Les Miserablés
Book First published in 1862
Musical on Broadway 1987-2003
6,680 performances/5th longest running show
Jean Valjean, bishop, Fantine and Cosette, Javert
So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.
Romans 8:1-4 New Living Translation (NLT)
“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
Mark 12:29-31 New International Version (NIV)
“…unable to reconcile Valjean’s merciful acts with his [Javert’s] conception of Valjean as an irredeemable criminal.
Refusing to compromise his principles but no longer able to hold them sacred, he finds himself torn between God and the law and commits suicide, throwing himself into the Seine [river].” – (Wikipedia)
The Power of Love
The Story of Ruth
But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it every so severely if even death separates you and me.” When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.”
Ruth 1:16-18 (NIV)
Boaz and Ruth – Chapters 3 and 4
kinsman-redeemer
Ruth and Boaz – Obed – Jesse – King David – Jesus
Jesus is our kinsman-redeemer
Where are you being called to share the power of God’s love?
Where are you being called to introduce others the the kinsman-redeemer, Jesus Christ, recognizing that we a re kin to everyone?