"That Man Welcomes Sinners"

For the last number of years I have marveled at the fact that "sinners" flocked to Jesus.

These people ranged from the folks who didn't measure up to the pharisaical standards of ceremonial purity to those who were in clear violation of God's expectations.

I pondered the question, "Why did the sinners of Jesus' day come to Him when most sinners of our day wouldn't think of crossing the threshold of one of our churches?"

The answer actually was staring me in the face in the Pharisees' accusation, "This man welcomes sinners and eat with them" (Luke 15:2).

Jesus welcomed sinners into His space, His presence, and shared fellowship with them by eating with them.

That's why sinners flocked to Him. His love for them drew them in.

And He didn't lead with the law with these folks on the fringes. Condemning them would only drive them further from Him.

Jesus' love drew the sinners to Him, and the closer they got, the more Jesus expected of them.

As He had taught, "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded" (Luke 12:48b).

That's why Jesus was harder on the Pharisees. They had been given much and were misusing what they had been given. The same couldn't be said of the sinners.

On Friday afternoons I spend time with folks that would be considered sinners. They are prostitutes and addicts, some recovering, some still active in "the life."

I attend their support group meeting designed for those who are looking to get out of or stay out of "the life."

We have lunch and talk about the problems we face. Even though we have different experiences, we all have problems. We are all sinners looking for grace and guidance.

These folks have welcomed me because I welcome them and eat with them.

They are grateful that I bring our church's Comfort Dog, Gabriel, to spend time with them, but my presence is valued by them as well.

What I have learned is that if we want the church to be a safe haven for sinners, we need to be like Jesus.

We need to welcome sinners and eat with them, the way Jesus has welcomed us.

If Jesus Came Over for Dinner

In Luke 11, Jesus accepts a dinner invitation from a Pharisee.

The Pharisee disapprovingly takes note that Jesus doesn't give His hands a ceremonial washing.

Jesus, in turn, begins to lay into the Pharisees for their hypocrisy. "Woe to you Pharisees..."

When the experts in the law complain that Jesus is insulting them also, Jesus turns His sights in their direction. "Woe to you experts in the law..."

I so want to cheer Jesus on. "You tell 'em, Jesus!" I'm even envious of His boldness. Who has the courage to accept a dinner invitation and then chastise the host? Only Jesus!

But then I realize that if Jesus came to my home for dinner, it would likely look the same for me as it did for that Pharisee.

If Jesus came over for dinner, I would ask one of my members to be the pit master for a genuine Texas barbecue.

I would then invite the members of the church and some of my fellow pastors to dine with the divine guest of honor.

We would all clear our calendars, put on our Sunday best, and show up early, eager to meet Jesus, share a meal with Him, and listen to His wisdom.

But during the course of the dinner, as Jesus listens to our conversations and looks into our hearts, He might say something like this.

Woe to you Lutherans!

• You love your traditions and ceremonies
• You pride yourself on your orthodoxy
• You exult in your achievements
• You venerate your heritage
• You idolize your church buildings
• You bemoan your shrinking numbers
• You criticize the culture

However,

• You fail to love one another
• You fail to love your neighbor as yourself
• You fail to seek first the reign of God
• You fail to grow in the grace of giving
• You fail to make disciples
• You fail to fear, love, and trust in God above all things

We at the dinner might be insulted by Jesus. We might be offended by Jesus. But we couldn't say we were misjudged by Him.

That's why I'm grateful that Jesus invites me to His place for a meal, where I receive forgiveness for my failures, salvation from my sins, and the grace that I need to move forward in a more God-pleasing way.

Mother Knows Best

Jesus' first miracle was performed at a wedding in Cana when water became wine (John 2).

How this transformation occurred is not explained.

Somehow, between the filling of the six 30 gallon water jugs and the tasting by the master of ceremonies, the water became wine.

No command of Jesus is recorded.

No physical interaction between Jesus and the water is described.

It all happened simply because Jesus willed it to happen.

No wonder John tells us that, when they witnessed the glorious power of their rabbi, Jesus' disciples "put their faith in Him" (John 2:11).

But the disciples are not the only ones who put their faith in Jesus that day, nor were they the first.

Jesus' mother, Mary, beat them to it.

Mary is made aware of a problem at the wedding. The hosts had run out of wine.

What an embarrassment for the wedding couple and their families!

Mary, however, figures out a solution. She will tell Jesus about it.

Jesus' response to His mother is unexpected, and even sounds outright disrespectful.

"What is to me and to you, woman?" is the literal translation. A more natural rendering would read, "Dear woman, what does your concern have to do with me?"

Jesus is not being disrespectful, but He is distancing Himself from Mary and her concerns.

In explanation He adds, "My hour has not yet come."

What Mary does next is truly surprising. Rather than walking away disappointed in her son, she tells the nearby servants, "Whatever He says to you, do."

Jesus hadn't said He would do anything about this problem. He made no promises. He even makes it sound like He's not going to take any action at all.

But Mary knows her son. She knows He is a man of compassion and of power.

She puts her faith in Him and declares it with her words to the servants. "Whatever He says to you, do."

She trusts Jesus to act in whatever matter and at whatever time He chooses.

She didn't beg from Him. She didn't argue with Him. She didn't dictate to Him.

She made known to Him the need and left the rest up to Him.

Sounds like a good way to pray.

As is so often the case in life, mother knows best.