“Do you realize that Jesus is not shocked by the shocking things people do? Jesus knew Zacchaeus had robbed people blind and profited off much unethical behavior, yet Jesus was not shocked. He did not offer Zach correction, but relationship. ‘Come down, Zacchaeus. I’m staying at your house tonight’ (see Luke 19:5). That shocked everyone! Yet relationship changed Zacchaeus.”
“Jesus knew that the Samaritan woman at the well had been married and divorced five times. He knew about her current ‘hookup’ and how sexually entangled she was with the guy she was living with (John 4). Jesus was not repulsed. (Samaritans of Jesus’ day were treated by the religious community like gay people often get treated by some of today’s Christian community.) None of this kept Jesus away or kept him from offering her living water. Jesus wants Christ-followers who will be less like the Pharisees and more like him — unshockable.”
[Thinking of the story of the sinful woman anointing Jesus at a dinner hosted by a Pharisee, he writes:] “Jesus looks at the heart… Jesus confronted the unloving hearts of his host and friends while this woman demonstrated a heart overflowing with love… ‘I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven— as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.’ — Luke 7:47”
“It’s all about love! Not a love that ignores the mud and the damage that destroys God’s Masterpiece, but a love that recognizes how much loving mercy God has given a messed-up person like me! That great love brings grace and truth together to give hope to a broken world in need of forgiveness and restoration.”
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— John Burke, “Mud and the Masterpiece”, Kindle locations 449-451, 473, 476, 485, 488