Ray Comfort
I recently watched a Ray Comfort video. If you’ve never watched one, you need to! He interviews people, asking them if they’re a good person. Most answer in the affirmative. He then presents them with God’s law and shows them how no one can measure up to God’s holy and good law. And then, he shares with them the gospel.
But in this particular video, it initially shows a clip of a comedian who essentially was mocking Jesus, and then abruptly faints. It’s crazy to see it happen. Of course, we’re left asking why? God is mocked all the time, why did He act then? I have no idea, but I’ll have to say, a LOT of people have seen that video. I don’t always understand God’s ways, but the one thing I do know is that He will use that for His glory.
Jesus loves you
But something else about that video which Comfort points out, is that she would never have mocked other religious figures such as Muhammed or Buddah. Why Christ? Comfort explains it is most probably because the message of “Jesus Loves You” is plastered everywhere. This comedian, along with many others, don’t think twice about mocking Jesus and thinking nothing of it. Even after the incident, she says, “No! That wasn’t Jesus. Jesus thinks I’m a hoot!”
So apparently it was completely random she fainted right after her comedic, vulgar skit with her finishing touch of saying, “Jesus loves me best.” And only then, does she pass out. Yep. Random.
Cheap Grace
The idea that Jesus loves you clearly comes from John 3:16 – For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life. The thing is, we misconstrue what that verse means when we tell everyone “Jesus loves you” and then add no other context. However well intentioned we may be, we are teaching others to take His love for granted. As the incredible German theologian, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, has written about, we are communicating “cheap grace” to others.
Leviticus – oooh boy
I’m in the middle of Leviticus right now, and let me tell you, it’s rough. Actually it’s painful, to be honest. Reading through all of the rules and the offerings that needed to be done is slightly mind-numbing. I’ve read through Leviticus before, but I usually just blow through it since, who am I kidding? What in the world am I going to remember about this? And even if I did, how is it applicable?
But as I was reading through it this time, I realized something. God takes sin very, very seriously. Before Christ, He expected His priests to be dressed in a certain way. He expected them to perform certain rituals in a very specific way and for specific reasons. The amount of blood is mind blowing to me that was splattered all around. And for what? For our sin. For our continued rebellion. Whether we purposely sinned or not, the consequences were similar. It all required a sacrifice. Obviously, God’s grace is anything but “cheap.”
And guess what? It still requires a sacrifice. However, the perfect sacrifice has already been provided for us through Christ’s death and resurrection on the cross. We may not have to sacrifice bulls and rams and birds anymore. But our sin is still just as grievous in the eyes of God. So much so, that God’s Son had to die as the perfect sacrifice for our sin.
It’s so convicting how Jonathon Edwards puts it: “You contribute nothing to your salvation except the sin that made it necessary.”
Yes, Jesus loves us THAT much
Yet, Jesus loves us so much, He provided a way for us to have a relationship with Him. That’s how much He loves us. Because we are THAT sinful. We are THAT fallen. Without Him, there is no way for us to have a relationship with a holy God. It’s not that He loves us because we’re enough. Or because we’re so great or good. Quite the opposite. We are sinful and in need of a Savior, desperately. In reality the only one who is good and great and “enough” is God. That’s it. Full stop.
So yes, Jesus certainly does love us. And for those of us who accept Him as both our LORD and Savior, we have the privilege of serving Him and glorifying His name for Who He is. Few like to hear that in reality, we’re not good. But praise God for Jesus! He is good. He is worthy.
I think we can all relate to John Newton’s familiar song: “Amazing grace! How sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me!” Amen?
