I recently saw the movie Les Miserables. I have not been the same since.

This is a story that brings new meaning to the gospel and how we frame the terms “mercy” and “grace.” I cannot listen to a worship song or read the Bible without somehow thinking about Jean Valjean. Les Miserables is a story that has mercy and grace dripping all over it.

In the story, Jean Valjean is a lifelong criminal who is finally out on parole after nineteen years in a French prison. He is denied entrance at several places he tries to set up shop because his passport identifies him as a former convict. He is finally taken in by a church leader, Bishop Bienvenu. Valjean pays back his host by stealing the Bishops silver. When the police catch up to him, Valjean lies and claims that the Bishop had given him the silver as a gift. Bienvenu, who could have easily turned Valjean in, tells the officers who corralled Valjean that he is telling the truth. He even tells Valjean he should have “accepted” the silver candlesticks.

Valjean is dumbfounded. Valjean has been nothing but a thief, a prisoner, a sinner his whole life. Now he has been shown mercy. But it is more than mercy. Mercy would involve simply dropping the charges, but the bishop goes further—he actually rewards Valjean for his sin. He treats Valjean recklessly, overruling what the law – with the police literally standing in the room – demands. His love has everything to do with the sacrifice of the one doing the loving rather than the merit of the one being loved.

The bishop sets Valjean free. He sets Valjean free into a life that is changed forever.

From this moment on, his life is fueled more by gratitude than greed, giving than receiving, love than fear. This one moment of mercy changes him in a way that a lifetime of punishment never could.

What an incredibly emotional and beautiful approximation of what Jesus does for those who put their faith in him.

With Les Mis ringing in my ears, I sat in Starbucks and watched people. I watched as they came and went, sat down and had conversations. I watched people sitting alone with their latte and their computer. I watched people laugh. I watched them sit silently. I watched them work feverishly.

As I watched all this, I wondered what people would say if I were to walk over and ask them “What do you think Jesus would say to you if he were sitting across from you today?”

I pondered what people would say for a while. Most people, I think, would say something like, “Well, I think if Jesus were here, he would tell me to stop sinning.”

“He would tell me to clean up my act.”

“He would shake his finger at me and tell me to knock it off.”

“He would tell me to step it up and start being a better dad.”

“He would tell me I should be ashamed for stealing.”

“He wouldn’t even look at me.”

This is what Valjean probably expected from the Bishop.

This is what I think most people expect from Jesus.

I pondered what Jesus might say to these people for a while, too. Jesus, I think, would say much different things.

I think he would tell all those people, “Don’t be ashamed.”

“You are my friend.”

“My heart breaks for you.”

“I would like to hear more about that.”

“I am here for you.”

“I love you.”

So many of those people sitting in Starbucks, have not been introduced to that Jesus.

Maybe some of you reading this have not either.

I believe Jesus would say to you today, Don’t be ashamed. You are my friend. My heart breaks for what you are going through. I would like to help you. I am here for you. I love you.

We all desire to be treated as Valjean was by that bishop. This is why that scene from Les Mis tugs at our heartstrings the way it does.

That is the beauty of Jesus. He is our bishop. And we are all Valjean.

Allow Jesus to be your bishop today. Be freed into a life that changes forever.