JESUS LOVES PROSTITUTES

JESUS LOVED PROSTITUTES

No man ever loved prostitutes like Jesus did. No prostitute was ever touched by any man the way Jesus did. No one ever looked at a woman the way Jesus did. With other men, these women were just momentary objects. Even though participating in the most intimate of human moments meant to be the culmination of transparency, understanding, commitment and selfless-giving-unconditionally-to-another-love ("agapé love"), these women were (and are) generally the least-loved of any people on the planet. Yet Jesus truly loved them. While most men would recoil if they knew the pasts of these women, Jesus looked not at them but into them - and despite what He saw, He loved them. The One who knows you best loves you most. 

Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you." Matthew 21:31

When Jesus was publicly challenged about what to do with the woman caught in adultery, he alone saw the woman. The men who used her in their pseudo-religious gamesmanship and publicly humiliated her, didn't at any stage see her. But the One who sees all did.

She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more."
John 8:11

Far from affirming her lifestyle - Jesus never condoned her sexual sin - He told her the immutable, irresistable, inarguable truth: God does not immediately condemn anyone ... their own sin does. Jesus neither condoned, nor condemned her. He offered her grace and a grace-empowered solution. "From now on sin no more" was not just the standard God-In-The-Flesh expected of her, it (like every other part of God's Word preached) was also the strength to obey. The Jesus who never condoned sin - especially sexual sin - is still the Jesus who alone sees the hearts of those trapped in it, and offers forgiveness and the grace to have a fresh start. Maybe we shouldn't be so quick to judge others. Perhaps we can learn to see others through the understanding eyes of Jesus? I hope that's increasingly what people experience when they visit our church.

For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.Matthew 21:32

Jesus loved prostitutes. He knew that women rarely choose this lifestyle and those in it nearly always are desperate to get out of it. Significantly two of Christ's Great Great Grandmothers (Tamar and Rahab, both mentioned in Jesus' Family Tree in Matthew 1) were prostitutes. 

And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
First Corinthians 6:11

Jesus still love prostitutes ... and liars ... and drunkards ... and thieves ... and adulterers ... and drug addicts ... and porn-adicts ... and religious hypocrites ... 

It doesn't matter what you've done
It doesn't matter where you're coming from
Doesn't matter where you've been
Hear me tell you I forgive
You're not guilty anymore 

You're not filthy anymore
I love you mercy is yours
You're not broken anymore
You're not captive anymore 

I love you mercy is yours
Can you believe that this is true
Grace abundant I am giving you
Cleansing deeper than you know
All was paid for long ago.  

There is now therefore no condemnation
For those who are in Jesus 

You are spotless You are holy
You are faultless You are whole
You are righteous You are blameless
You are pardoned You are mine. 
NOT GUILTY ANYMORE, Aaron Keyes, Andy Lehman

No matter what you've done; no matter why you did it; no matter who's done it to you; there is forgiveness and grace on offer from Christ. He can forgive you, cleanse you and give you a new start. You are just one prayer from hope abounding that can begin to unfold sufficiently to get you through today. Jesus loves prostitutes and Jesus loves you, and me.

Ps. Andrew