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All Are Welcome

And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick. –Luke 5:17

Wherever Jesus walked or stood, power streamed out from him, healing and

reviving both soul and body. Whoever came to him with a trusting heart found help. The Lord of heaven, the God of Israel – the strength of this God streamed out from Jesus and worked healing. How wonderful that God’s Son appeared in this way!

It can hardly be grasped that God would draw so close to us with such kindness. How obvious it was that everything was rotten. How little fear of God there was on the earth. How hypocritical was the piety of those who pretended to be devout. Even the temple was made into a “robbers’ den,” turned into a marketplace.

Yet, he came. And what was he like? He came not as one who judges but as one who was full of kindness, warmth, love, and mercy. Nobody needed to fear him. Everybody was allowed to come, everybody was allowed to have hope – the wretched, even sinners and tax collectors. They could all come. And all who came were healed and satisfied. Everybody could rejoice that God’s ambassador in person had visited them.

Because the Lord was so kind and good to everyone who drew near him, it proved that he really came from God. Who could be greater? Can there be anything more wonderful than knowing that this man from Nazareth came from God? Can anyone else satisfy our deepest need? Can we imagine anyone coming from heaven greater, more majestic, or more glorious than he? Truly, he is the One. “We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

Jesus is still the same Savior today. So there is hope for everyone – nobody needs to despair or doubt his patience and love. No matter who you are, you can come. But you have to come! Come in longing for grace and mercy. Then you will receive his goodness in abundance. Even in these troubled times you can know his mercy and that when the time is right, God will “wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Rev. 21:4). Praise to him for such immeasurable hope!

Johann Christoph Blumhardt