Becoming More Relentless in the pursuit of those who are marginalized is nothing new. In fact, we have the greatest example of how to pursue the messy and marginalized - Jesus. Let’s go on an adventure today! An adventure through the book of Luke. Grab your Bible, journal, and pen as we encounter three marginalized people and we read how Jesus relates to them.
Our first stop is in Luke 5:12-16 where Jesus heals a man with leprosy. During this time, when someone was diagnosed with leprosy, they were sent away and put in complete isolation. The man with leprosy took a big risk going near Jesus. It was also a risk for someone to touch a person with leprosy, yet this is exactly what Jesus did. Jesus wasn’t worried about becoming unclean. He was more concerned with healing the man of leprosy and ultimately healing the man's sin.
Our next stop on our journey takes us to Luke 7:36-50 where Jesus is anointed by a sinful woman. Simon, one of the Pharisees, invited Jesus over for dinner. A woman heard that Jesus was having dinner with Simon and she brought an alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. When a woman was in public, Jewish rabbis would not speak to her, so Jesus was making a statement by speaking with this woman. Jesus took this woman’s sinful past and made her completely new by forgiving her. The woman’s faith in Jesus was shown through her actions.
Our last stop is in Luke 8:26-39 where Jesus heals a demon-possessed man. Jesus arrived in the region of Gersenes and as He was climbing from the boat, a demon-possessed man approached Him. The demon-possessed man was filled with so many demons that he was called “Legion”. The demons came out of the man and were sent into a herd of pigs. By Jesus doing this we can see how much value He found in the man’s life.
With each of these examples, Jesus’ love abounds! He has the ability to include marginalized people and love them without any hesitation, and we’re called to do the same.
Where are you currently with your ability to love the marginalized without any hesitation? How can you incorporate more of Jesus’ example into the mess that unfolds in life?
Author: Samantha Roy
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