A FRIEND OF SINNERS

• DAY 103
• FAITH FILES: THE COURAGE OF JESUS
• SCRIPTURE:

“Now it happened, as He was dining in Levi’s house, that many tax collectors and sinners also sat together with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many, and they followed Him. And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, “How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?” When Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.””

Mark 2:15-17 nkjv

It always amazes me how hostile believers get when they see another believer communicate or commemorate with someone they consider an unbeliever. The comment section gets lit with insults and name calling and I’m wondering how a picture equals backsliding. Surely, Jesus didn’t face this. Then I see scriptures like this and I think to myself the Bible does cover every aspect our present realities.

As It Was Before

In today’s religious climate, as it was in Jesus’ day, religious people or church folk were the greatest critics of themselves. They were vehemently against anyone who embraced people who seemed different from what they perceived holy and righteous behavior to be. Whether or not they were Jews didn’t matter. Just like we judge people’s salvation by their appearance and/or church denomination.

Sinners included those who seem different and who didn’t abide by all the laws, which they too defiled in secret. Tax collectors however were to bottom of the barrel, worst set of people. They were Jews who helped the Romans reap people out of their had end money. Sounds like yahoo boys of today. These people were shunned ostracized and marginalized by the people who should give them a chance at right living. Sound familiar?

Sounds to me like how we decide who should be worthy of salvation or should be qualified to come to church. So you can imagine how furious these religious folk were when Jesus decided to embrace those they considered unworthy. Only a man of courage will go against religious culture with such audacity to seek and save the lost.

An Unlikely Friend

However, what I find curious is that these Jewish yahoo boys, sinners and agberos (not sure how to translate) found Jesus to be someone they can eat with. He was perfect, sinless and holy, yet the “worst” men of the city found His company pleasant. He did not compromise, yet His compassion and love was evident to these people.

Beloved, the Gospel is for the hurt and it takes a courageous heart to open their arms to receive those who need it. People of faith are passionate about the lost because God is passionate about them. They do consider themselves too righteous to associate with “different” folk. They understand that populating the kingdom is the primary responsibility of every believer so they position themselves as friends of sinners so that they can win them over to the Lord.

Let’s Be Clear

Let me clarify that friendship here doesn’t imply being besties, closely knit and yoked with sinners because God warns against being friends (yoked, bound, aligned and in agreement) with the world and all that is in it. Because we know that l two cannot walk together unless they be agreed. And the truth is your company affects your character, so your closest friends cannot be those who are not of your value system. Jesus was their friend but they were not part of His three closest disciples. He knew how to interact with them to make them feel loved and accepted without letting them close enough to compromise Him and He was perfect and sinless.

What “friends” here means is being able to recognize that these “sinners” need the same gospel that saved you and that would require some level of interaction and compassion. It implies that you do not judge or see yourself as superior to the ones that Jesus gave His precious life for.

To All Believers

I hope you don’t think that this message is for preachers and people with pulpit. No! This is for every believer. How compassionate are you towards that colleague that is clearly a tax collector? His patient are you with that aristo in your compounds? Do you turn your nose at them or do you extend a hand of fellowship from time to time so they know they belong and when they are ready you are there to lead them to Jesus? God uses love to draw us, let’s learn to do the same.

Pray

Dear Jesus, give me a compassionate heart for those who are not yet safe in the salvation you died to provide. Connect me with those who need to know your love that I may be the vessel you use to bring them to you.

Shalom