Posted on February 10, 2009 - by Andy McMahon

Least of These

35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’

I cannot express how intense this is to me.  I cannot express how hard it hits me every time I read it.  Shane Claiborne described seeing a boy who worked in a sweatshop who was beaten because he was not working fast enough.  This boy had a huge scar across his face from being cut. Just a little boy was slashed across the face so you can wear a Nike Swoosh for a little cheaper.  Anyway,  Shane Claiborne took that and said,” Now my Jesus not only has holes in his body and a crown of thorn, but also a scar across his face.

But also a scar on his face.

When I think about that, and all the things I’ve done to people, I sometimes wonder what my Jesus looks like.  Definitely a couple of black eyes.  There was that time I broke my sister’s ankle. Oh my.  My Jesus is a solid mess.  My Jesus has the scars of every wound I’ve inflicted, physically or emotionally.  ?? is that right?

What’s weirder, is His eyes.  Through all the mess I’ve caused, and all the scars I’ve made on him, I can still see his eyes.  The forgiveness, the love…. whoa… It’s just so intense to think about. After everything I’ve done in my life, after all of the pain, after all of the torture I’ve put people through, Jesus has taken it, and shaped it in to love.  A love so abounding we can’t understand and a love so intense we can’t emulate it.

But we can try.