I have never seen Les Misérables, neither the play nor the movie. I did, however, see a clip of the movie last week that expanded my miserable view of the grace of God. My view of grace is still a miserable one. I will continue to be crushed by the weight and mass of grace. Perhaps you have a miserable view of grace too.
Below is the clip from Les Misérables. It is 5:41 minutes long, but I implore you to invest the time so that you too can plumb the depths and implications of the grace of God. The main character in Les Misérables is the French ex-convict Jean Valjean. In this clip you will see the interaction between Valjean and a Bishop who invites him into his home.
What is it about grace that makes it so amazing?
Jean Valjean received grace, unfounded, undeserved, unjustifiable, grace.
Was it amazing? Yes.
But was it humiliating as well? Yes.
Grace is so amazing because it humiliates us. Humiliation is what makes grace so effective. Not only was Valjean given grace. He had grace heaped upon him, thrown at him, crushing him. But in order for grace to be effective in your life you have to be humiliated, you have to be crushed.
Jesus describes this type of humiliation in the prodigal son story. (Luke 15:21-24)
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21"The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
22"But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. 24For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.
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Take not only the silverware, take the candlesticks as well.
You say you're not worthy to be my son? Take my best robe, my ring, my sandals, the fattened calf, and the highest of honors instead.
You want a handful of grace? Take a truck load as well.
You want a glimpse of what life is? I didn't come to give you a glimpse, I came to give life to the full.
Be misérable. Be humiliated. Let it crush you.
Why do you think we need to be humiliated?
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