Take a moment to imagine that Jesus is alive today, and has been leading and teaching the people of your church for the last few months while your pastor takes a break. Jesus acts the same as he did in Biblical times, and is, therefore, causing just as much of a stir in the community.
For example, Jesus has been spotted walking around with an interesting crowd of people, and it is causing people to ask you, as one of his disciples, some fundamental questions about Jesus. One day, out of earshot of Jesus, a woman from a church just up the street told you that Jesus was spotted walking into the tavern with a couple of guys whose breath reeked of whiskey and whose skin bore a sheen of cigarette smoke. The woman exclaimed that the two had apparently gotten their fill of heavenly love constantly saying while hanging out with Jesus, “You’re great, I love you man.” She badgered you saying, “These men haven’t spent a night with their family in weeks. They are the type of people who corrupt good people. And, I saw Jesus’ hands with a telltale tint of orange stuck in the creases. That’s right, it is obvious that he sat down with them at the bar and had some buffalo wings with them. Why does you teacher eat with sinful slobs like that?” she asked.
Immediately, a man taped you on the shoulder with a somewhat perturbed look on his face. His lower lip quivered with barely concealed anger as he informed you that your teacher was seen on the television a couple of nights ago. Jesus was seen with his hand on a known thief. And, he was not grabbing the guy to haul him in to the authorities. Instead, he was praying beside the dirt bag! Jesus was even seen laughing with the guy as he shared a simple meal.
“That guy hasn’t turned from his ways. What kind of teacher do you have?” he asked with disgust. “Do you and your teacher promote theft and crime? Why does your teacher eat with criminals?”
The question is the same question that has been asked of Jesus’ followers since the beginning of his ministry. “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” A careful politician Jesus is not. Jesus does not care how things appear; he just cares, period. Jesus is constantly seen eating with the wrong crowd.
Because of the fierce anger on their faces, you hesitantly gave these two people the only answer that you knew to give. It is the same answer that you have heard Jesus, himself, provide: “My teacher eats with those who are sick not those who are healthy. Healthy people do not need a doctor, only the sick.”
The two people just stared at you, apparently failing to comprehend. You continued, “You are right, these people probably haven’t turned from their ways. But, you have to understand, my teacher heals by showing mercy. The scriptures show God’s position on this issue clearly. ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ Jesus doesn’t require anyone to prove anything in order to sit with him and eat with him. He does not require money, or promises; not even repentance. My teacher believes that being merciful is the way healing happens. Maybe you should give it a try.”
You moved to walk away, but one of the two grabbed you by the arm, getting your attention once more. He retorted, “If it is true that your teacher hangs out with sinners you need to know that I saw your teacher eating with your pastor the other day.” You simply replied, “My teacher eats with sinners, with those who are sick.”
At that point you both turned to see, Jesus leave. He went to care to little girl who had just died. Almost to prove your point, as Jesus left, a woman with a disgusting and obviously contagious medical problem touched Jesus, and was healed. Though she expected a rebuke for such carelessness, Jesus did not get mad. She needed healing, and trusted that Jesus could do so. Jesus had no problem connecting with this woman.
Jesus would have had no problem sitting and eating with her either. Jesus goes out of his way to sit and eat with sinners and tax collectors. Jesus goes out of this way to spend time with everyone who our culture despises, disregards, or forgets. Jesus eats with those who need love and healing.
I assume that Jesus eats with you too. I assume that you welcome Jesus to your table and that Jesus joins you, eats with you, and mercifully accepts you as a welcome companion, warts, sins and all. I assume that you also find healing and forgiveness in the one who is willing to touch you and sit with you, especially when you are at your worst. It is the way of Jesus, and it is also the way of his church.
Too many people have the wrong impression of the church. Too many people have the sense that the church is a gathering of the righteous. I suppose that those of us who gather together in Jesus’ name may have contributed to that vast misconception, fancying ourselves as faithful and good, and presenting ourselves as being more holy than we are. But, the truth is; Jesus eats with those who need him. We come to Christ’s table, not because we are great, but because we are hurt; not because we stand tall, but because we have fallen short; not because we have figured it all out, but because we have sinned. And, because we have been welcomed, we welcome other broken people to join us.
A number of years ago my brother-in-law, Brandon, said the weirdest thing. Just to set this up, Brandon lost his leg when a guy smashed his van into Brandon’s body while riding his motorcycle. The guy drove off, with part of Brandon’s foot still hanging in his grill, leaving Brandon on the street to die. Brandon lost much of his left leg because of this hit and run accident.
However, instead of expressing anger, Brandon said the weirdest thing to me, “I’m not mad at the guy. I can understand how when you’ve made a huge mistake all you can think of doing is running. He didn’t have insurance. He probably felt trapped.” For Brandon, there was no question that this man deserved a chance at mercy, even though the guy carelessness changed Brandon’s body and life forever.
But, that is what eating with Jesus does, it changes us. We feed on mercy and we cannot help but be merciful. After-all, it is mercy that Jesus believes can save the world. He gave his life on the cross for that idea. Jesus truly believes that mercy can save some broken people like you, and like me, and like sinners, and like tax collectors, and like the despised and forgotten. It is mercy that Jesus uses to bandage and heal the broken, and so do we.
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