Psalm 26 makes me uncomfortable. It’s full of boasting and pride. The psalmist says things like “I trust in you, Lord. My thoughts are pure. My desires are proper. I don’t associate with sinners. I lead a blameless life. And I always sing your praises.” The psalmist has a pretty high opinion of himself. But I don’t buy it. Nobody is that holy!

But there is Jesus. Throughout his life, he embodied the holiness described in Psalm 26. He trusted his Father completely: in the wilderness, at sea, under arrest, on the cross. The glory of God filled his thoughts, shaped his desires, and determined his actions. In life and in death, Jesus was blameless.

But Jesus did overturn one part of Psalm 26, and it was scandalous. His opponents complained, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them” (Luke 15:2). And they were right. Jesus spent quality time with people who simply did not measure up. To his opponents, that could only mean that Jesus himself did not measure up.

But they were using the wrong measure. To their way of thinking, sin had the power to turn water into poison. But the holiness of Jesus had the power to turn water into wine.

So Jesus transformed sinners back then. And he still transforms sinners today, sinners like you and me.