“Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.”- Hebrews 2:11
In Chapter 2 “Christ’s Theme Song-Every Person”) of Next Door Savior, Max Lucado observes that most families make an effort to keep their family secrets a secret. Not so with Jesus, who displays the bad apples of His family tree in the first chapter of Matthew. Rahab was a Jericho harlot. Jacob purloined Esau’s birthright by nefarious means. David seduced Bathsheba.
Why, then, did Jesus air his dirty laundry? Because, Pastor Lucado notes, Jesus wants us to know, “I’ve been there.” Physically, as Isaiah states, Jesus had “no stately form or majesty that we should look upon Him, nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him (Isaiah 53:2.” A third-century historian, Origen, said “his body was small and ill-shapen and ignoble.”
Whatever we may be facing, Jesus knows how we feel. As Pastor Lucado encourages, “when you run to him for help, he runs to you to help.” The author concludes that Jesus is no ashamed to call us His brothers and sisters:
“He’s not ashamed of you. Nor is he confused by you. Your actions don’t bewilder him. You tilted halo doesn’t trouble him. So go to him. After all, you’re part of his family.”
Today’s question (from the Study Guide): Do you truly believe Christ is not ashamed of you? How does accepting or rejecting this fact affect your attitude? Your behavior? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: the annotated bibliography of AHA
