Just For The One
This morning, I heard something in a song which mentioned that Jesus loves each and every person, even in the depth of their sin. Some people might think that it is arrogant of us to think that Jesus died for us, individually. After all, there are billions of people who need saving. He isn’t just focusing on you. That’s a bit narcissistic.
Well, at the time that Jesus died one estimate has the entire world population at only 247 million. That’s less than the current US population east of the Mississippi. If the world had ended 5 minutes after He rose from the dead He still would have gone to the cross.
Then consider this; Mark 10:46-52. And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.” And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.
Of the great crowd Jesus stopped and took time with one single individual who called out to Him for mercy. He did not turn him away as the crowd did.
And now this; Luke 15:4-7. “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
Jesus didn’t just die for the billions who have lived, He would have done it for the 247 million living at the time when He died. He would have done it for 100. He would have done it for one. Just you, or just me. And need I point out, if it had just been you or just me, we would have been the one who nailed him to the cross. And still he would have gone.