When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the “sinners” and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” (Mark 2:16)
The self-righteous Pharisees and teachers of the law could not comprehend why Jesus would associate with “sinners” and tax collectors for one simple reason, they simply were blind to their own sin. Yet, their statement, which was meant as an insult, is a source of great comfort for those who know their own sinfulness, fallenness, and brokenness.
To know that Jesus is a friend of sinners is to know a profound and promising biblical truth. First, to be a friend of sinners means Jesus had to willingly come into this world subjecting Himself to living in a fallen and broken world. As the second person of the Trinity, Jesus came down off His heavenly throne, took on flesh, to dwell among us. Now that is profound. Second, to be a friend of sinners means Jesus had to intentionally invite us into an intimate and personal relationship with Him, because we were rebels on the run away from Him. Now that is promising.
These self-righteous religious leaders thought their right standing before God was rooted in their rigorous following of their rituals and rules. To them, it was all about the externals. But Jesus made it clear that our right standing before God was rooted in a right relationship with Him. By the way, let me make one thing perfectly clear. The reason Jesus ate with “sinners” is because that’s all He had to eat with – for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Jesus looked for relationship with the outcasts, socially unacceptable, marginalized, and ostracized.
Regardless of where this finds you today, whether in storms or sunshine, Jesus came for you. He lived for you. He died for you. He rose from the dead for you. And He is coming back for you. Remember, Jesus being a friend of sinners did not mean He condoned sinful behavior. He did not spend time with sinners to join in their sinful ways. Rather, in love, He was calling sinners like me and you to turn from sin and toward their Savior. We are His broken-yet beloved bride.
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 