The word reconciliation has been knocking around in my head since the end of May when protests erupted throughout the country in the aftermath of the death of another black man at the hands of the police. 

When I looked up the definition of reconciliation, it felt weak and uninspiring for a word that I associate with such a powerful message of redemption and restoration. 

You see, since the beginning of time since man welcomed sin into the world, God has been working on His plan to bring his people back to him. The biggest piece of that plan was sending Jesus to earth, not only to reconcile us back to Him but to teach us about God’s heart for reconciliation. 

What exactly did Jesus teach us about doing the work of reconciliation? He stepped into uncomfortable, counter-cultural situations that had the opportunity to harm his reputation. He spent time alone with women of a race different than his own (John 4), and stood in the gap between the self-righteous religious elite and the outcast adulterous woman (John 8). He dined with “sinners” and tax collectors – those that the culture at the time told you to stay far away from unless you were looking to ruin your reputation. 

I often think about who these “sinners” were? What were their wrongdoings that cast them from society? Was it their religion? Their small mistakes and missteps? Was it the life they were born into that they just couldn’t get out of because everything was against them? Was it their race? 

I wonder if Jesus ever felt uncomfortable before treading into these situations. If he had to psych himself up to do the right thing, or if he felt that ‘rock in the stomach’ anxiety before stepping outside of the cultural comfort zone, or if the tension in his chest grew tighter and tighter as he reached out his hand to touch the leper or pass the bread to the tax collector. 

Because I know that’s how I feel when I am called to do the same. And I am called to do the same. The closer I grow to my Savior, the more I desire to be like him, and the more my heart breaks for the things that break His and the more I compelled to step out of my comfort zone to learn about people with different experiences than my own and step toward Jesus with them. 

The reconciling work of Jesus looks like restoring right relationship between people and with creation and ultimately with God. This is what Jesus came to do and this is what Jesus commissioned us to do until He comes back again to reconcile every single thing back to its rightness once and for all. 

In the meantime, friends, may we be the reflection of the reconciliation of Jesus, but remember that ultimately it is only Jesus who restores, we are just the tools he chooses to use. Where might He be calling you to be a reconciler?