Innocent and Free
Date: January 18th, 2026
Canvas: 24” x 30”
As our guest speaker Jamie Winship delivers a surprise message to the Hope Covenant series on ‘disciple-shift,’ he shares unbelievable stories of discipling people horribly burdened and wounded by completely false names—and he begins discipling them before they accept Jesus. Jamie often risks his life for them to know their true name, stating convincingly, ‘Everything in the universe is driven by identity.’
So, I ask the questions I’ve learned from Jamie: ‘God, what do I need to know? What do you want me to do?’...45 minutes go by…I see a ballerina…interesting…I listen some more…30 minutes go by…Jamie begins talking about Zacchaeus, who’s chained to the names people call him (‘worthless money grubbing dirtbag.’) But Jesus, who can only speak the truth, calls him ‘Pure and Innocent’ (which is also the literal meaning of ‘Zaccheaus.’) Then, Jesus says to Zaccheaus, ‘I’m going to abide with you today and forever!’ A bolt of ‘lightning’ strikes Zacchaeus’ mind—and mine too—I see a woman shackled by false accusations, but Jesus calls her Innocent and Free—she’s swept up into an electrifying dance, moving spontaneously from her divine identity. So it is with Zacchaeus. In his first free act, he does something amazing...he pays back double the money he stole.
Jamie explains how the Empire stamps false names onto people—stoking fear and separation to feed its oppressive power. But Jesus responds, ‘Let them! Who cares?! We are going to die showing our enemies they are Pure and Innocent! So, they won’t be afraid of me anymore…so, the Empire can never cause separation again…so, we can take down the Empire once and for all…so, we can live connected in Eternity and in Freedom!’
It is for freedom that Christ has set you free. —Galatians 5:1