He takes our mess and turns it into a message

Jesus never avoided the mess. He didn’t flinch at the dirt, the shame, or the failures of others. He sat with sinners, but He didn’t become one. His holiness wasn’t threatened by their brokenness; it was the hope they needed most.

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” – Luke 19:10 (NIV)

That’s the gospel. Jesus sat with the broken not to blend in, but to bring healing and truth. He didn’t run from sinners. He ran to them. Jesus did this knowing full well that the table was a place of transformation, not compromise.

We’re called to that same courage. To sit in places that are uncomfortable. To love people without conditions. To be present in the lives of those who are hurting without losing the holiness that makes us shine.

Jesus didn’t avoid broken people. He moved toward them. He didn’t come to approve of their sin, but to redeem them from it. He didn’t become like them in their sin; instead, He showed them what it meant to live in grace.

This message echoes in the music of Jelly Roll, a man whose raw lyrics often paint a picture of a life touched by pain, struggle, and redemption. In his song “Save Me,” he cries out:

“Somebody save me, me from myself
I’ve spent so long living in Hell…”

Jelly Roll doesn’t hide his scars, and neither does Jesus. In fact, Jesus’ scars are the reason ours can heal. Life can leave us feeling far from God, stained by choices we regret. But here’s the good news: Jesus isn’t afraid of our mess. He doesn’t require us to be clean before we come to Him – He just asks that we come.

And this is where, in the midst of our struggles and imperfections, He turns our mess into our message. Jesus transforms our perceived failures into testimonies and creates opportunities for us to share God’s grace with others.

May we strive to be more like Jesus – not becoming part of sin, but stepping into people’s pain with compassion and truth. Let’s also be honest about our brokenness and hopeful in God’s ability to redeem it.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” – 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)