If I Was Jesus- Befriending thieves, prostitutes, and little peeps in trees

Brunettish BB here and I’d like to talk a minute about Jesus’s friends. Who he reached out to… who he befriended… who he took time to talk to… who was so important that everything stopped and he took time to listen and love and learn their story (even though he already knew it).  One of my favorite songs is that one, “If I was Jesus.”  It’s silly and fun about the character of Christ we forget when we look at His Majesty and Grace.  Just for funzies, here are the lyrics…

"If I Was Jesus"

If I Was Jesus, I'd have some real long hair
A robe and some sandals, is exactly what I'd wear
I'd be the guy at the party, turnin' water to wine
Yeah me and my disciples, we'd have a real good time.

Ooh and I'd lay my life down for you
And I show you who's the boss
I'd forgive you and adore you
While I was hangin' on your cross
If I Was Jesus.

I'd have some friends that were poor
I'd run around with the wrong crowd, man I'd never be bored
Then I'd heal me a blind man, get myself crucified
By politicians and preachers, who got somethin' to hide.

Ooh and I'd lay my life down for you
And I show you who's the boss
I'd forgive you and adore you
While I was hangin' on your cross
If I Was Jesus.

If I Was Jesus, I'd come back from the dead
And I'd walk on some water, just to mess with your head
I know your dark little secrets, I'd look you right in the face
And I'd tell you I love you, with Amazing Grace.

Ooh and I'd lay my life down for you
And I show you who's the boss
I'd forgive you and adore you
While I was hangin' on your cross
If I Was Jesus.

Anyway… back to my point.  Let’s look at some of His peeps.

·      BB’s- pretty sure they were not called that… but his disciplines.  His inner circle, so to speak.  This crew was made of nasty dirty fishermen and others.  They talked too much.  They had selfish questions.  They were prideful.  They were sometimes rowdy and got cool nicknames like “sons of thunder.” 

·      The germy peeps- I have germ issues.  Not crazy germ issues, but touching a leper would be OUT.  Lame people walking and blind seeing again, people grabbing His outfit to make their bleeding stop, and don’t forget the stinky dead friends that were up and living again just from his commandment. 

·      The outcasts-  These were the ones that no one would reach out to, right?  Nope.  Jesus did.  These BB’s messed up.  They weren’t tossed aside because of a disease.  It was because of a bad decision or worse, in a sense… due to circumstance.  These were little tax collectors in trees (we only know of one, but you know there were little peeps who had to try this after ole Z climbed up there).  Or people at the back of the crowd.  Maybe they had been an adulterers or prostitutes.  May they had been possessed.  Maybe, just simply, their husband had died.  Or maybe it was a thief hanging on a tree next to Him. 

·      The “normal” folks-  These were peeps that were seemingly harmless.  Maybe they chose to make dinner or clean instead of soaking in Christ’s Glory.  Or had too much pride that got in the way of trusting Him and admitting weakness, or lied or betrayed Jesus… their best BB.  These were everyday walking around people (sometimes even on water) that thought very little of the brokenness that was consuming them... but they would when their friend was handing on a cross.

·      The kids-  That’s it. Just kids.  Kids… when He was tired and had a long day.  Kids… when everyone else said there was no time.  Kids.  When His BB’s were confused, he stood up for these kiddos.  Saying that “the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

These people do not sound like anyone Jesus would hang with right?  Well, we know He did, so it’s no big shock.  But let’s let that sink in.  There were no rules.  There were no, “oh, I’ll hang with you even more because you are being a good Christian.”  Or, “I shouldn’t be hanging out here.”   Or, “go do this and then I’ll think about being your friend.”  Or “do these things and you can be a part of our group.”   

Go back through that list.  I bet you can name a time you’ve been that person.  The firecracker… guilty.  The one with a sickness that kept you from everything you loved…guilty.  The one accused wrongly of a deed… guilty.  The one that let pride get in the way…guilty.  The adult with a child’s heart that everyone tried to stifle… guilty.  When I typed guilty I meant it y’all.  None of those times, however, was I not seeking Him… even if I had lost my way for a bit. 

Now let’s turn the table.  When was the last time you stopped and took time… not money… not a passing second… true time with one of those peeps listed above?  You’re inner circle friend that needs some BB love?  The sick friend that you avoid because you don’t know what to say?  The broken outcast that has been through trauma?  The normal person that maybe you judge your own sanity against, but that is struggling just like you?  A child that needs an adult to listen and laugh with them.

I’m pretty sure Jesus wouldn’t be sitting politely in church hiding behind pretty furniture or “feel good” songs and going home and doing nothing until next Sunday.  He would be in bars and street corners and homes and church common areas where peeps are “real” and hospitals and Kids Worship areas.  So where are you, BB’s?

Going back to that song.  The line that always gets me, “I’d forgive you and adore you, while I was hangin’ on YOUR cross.”  (Emphasis mine of course).  That’s Jesus.  Persecuted and blamed and crucified by the ones he came to save.  We know that.  But let that sink in…  He took time to love the very people that killed him.  Are you taking time to reach outside the church walls to the very ones God came to save??  The forgotten BB’s that need Jesus?  The ones that don’t look like you?  The ones that don’t act like you?  The ones that you pass and they are almost invisible because of their sadness?  You don’t need to know the dark little secrets as the song says.  But, we are here to do the rest of the song… look BB’s right in the face and tell them we and HE loves them with AMAZING GRACE!!

“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing.”  Luke 23:34

“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”  Luke 23:46