On The Fringe

“When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.’ All the people saw this and began to mutter, ‘He has gone to be the guest of a ‘sinner.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.’”
Luke 19:5, 7 & 9

Have you ever been on the Fringe? You know one of those kids that got picked last for kickball or baseball or any team game. Maybe you were the boy or girl who had to wear glasses when no one else did. Maybe you have a job – one the needs to be done – but that others look down on. Lots of things can put us on the fringe. Zacchaeus was tax collector; he was definitely on the fringe in his world.

Then he met Jesus. Those who witnessed Jesus telling Zacchaeus that he was going to spend the day at his house - got those who didn’t think they were on the fringe - whispering “he’s gonna hang-out with someone on the fringe.” Then something really amazing happened right there in front of everyone Zacchaeus was changed, transformed from a crooked tax collector into a generous and honest man. He went from being on the fringe to being at the center God’s heart – loved and the recipient of His amazing grace. But how can this be? Jesus answers the question for us in this week’s passage. “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” Zacchaeus was lost and knew it - he was on the fringe and wanted to belong; to be loved. Because he knew, Jesus was able to find him and welcome him back to where belonged.

So here’s the thing – we are all on the fringe. We have all fallen so short of what God had intended for us. There are some on the fringe who are totally blind to that fact. Some of us have recognized our need and Jesus has found us and restored us. There are some on the fringe who need to meet Jesus and they need to meet Him through us. 

Lent is coming an end Palm Sunday marks Jesus’ entry to Jerusalem and the beginning of His final week of life. His death and resurrection are coming – those with Him, those from the fringe who loved Him and who had learned so much from Him couldn’t or wouldn’t understand what was going to happen. We get to look back – we can understand. As followers of Christ we have all been on the fringe if not literally then spiritually. He found us when we were ready to be found and He is happy to spend not just a day but all of eternity with us. As you look to the cross; don’t go too far from the fringe – someone is there who needs to be introduced to Jesus and his amazing love – the someone who’ll introduce them could be you.

A Prayer
Father – because mankind is a fallen race living on a fallen planet we all are or have been on the fringe. Thank you for sending Your Son to find us and to save us. As we remember what is identified as His triumphant entry into Your city remind us that it was not His entry that was so triumphant, remind us that it was His exit that gives us victory and moves us from the fringe to the center your amazing love. In the name of Jesus – we pray – Amen.