Stop feeling sorry for yourself - 17 May 2009 |
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Mark 2:16-17
And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, ‘Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?’ And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.’
Once upon a time there was a great King, who lived in a magnificent palace surrounded by a beautiful garden. And the king had a gardener. The king gave the gardener everything he needed and more besides, but the gardener was lazy and wicked. He didn’t care for the King’s garden, but stole its produce and mocked the King behind his back.
The King knew about all this, of course, and one day confronted the gardener with a long list of his offences. Horrified and ashamed at his own wickedness, the gardener turned to leave, but the King called him back.
Instead of suing the gardener to regain his stolen property, the King forgave him. More than that, the King invited him to take up residence with him in the palace, and to join him at his own table.
The gardener was overwhelmed at the King’s generosity. Occasionally he looked back at his former sins, and felt guilty for what he’d done. He sometimes didn’t feel that he belonged in the King’s house at all – he certainly didn’t deserve a place at his table!
But the gardener knew that the King wouldn’t want him to think in this way. After all, the King had decided to forgive him! However intensely the gardener felt his unworthiness, he knew that the King loved him more. ‘These wonderful meals are a celebration of my King’s abundant kindness,’ he said to himself, ‘not an opportunity for me to feel sorry for myself!’
So the King and the gardener rejoiced as they ate and drank together.
Posted by Steve Jeffery · Topics: Bible, Meditations for the Lord's Supper, Minister's Blog