For me. For you. For that neighbor who's very devoutly religious. For the neighbor who's athiest. For the Christ-follower. For the Jew. For the Muslim, the Buddhist, the Shintoist, the Hindu, the Wiccan, the Satanist and the Voodoo witch doctor.
Jesus died for the rich, the poor, the worker, the unemployed, the well-housed and the homeless. Jesus died for the drug addict. For the alcoholic. For the prostitute. For the pimp. For the john. For the mentally disabled. For the mentally retarded. For the welfare parent. For the grieving parent. For the foster parent and the adopted parents.
Jesus died for the young. For the old. For everyone in the middle. For the female. For the male. For the husband. For the wife. For the parents. For the babies.
Jesus died for White people. And Black people. And for Native Americans, Middle Easterners, Asians, Hispanics and the millions of people who don't quite fit into any of these categories.
Jesus died for Republicans. For Democrats. For Libertarians. For Socialists. For Communists. For Independents.
Jesus died for the innocent. And for the guilty. Jesus died for the criminal in prison. Jesus died for the criminal out on the streets. Jesus died for the criminal any of us could be were it not for the grace of God.
Did I forget anyone for whom Jesus died? Yes, Jesus died for us all.
And praise God, Jesus went through Hell for me so even on my darkest, most frustrating days, he knows what I'm going through.
And double praise the LORD God, Jesus rose again so that I - and ALL those I mentioned who choose to follow him - can have eternal life!
Amen.
