JESUS – THE FRIEND OF SINNERS

One of the endearing aspects of Jesus’ earthly ministry is, His ability to strike “friendships” with “strangers” “sinful” “unwanted” and “discarded” people. Jesus had this ability, to simoky walk up to a total stranger, and start a deep and meaningful conversation, that left them transforms for life.
1- The Samaritan woman at the well is a very fine example – John 4;4-43. 
2- Another example is Zacchaeus – Luke 19:1-10. 
3- The brief but impactful conversation with the woman caught in adultery is another great example of Jesus’ ability to talk to total strangers, and disarm them without hurting them – John 8:1-11.

Jesus looked at these flawed people with love, compassion, kindness and mercy. Jesus saw their hearts, and not their actions. Yes, they were sinful, undoubtedly. Their acts of sin does not accurately reflect their hearts, their sufferings, and their anguish over their sin. 

Pharisees and the Scribes, on the other hand, very clearly, reflected their hearts, their motives, and their attitude. Their sinfulness was in full public display, yet, they considered themselves righteous. Small wonder then, the compassionate LORD, calls them wicked and evil, the children of their father, the Lucifer. The religious heads and the leaders, never liked Jesus because, they though Jesus should be walking and talking with them, the “virtuous” and the “learned” of the society, and not the sinners, and tax collectors, who were the basest of base people in the society.
– “27 After these things He went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” 28 So he left all, rose up, and followed Him. 29 Then Levi gave Him a great feast in his own house. And there were a great number of tax collectors and others who sat down with them. 30 And their scribes and the Pharisees complained against His disciples, saying, “Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” – Luke 5:27-30
– “5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” – Luke 19:5-7
– “1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” – Luke 15:1-2

The reason for Jesus to be kind and compassionate with the worst of the lot in the society is seen in His response to the above questions.
– “31 Jesus answered and said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” – Luke 5:31-32

Let us read the other two recordings of the same response of Jesus. This amplifies to us, the heart of God, and His perspective towards sinners and the self-righteous people.
– “17 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 2:17
– “12 When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” – Matthew 9:12-13

Jesus loved people, the way He did, is because, as the Creator, He knows accurately, the hearts and minds of human beings. The words of Jesus in Matthew 11:19, in response to the accusations that He was a “Friend of the Sinners” – helps us gain, an insight into the heart and the mind of LORD Jesus.
– “The Son of Man came eating and drinking [with others], and they say, ‘Look! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners [including non-observant Jews]!’ Yet wisdom is justified and vindicated by her deeds [in the lives of those who respond to Me].” – Matthew 11:19 [Amplified Bible]

Have we forgotten how YAHWEH, the LORD God Almighty, had to drill into the stubborn and unwilling heart of prophet Jonah, about the people of Nineveh?
– “10 But the LORD said, “You have had pity on the plant for which you have not labored, nor made it grow, which came up in a night and perished in a night. 11 And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left—and much livestock?” – Jonah 4:10-11

God always cares for those who are honest with Him, regardless of their sin, as we see from Matthew 11:19, and Jonah 4:10-11. This doesn’t mean, God does not count sin. No, not at all. It means, God considers everyone, including the self-righteous ones, as sinners and lost, who are in need of a Redeemer – Romans 3:23; 6:23. Whoever approaches the LORD with humility and honesty, seeking His grace and mercy, will find, God to be their Friend. This is why Jesus declared…
– “10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” – Luke 19:10

Jesus, our Redeemer, our LORD and our Master, is “Friend of Sinners” because, He has come to “Seek and save that which was lost.” Now, the same Jesus asks us, to walk the same path as He did. Are we a “Friend of Sinners,” or are we, a “Friend of the Boastful, Proud, Arrogant and Self-righteous?” Today is celebrated as “Friendship Day” in appreciation of friends and friendship. Are we reflecting our Redeemer, the one and only true “Friend of Sinners?” Would we welcome “SINNERS” into the Church, and to our gatherings, just as warmly as Jesus our LORD? Would we “SPEAK” lovingly, kindly and graciously to sinful people, just like our Lord and Master? May the LORD help us, to reflect Him.