The religious authorities complained that Jesus ate with tax collectors and sinners. “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” (Matthew 9.11).
They were taken aback by Jesus’ behavior because eating with such people implied acceptance and friendship. The Pharisees believed that separating from sinners was the path to righteousness.
On the other hand, Jesus believed that accepting sinners provided a pathway to their hearts. He chose to defeat evil by transforming evil individuals into friends of God.
As a doctor of the soul, Jesus knew that the path to healing was to come into contact with those who were sick. “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick” (Matthew 9.12).
Jesus knew what we all should recognize: relationships are crucial to helping people hear and receive the good news of God’s love.
Before someone receives the truth of God’s love, they must first accept on some level the messenger who delivers it. Both the messenger’s acceptance of those distant from God and their reception of the messenger is a crucial component to the communication of the gospel.
Jesus explained this principle to His first followers, and it continues to be relevant today.
“Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.
“Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous,
“And whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple—truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward” (Matthew 10.40-42).
The context of these verses fits within a chapter where Jesus tells his disciples to go into the cities of Israel and to take nothing with them. They were to depend upon the kindness of strangers as the home base of their gospel mission.
When I think of my conversion, I had to accept the invitation of a friend. I received his invitation, but ultimately received the invitation of Jesus to follow him as Lord and Savior.
I can’t think of another instance where God’s message goes to someone without a messenger, the relationship of the messenger to the one who receives it, and the ultimate salvation of that person’s life. This is God’s plan.
This makes it important for timid messengers to be willing to reach out to others, both with acceptance and with a gospel message.
It also involves the person who is distant from God opening their life to the messenger and the message of God’s love.
A Story of Salvation
The greatest joy of serving the Lord for 50 years has been seeing people who are distant from God come to know Him and experience His transforming love.
When I lived in Louisiana, there was a man who had a pretty rough reputation. He was a bar fighter, had been married several times, and was considered an outcast of the community.
One day I prayed a short prayer for him, and the next day he and I came into contact. He received me into his home and we developed a friendship.
One of my friends was in town preaching at the church I served. We met in my mobile home with this friend of mine, and the visiting preacher turned to him. He called him by name and said, “Isn’t it about time for you to get saved.”
That’s exactly what happened. This man, who was a friend of mine, now became a friend of Jesus because he invited Jesus to enter his life and be his Lord and Savior.
All of this began with relationships. I received him, he received me, but ultimately the goal was to become a friend of Jesus.
I am thankful that this process has been repeated over and over again throughout the years. It is the greatest joy of my life.
My question to readers of my blog is: who do you have in your life that you can accept, build a relationship with, and ultimately help them meet Jesus as their friend?
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross and I discussed this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 