Kadesh, Shechem, Hebron, Bezer, Ramoth, Golan, Christ

Been watching the Facebook feed and news on TV and if you didn't know any better you'd think:

1. There is no other news in the whole world aside from the Zimmerman trial.
2. Everyone on Facebook now has a law degree.
3. Christians have a lot of rage they need to deal with.

Calls for justice (and/or revenge) abound and even those of good Quaker stock are talking about the death penalty.  It's all an-eye-for-an-eye everywhere.  And now, as I type this, there are riots, vandalism and brutality happening, as well as a some peaceful protests.

Here's the thing, y'all, the heart of the Gospel is not that every man must pay for his sin.  At the heart of the Gospel is this completely unfair notion of grace.  It was prophetically built into the law from the beginning.  Even with the murderer Cain.  He was marked and no man was to touch him.  

The LORD replied, "No, for I will give a sevenfold punishment to anyone who kills you." Then the LORD put a mark on Cain to warn anyone who might try to kill him. Genesis 4:15

If tit-for-tat were the nature of God, I think we could look to how God dealt with the first murderer as an indication of that.  But, rather, we see that God was full of grace even then.

When God gave Moses His law there were rules about what would happen if a man took another man's life by lying-in-wait and with intent to kill.  He would die, eventually.  It is the law of reaping and sowing and not necessarily the law of retaliation.  But, if two people got into it and someone lost their head, and someone died, the one who did the slaying had one recourse.  He could flee.  Flee to a city of refuge.

"Six of the towns you give the Levites will be cities of refuge, where a person who has accidentally killed someone can flee for safety."  Numbers 35:6

These cities, run by God's priests, were a prophetic picture of Christ and His Body.  God's people were not to merely cry out for retribution.  They were to provide a place of mercy.  

Let's face it.  We all need that place.  Jesus said that if you are angry with your brother without cause you are guilty of murder. (Matthew 5:22)  Today I've seen a lot of angry people.  Angry at the jury.  Angry at the one who pulled the gun.  Angry at those of a different race.  Angry at those of a different political party.  Angry at the police.  Angry, angry, angry.  And that pretty much puts us in Zimmerman's shoes and in equal need of God's mercy.

Yet, God has not called us to rant and threaten to move the Europe.  God has called us to be the ones who say to the guilty, "Run to us!  Find mercy!  Find shelter!  There is a place of refuge."

In the end, Jesus didn't come for the innocent.  Jesus came for the guilty.  If you feel that justice wasn't served, know this: Jesus came for the George Zimmermans of the world and not for the Trayvons.  That might rub you the wrong way.  That may offend your sense of justice.  Remember that Jesus is often offensive. 

"I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance..." Mark 2:17

He certainly is offensive, right up until that moment when you realize that you need Him to be your place of refuge.  When you come to the place where you think, "If He doesn't hide me, I will die."  And then Jesus' offensiveness becomes your best defense.

The Cities of Refuge in the Bible had specific names that spoke to specific traits of God:

Kadesh, meaning Righteousness

Shechem, meaning Shoulder

Hebron, meaning Fellowship

Bezer, meaning Fortress

Ramoth, meaning Exalted

Golan, meaning Joy

These are not just the nature of God.  These were cities, run by God's priests.  They speak to the six things, we, as God's people, have to offer the world, the guilty and to those in need of mercy.  If we don't have these six things to offer, what do we have?  As humans are sympathies are with the innocent.  As Christians, our reach extends to the guilty.

So, while you are chanting (or tweeting or Facebooking), "Justice for Trayvon" and "No Justice; No Peace!" and "If you're not for us, you're against us."  Perhaps think about the call to say: 

Righteousness for the guilty, of whom I am chief.

Zimmerman, do you need a shoulder? He cares for you.

No matter what you've done, we offer you fellowship.

Zimmermans of the world, do you need a safe place?

God will be exalted through every life that takes shelter in His house.

God can and will turn ashes into beauty and give you the oil of joy for your spirit of heaviness.

Christians, remember that the grace and forgiveness you give out is the grace and forgiveness you will receive.  Jesus, out of His great love, died for the guilty.  I don't know about you, but I think we should put down our stones and accept some of that love for ourselves and share a little with a world full of Zimmermans.

Cuddling

When we first wake up in the morning I call the kids by saying, "Jesus is calling."  And they drag their tired selves to the living room where we read "Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young.  Then I put on some soft music and everyone finds a place to be by themselves for about 15 minutes--reading the Bible and prayer.  The little kids who do not yet read have a prayer book with pictures to help them focus for a few minutes.  But, we don't have enough prayer books to go around.so I usually give Saraa a crucifix or an icon to hold.

This morning it was chilly so she wrapped herself in a blanket and tucked her cross in with her and said, "Mom, I'm going to cuddle Jesus."

I have a feeling Jesus liked that.

The Encounter

"And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples."  Matthew 9:10

As Gana and I had a romantic picnic on the Seine, we had a Jesus Encounter.

We feasted on bread, fruit, cheese, sausage and a bottle of Champagne (a gift from Gana's brother!).  We were relaxing and enjoying each other in our own little universe when Jesus stood at the door and knocked, so to speak.

A homeless man who was collecting bottles asked us if we were finished with our bottle.  No, in fact, we weren't.  And then, out of no where the words came out of Gana's mouth, "Would you like to have a glass of Champagne with us?"  The man looked pleasantly surprised!  Oui monsieur.  Introductions were made and glasses were poured. 

As we toasted one another,  À la vôtre!, it was a moment of true equality.  It was a moment of acknowledging the humanity of another.  Yes, you may not only have the empty bottle, you may share the wine with us.

 C`est bien said our new friend and handed back our glass.  Gana asked him if he knew of a place nearby where we could purchase a cigar.  Cigare?  Naturellement!  And out he pulled a cigar from the inner pocket of his jacket.  Gana offered to pay for it and the man looked almost offended.  Well, we may as well sit a spell.  Gana and the homeless man lit up French cigars together.  The man then gave us a lecture (through charades and French, which we did not understand through words, but through intonation) about taking care of one another, loving and appreciating each other. 

Even though we could not understand one another, we were sure to bless him in Jesus' Name.

What would have been a 5 second interaction ("May I have the bottle?" "No, we aren't finished." The End.) became something much longer and much more significant.  A highlight of our European trip.

Then these Christian tourists will reply, `Lord, when did we ever see you looking for bottles to turn into spare change and give ours to you? Or thirsty and share with you our best? When did we see you a stranger and invite you into our circle of friendship, or needing connection and connect with you?  When did we ever see you when you thought you were invisible?'

And the Lord will tell them, `I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'

Matthew 25:37-40 Gombojav Paraphrase