Love th3 Chagall and number 16- also the one titled “redemption chord” 26- cool title and I like the almost abstract depiction of the event.
I wonder how many church goers would welcome a known redeemed prostitute? I think God chooses the “unlovely” so etimes to expose bias in the proud, and to warn the spiritually immature not to judge based on the past liv3s of others., and most importantly to show that He is infinitely patient with us when we sin, but we tend to think subconsciously I think, that that is only because we think of ourselves as “not so bad”. God is patient with everyone, not wanting any to perish! He isn’t patient based solely on “degree of badness of sins”- He is patient based on his eternal love for sinners regardless of how bad a life they have lived.
The proud pharisees yell out in public “I thank God that I am not as sinful as so and so”, and pat themselves on the back. Meanwhile the former prostitute risks her life by helping the jews because she has seen that the God of Israel is the true God!
You have the outline there, Bob, of an important sermon. Preach it, brother!
Another way to say it is: Rather than being surprised when I encounter some unexpected people in heaven, I wonder who will be surprised at encountering me there.
“He is patient based on his eternal love for sinners regardless of how bad a life they have lived.”
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Amen Bob
‘The Holy One of Israel’ as Isiah wrote.
Rahab was not the only prostitute in the lineage as Tamar briefly played a prostitute to Judah.
Then we have Ruth the "dirty" Moabite who may or may not have been a temple prostitute.
Bob434 is correct: we cannot judge each other's sins. We cannot grade sins.
We can only be humbled that God would love us so much that He would wash us clean.