on the agony but on the result. All that was to come simply preceded the return of God's Son to His rightful place at the right hand of His Father's throne. Those events were simply the final events that would complete His assigned task. The word translated as "accomplish" is another great word, because it also means "filled to the top" or "completed". Isn't that exactly what Jesus did? He completely accomplished the job of redemption, and did not leave until the job was done. What a Savior! 

There are many lessons we can draw from this, but today let us simply revel in the fact that we serve a God who, because of His mercy and love, did not stop until the job of redemption was done. All that was needed to pay the penalty for your sin and mine has been paid by our Lord Jesus. The only thing remaining is for us to accept the gift of redemption He so freely offers. We trade our sin for His righteousness, our lostness for His leadership, our damnation for His eternal reward! 

What a trade! What a Savior! 

The appropriate response to such a gift is deep and abiding gratitude for the One who has given so much to us. Today, let us offer prayers of praise and thanksgiving to the One who completely accomplished all that was needed for our redemption, the One who, though departed, is soon coming again! 

Come quickly, Lord Jesus! 

Trophy of Healing, part 2 (Luke 8:1,2)

Soon afterwards, He began going around from one city and village to another, proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God. The twelve were with Him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, (Luke 8:1, 2 NASB

In the previous post, we learned that Jesus was accompanied by "some women who had been healed".  They served as a kind of "trophy of grace", as they were living, breathing proof of His power over sin, sickness, and evil. 

The first woman mentioned is Mary Magdalene, Magdalene being used to indicate her hometown. This was the Mary  from Magdala, and not the Mary from Bethany. She is described as having seven demons that had "gone out" from her. They had, indeed, gone out, but not willingly. They had "gone out" at the command of Jesus. 

The number seven is an important number in the numerology of Scripture, and is used to indicate perfection or completion. The presence of seven demons implies that she was completely evil, as we can well imagine with seven demons residing inside her. She was likely completely controlled by those demons. She was completely controlled by demons, that is, until she met Jesus. He cast them out and set her free. As we would expect, that freedom was such a relief that she never wanted those demons back again, and she did the only thing that could assure her freedom. She left her evil lifestyle, and kept close to Jesus. 

There are three very important lessons to learn from Mary Magdalene's presence in the group. First, once Jesus cleanses us, our sin no longer belongs to us. He has removed it as far as the East is from the West. She was no longer "Mary the devil woman" but Mary from Magdala. It's important to remember that we, and those we love, become new creatures in Christ. We must be willing to loosen our hold on what Christ has removed, and embrace the new person, the cleansed person He is creating. 

Second, Mary's presence was a testimony to the power of God, not the power of the demons. They were her past. It was her new life that was compelling, and it focused totally on how powerful God was, not on how bad she had been. A recitation of her sins is not included, because what she had done was not the important point. It was what Christ had done that mattered. 

The third point should bring great hope to those who have loved ones mired in sin. Not even one who is completely controlled by evil is beyond the redemptive power of God. All have sinned; all are in need of a Savior; none can be saved except by the blood of Jesus, even one who is completely evil. 

Do you know someone who is filled with and controlled by evil?  Do not give up hope for them. Remember that Mary Magdalene was controlled by evil until an encounter with Christ set her free, and He can do the same for those we know and love, as well. 

Are you struggling with the power of sin in your life? That power can be broken, but only by the work of redemption accomplished by Christ. Invite Jesus to set your free, then stay close to Him so you can stay free. 

Mary Magdalene became a trophy of grace, and we, by the power of God, can be trophies of grace as well. 

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Link to last night's blog post: http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-gift-garden.html

Visit with the thief

Today was the sweetest day. Ryan and I went to Starkville to visit with family there. We laughed, reminisced, and watched old family movies. It was amazing to see my grandmother smiling, my Aunt Mel laughing and waving, and Aunt Velma in a flower-laden hat.  After we returned home, I thought about how nice it was to see them again, and that one day we would all be together.

My mind tends to wander pretty far afield,  and I started thinking about who else would be in heaven when I get there. Ryan and I were eating supper when I blurted out, "Hey, the thief on the cross will be there!" Ryan just looked at me and said, "What? Where?" "The thief on the cross, Ryan. You remember him. He's gonna be in heaven when I get there." He just shook his head and kept eating. "I bet he's the most grateful person in heaven. He was seconds from hell and ended up spending eternity with Jesus. Wow!" 

When I get to heaven, he's one of the people I want to meet. His is a story of pure redemption. When all hope was lost, Jesus intervened. Just like He did for me.  Just like He did for you. 

Perhaps you've been in one of those "all hope is lost" situations, or maybe you are still there. The great thing about hopeless situations is that, when you give your situation to Him, Jesus can transform it in an instant. Before you know it, hopeless can become hope-filled and life can change in unimaginable ways. Don't believe me? Just ask the thief on the cross. 

One day, I'm going to see my Grandmother, and Aunt Mel, and Aunt Velma again. We will laugh and have a wonderful time. I'm going to be looking for the thief, too. I'd like to hear his story of redemption and spend time together giving thanks for all God has done. I hope to see you there, too. 

Christmas Redemption

Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, "Indeed, has God said, 'You shall not eat from any tree of the garden'?" (Genesis 3:1 NASB)

It started right there, in front of a loaded fruit tree. The road to the manger in Bethlehem began at the foot of what turned out to be the first Christmas tree. The enemy of our soul, in the form of a serpent, entered the idyllic garden of love designed by God Himself as home to His new humans. He befriended Eve, deceived her, enticed her, destroyed her, and left her. That's how sin works, and when her hand reached out and took the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, the sin of mankind began. A penalty for that breach of contract between God and man was owed. 4,000 years or so later, God Himself would come to straighten out the mess of sin mankind had created and pay our penalty Himself.  He came in the form of a tiny baby, and today we celebrate His birth. His was the gift that paid the debt we owed but could never repay, and it is the most important gift of all those that will be exchanged today. It is the gift we didn't request, aren't always sure we wanted, and may not be quite sure what to do about. It is, however, the perfect gift, the perfect fit. 

As you enjoy opening gifts, eating feasts with loved ones, and celebrating the joy of this day, remember that it is more than a celebration of a baby in a manger. This is a day to celebrate our redemption. 

May the lights on your tree point you to that tree in the garden where it all began, and remind you that we are redeemed because of what God did in response to it.  

Merry Christmas!