The Harlot - Jesus comes

The harlot lay on the floor before the great throne of judgement.  The accuser has just listed off her sins one by one when suddenly there is a hand upon her shoulder and she hears a voice.

“I couldn’t lift my eyes but all I saw were those beautiful feet and I heard a voice like music in my ear ...  He said, ‘Father, I desire this one, she is mine ...’  He drank of the cup of the father’s wrath ...”

This is the climax of the story.  The harlot lay in all her nakedness, with muddied face and tangled hair, before the great throne of judgement.  God is a just God and He requires payment for sin.  The justice of the Father demands a sacrifice.  She had sinned.  She had to pay.  The accuser has just listed off her sins so there is no doubt about it.  She has sinned.  Yet in the midst of all this suffering and pain, the Beautiful One steps forward.  He is perfect.  There is no sin to be found within Him.  He walks over to the Father and picks up the cup.  He drinks of the cup of the Father’s wrath and then His blood begins to flow.  The harlot weeps on the floor crying “It should have been me!”  But the Beautiful One desires that she would be with Him where He is, seated at the right hand of the Father, so He willingly pays the price.  He willingly becomes the sacrifice.  I find this just incredible!!  I have put myself in her place many times when my wounding has come up and felt again and again the release from my pain as His blood has flowed over me.

What about you?  You already are the desire of the Beautiful One’s heart.  He died and sacrificed His life for you too.  Come to Overflow tomorrow night and accept His sacrifice on your behalf.  Come and allow His blood that was spilt to flow over you too.  Come!

Photo of the goblet taken by R.S. Kellner on 13 February 2007.