1 Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."
Isn’t it wonderful for us that Jesus chose to come to the hopeless and the sinners and the sick! Recalling Jesus’ words in Matthew:
12 On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Matt 9:12-13 (NIV)
“I simply argue that the Cross should be raised at the center of the marketplace as well as on the steeple of the church. I am recovering the claim that Jesus was not crucified in a cathedral between two candles; but on a cross between two thieves; on the towns' garbage heap; at a crossroad, so cosmopolitan they had to write his title in Hebrew and Latin and Greek... at the kind of place where cynics talk smut, and thieves curse, and soldiers gamble. Because that is where He died. And that is what He died about. So, that is where church-men ought to be and what churchmen ought to be about." Rev. Dr. George McLeod, Minister, Church of Scotland, 1895-1991
It appears to me that the only ones Jesus is not calling are those who are convinced of their own “righteousness”. Sadly, being “righteous” in their own eyes, they mistakenly believe they have no need for a Savior. This brings to light a wonderful question for each of us to ponder – what is our estimation of our own self? Do we first begin by thinking of all the wonderful things we have accomplished? Perhaps we believe all the “press” about us and the kudos we receive from others. Maybe our thoughts turn to our possessions and like King Nebuchadnezzar we claim:
30 he said, "Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?" Dan 4:30 (NIV)
Before we get too pompous in our own beady little eyes and like King Neb start eating grass on all fours, it would behoove us to take heed of God’s word describing our standing apart from Christ before a holy God:
6 All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. Isaiah 64:6 (NIV)
Paul also gives us the following insight in Romans:
10 As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one; Romans 3:10 (NIV)
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23 (NIV)
We may be rehearsing in our minds all the “good” things that we have done in our own strength, thinking to ourselves we are really not that bad. Compared to others, we appear to come out pretty good. Unfortunately, God does not compare us to others. He compares us to Himself and to all of His holiness and we are all found sorely wanting. The Bible is very clear about this point – anything done apart from Christ is done with improper motives. God always examines the motive behind the action. Was the action done to glorify God or self? FYI - God is not into our self-glorification! Anything eternal we do is through the Holy Spirit’s power which indwells those who belong to Christ and which always points others to Christ and elevates and glorifies Him. This is exactly what Jesus is referring to in John 15:
1 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:1-5 (NIV)
“Christianity simply does not make sense until you face the sort of facts I have been describing. Christianity tells people to repent and promises them forgiveness. It therefore has nothing (as far as I know) to say to people who do not know that they have anything to repent of and who do not feel that they need any forgiveness. It is after you have realized that there is a real moral law and a power behind the law and that you have broken that law and put yourself wrong with that power - It is after all this, and not a moment sooner, that Christianity begins to talk... (Christianity) tells you how the demands of this law, which you and I cannot meet, have been met on our behalf. How God himself becomes a man to save man from the disapproval of God. It is an old story...All I am doing is to ask people to face the facts - to understand the questions which Christianity claims to answer. And they are very terrifying facts. I wish it was possible to say something more agreeable. But I must say what I think true. Of course, I quite agree that the Christian religion is, in the long run a thing of unspeakable comfort. But it does not begin in comfort; it begins in the dismay I am describing and it is no use at all to go on to that comfort without first going through that dismay. In religion, as in war and everything else comfort is the one thing you cannot get by looking for it. If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end: If you look for comfort you will not get either comfort or truth. - only soft soap and wishful thinking to begin with and, in the end despair.” CS Lewis, Mere Christianity