As I have been learning more about grace and the fact that humanity is broken and incredibly loved by God all at the same time I have found myself having more compassion for people in general. I used to view people in terms of “Christians” and “non-Christians”. I think using this distinction does more harm than good. It pits “us” versus “them”. It stirs up fear and judgement of others we consider “not like us”. I used to be afraid to talk to “non-Christians” for fear that once they found out I was a “Christian” they would reject me. I know now that this isn’t the case at all.
We are all the same. In as much as we all experience the same joys, the same fears, the same hardships, the same successes, we are all the same. It doesn’t matter if we consider ourselves a “Christian” or not. We suffer the same diseases, we have the same needs. There is so much more that unites us than separates us. According to the Bible we are all made in the image of God. And to me that means we are all “beautifully and wonderfully made”. There is beauty in every human being.
I believe Jesus saw the same things in people. He healed and loved the diseased, the outcasts, the corrupt. He was accused of hanging out with “tax collectors and sinners”. He saw worth in people the religious establishment of the day viewed as worthless. He had great compassion for many people. The ones Jesus was most upset with were the religious leaders, the ones who lacked compassion for the people who needed it the most.
As I think about Easter and all that Jesus’ life on earth means, I want to think about it through the lens of Christ’s compassion and His ability to recognize, accept, and love our common humanity.