Jesus and Vampires

As I was reading Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare (a series one of my students has gotten me hooked onto), I came across this quote. At first, it may seem insignificant, something not worth bothering with. But for me, I had a Jesus moment when I scanned it this evening.

The scene Clare is writing about is a den of vampires, "cultured" vampires mind you, that are living in London during the late 1800's. Apparently these vampires enjoy "performances" put on by humans in their "theater" that is hidden below ground behind richly decorated homes. When one of the main characters is asking about the theater, he wants to know where the victims come from.

The part that hit me the most is when Magnus says, "The forgotten and lost. Those who will not be missed."

Forgotten.

Lost.

Those words really struck me tonight, and honestly made me think of Jesus.

I know, I know. Jesus?! In the midst of a vampire lair, you go to Jesus?

Well... yeah.

When I'm surrounded by the enemy, that's all I hear from him. That I am forgotten and forgettable. I am lost and aimlessly wandering. That no one would miss me if anything were to happen to me.

But tonight, Jesus came through and said, "No. Not true."

In Luke 19, Jesus has come to Jericho and passes by Zacchaeus. No one seemed to think much of Zach, and when Jesus says he's going to Zach's house to eat, everybody starts to gossip about it. They are calling Zach names and stuff, accusing him of being a sinner, and looking down on Jesus for wanting to hang out with him.

And when Zach comes clean to Jesus, admits that he's made mistakes but is attempting to make things right, Jesus says, "Today salvation has come to this house, since he is also a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost" (Luke 19:9-10).

While the world and the enemy look at me as fresh meat, as meal for gossip, and as someone who is worthless, forgettable, and lost, Jesus sees those things, and comes for me anyways.

He seeks after me.

He wants to save me.

All because I AM lost. All because I have been forgotten. And if He doesn't have me, or you, He will be the One to miss us.

I dunno, Jesus coming to rescue me from a den of bloodthirsty vampires at the end of the nineteenth century? Sounds a little like the gospel, and a lot like His grace.

Because He sought me. Because He found me.

Because He saved me.