Would You Recognize Jesus?

Last Saturday I went to our local Fish Fest concert event. The headline act, and the reason I went, was Third Day. They are my favorite Christian band. I had intended to write something about one of the songs they sang or about the concert generally for my Music Monday post today. But something happened at the concert that changed that.

When it was time for Third Day to start, their lead singer Mac Powell came out and said that first a new artist that they were promoting, and whose first album Mac helped produced, was going to play a few songs for us. His name was Trevor Morgan. He played two songs before Third Day came out and they were great. I decided I wanted to get a copy of his CD before I left the concert.

As a side note, I want to say that this is one of the things I love about Third Day. They are always promoting new Christian artists and helping them get a start. All the fame has not gone to their heads and they don’t mind sharing the stage with someone new.

Later in the show, Trevor came out again and with Third Day as his back-up band he sang a song called “Jesus Rides the Subway.” I had videotaped a few songs during the concert, including one of Trevor’s solo songs at the beginning, but I really wish I has known this one was coming because I would have taped it. Thankfully someone had taped this song at an earlier show and posted it on YouTube.

The third verse of this song really hit me.

Jesus went to church on Sunday
He sat in back and sang the hymns
Jesus went to church on Sunday
But they didn’t recognize Him

I thought to myself, if Jesus came to my church would I recognize Him? Jesus said that whatever we do for the least of His brothers and sisters, we do for Him. (Matthew 25:40). The downtrodden, the poor, the hungry, the poorly dressed, the homeless – all of these are Jesus Himself. The humble, the contrite, the ones who encourage others and seek His will, those who feed and clothe the hungry and the naked, those who in their weakness rely on God – these represent Jesus in our midst.

But often we are so busy looking for perfection in church that we don’t recognize Jesus when He is right in front of us. A critical spirit prevents us from seeing His grace and mercy.

So yesterday before church I prayed that He would guard against a critical spirit that I might recognize Him if He was there. I was blessed to see Him. I saw Him in the service of the women setting up for an after-church social event. I saw Him in the eyes of a friend when I asked how her son who has cancer was doing. I saw Him in the beautiful musical offerings. I saw Him in the wonderful sermon we heard. I saw Him in the heartfelt prayers offered for our congregation and God’s church. I saw Him in the kids playing on the grass after church.

Sadly, not everyone recognized Him. Would you?