As you read this you may recall, probably from your Sunday school days,

• the Parable of the Sower: Mark, chapter 4,


• the Prodigal Son: Luke, chapter 15,


• the Good Shepherd: John, chapter 10, or


• the Good Samaritan: Luke, chapter 10.

All those have great spiritual truths that reveal something of the character of God, or the work of the Lord Jesus himself. The parables can also reveal something about our character, too.

Jesus also told real-life stories, to teach people about the purpose for which he came.

I would like to tell you about a friend of mine, to illustrate a very important truth of why Jesus came into the world.

In 2005 he broke his right arm, which required surgery at a local hospital, where he remained for a about a week.

Just along from the ward was a chapel. He had noticed the chapel on many walkabouts, but did not enter it until the last day of his stay, while waiting for his family to come and collect him.

There was nobody else in the chapel. It was a simple room and very peaceful. He sat in there for a while and then picked up a Bible.

He turned to John chapter 3: verse 16, which says: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not die but have eternal life."

At that moment, he felt ashamed of the person that he was and was overcome with emotion and cried.

He asked God to forgive him for all his sins. He walked out of that chapel a different man.

The truth is that God is still a God of love and mercy, as well as a God of justice and he forgives the sins of those who come to him seeking forgiveness.

"The Son of God came to seek and to save those who were lost." Luke, chapter 10 verse 19.