Monday, October 20, 2014

Mark 2:15-17 -- On Eating with Sinners

"And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.
And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?
When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
Mark 2:15-17


I wonder who Christ would hang out with if his earthly ministry was now.  Surely he would spend time with prophets and leaders, teaching them and helping them learn to lead as he did his disciples.  But it definitely wouldn't just be them, right?  He would invite in anyone willing to listen to him:  Immigrants and ex-convicts, adulterers and homosexuals, politicians, tax collectors, used-car salesmen, lawyers, the rich and the poor.  Maybe even us.  And he would teach us all, and help us to know how to change our lives.  He would forgive us and love us and tell us to go and sin no more.  He would lift and encourage and support us in making ourselves better and in living closer to his example.
Today, let's remember to lift the people around us, no matter what labels we have given to them, or they have accepted for themselves.  Let's help each other grow and change and learn, for the sake of the growing and changing and not with any ulterior motives.  Let's improve however we can, and help others to do the same... and let's repent.  Of our biases, of our discrimination, of our superiority complexes. :)  And, of course, the rest of our sins.  Let's remember that the gospel is more like Sinner's Anonymous than a private club.  Let's do as Christ would do, and welcome anyone at all who wants to learn to join us at the banquet.

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