Jesus, Friend of Sinners
Laying down the hammer used in his carpenter’s trade, Jesus kissed his mother on the cheek and started out the door with nothing but a bag flung over his shoulder. His time had come as he had heard his father’s voice speaking clearly. This was his appointed time to fulfill his destiny; the reason for his birth, and ultimately, his death from the very beginning of time.
Off in the distance, John’s voice echoed above the crowd, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near!” Baptizing many on that day, with the scorching sun beating down upon his brow, John looked up and Jesus was standing beside him to be baptized. “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” John asked Jesus. Jesus replied, “Let it be so now, it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Jesus was baptized, and rising up out of the water the heavens were opened and the Spirit of God descended like a dove on him and a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil for forty days and forty nights. For the first time, he felt the pangs of hunger, with his stomach feeling hollow and every rib could be counted from lack of food, and his mouth parched from thirst. If only he could have just one drop of water to wet his tongue that was sticking to the roof of his mouth. Falling from the extreme heat and lack of food and water, alone in the desert sun with no shelter, he was alone to be tormented and taunted by Satan. “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Knowing his eternal purpose and what he was doing for all of humanity, Jesus overcame the pangs of hunger and thirst, realizing that all those who would come to him would be satisfied in a deeper way than food or drink. They would be fed spiritually and after coming to him, they would be filled. They would never hunger or thirst again for the scraps of the world. Crying out to God for supernatural strength, he spoke back to Satan, with the same words he has taught all that have followed behind him, with all authority, “Away from me Satan, for it is written, worship God and serve him only.”
What a victory! He had passed the test! Satan left him, and God smiled down on his precious obedient son. Returning to Galilee, Jesus was full of the Spirit. Everywhere he went, he drew a crowd. “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near. Come to me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. I will refresh your weary souls and give you streams in the desert. Be set free today! Be healed today!” They came one by one, the lonely, hopeless, forsaken, the outcasts, the downtrodden, the sick, the woman caught in adultery, the woman with the issue of blood, the young, the old and of every economic status. It didn’t matter. They had a need and Jesus filled their needs, from the small to the great. He didn’t do it for the multitudes, but for that one individual, steeped in sin and bondage, knowing that he held the answer to their most urgent heart cry. No matter how long it would take, he would never give up on them. He was born for this very purpose. First, one would come, and then another; one by one they came to him with the realization that they needed a miracle and he had the cure. The beggars, the harlots, the lepers came one by one to sit at the feet of Jesus, to hear his stories, share a meal or be warmed by the campfire. They would learn from him and find hope where no other hope could be found.
The greatest miracle of all is that he loves me, even me, the sinner that I am. He loves me; all the good, the bad and the ugly. He does not push me away, but he pulls me close. He is the glory and the lifter of my head. He sees my desperation in a crowd full of people and he looks straight at me into my eyes and I know love like I have never known before!
Romans 2:4
Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?
John 6:37
All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
Luke 15: 1-7
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear him. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Then Jesus told them this parable; Suppose one of you had a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.” I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
We are so busy reflecting on Jesus’ ministry that we sometimes forget how Mary, his mother, must have felt, knowing her son was about to embark on a mission that was ordained by God. As a mother and a grandmother, I can just imagine all the emotions she must have had welling up inside of her when Jesus left that day to start his ministry. She had the same memories that all mothers have. She had given birth to him, fed him, clothed him, bandaged his cuts and bruises and watched him play as a child. I’m sure she had the same problem of letting go as so many of us face today when it’s time for our kids to leave the nest. She knew this was God’s plan from the beginning of time, and I love her gentle words of faith in her God when the angel, Gabriel, gave her the news that she was going to be the mother of the Messiah that would save his people from their sins.
Luke 1: 46-48
and Mary said, “My soul doth magnify the Lord and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden; for, behold, from henceforth to all generations shall call me blessed.
Because Mary was chosen by God to bring forth her son, Jesus, the world will never be the same! What a glorious hope for all mankind!
Because of Jesus’ mercy and grace, we can come boldly to his throne and make our requests known to him. There is no sin too great to keep us away from his fathomless love. His mercies are new every morning and because he welcomes the sinner, and all who need a Savior, we have a glorious hope. We can live a victorious life with a new beginning as we accept his invitation to “Repent, the kingdom of heaven is near.” His love is boundless! What wonderful news to know that Jesus invitation still stands today, to embrace eternal life! We have been sent the invitation from the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords! This is the party of all party’s and the one giving the party gives us a gift, the gift of eternal life! We don’t have to wait until life as we know it here ends. We can start right now living the abundant life that only Jesus can give us today!
Won’t you accept his invitation if you haven’t already, and find out what the abundant life is all about? He holds the power to set you free today from fear, and the ravages of sin will lose their hold on you. Lay your burdens down and start to enjoy the abundant life found only in Jesus Christ.
