Title: Jesus and Sinners

Focus: Jesus intentionally called sinner without shaming them. So should we

Function: To motivate there hearers to find a way to minister to sinners


Intro:
1.  Ever been lost?  That happened to me on a camping trip.  Went in circles
2.  Could hear voices, so I called out, someone came to me
3.  The world full of “lost” people (not just “unchurched”) don’t know which way to go
4.  Jesus came intentionally to seek out the “lost”


I.  The call of Matthew (Mk 2:13-17)
	A.  Series of controversies in his ministry beginning with chapter 2 until chap 3 
	      when they decide to destroy Jesus
	B.  One of these controversies surrounded the call of Matthew
		1.  Jesus called Matthew while he as “on the job”
			a.  His job is why Matthew was hated and despised
			b.  People often not know what they would be taxed
			c.  Tax collectors take all they could
			d.  Seen as traitors, impure, and collaborators
		2.  Jesus response when he saw Matthew
			a.  Did not avoid, did not condemn
			b.  He called someone who no one wanted or respected
			c.  Jesus saw what no one else did, a “lost” soul of value
		3.  Matthew’s response
			a.  Must have made an impact, because he left his job behind
			b.  Left behind everything except his pen and parchment
			c.  He put them to valuable use - penned a Gospel
		4.  Fellowship with Matthew and his friends
			a.  There were “many” of them
			b.  Imagine, a Jewish teacher and a tax collector!
		5.  Response of Pharisees
			a.  Tax collectors and sinners
				- Sinners could be moral, or ceremonial sinners
				- One who not observe rabbinic rules also called a sinner
				- No doubt both types were present with Jesus
			b.  To the Pharisees, there were “haverim” and “am ha arets”
				- The looked down on the people of the land
				- The believed that only they, the separated ones who 
				   observe their own rules were the true Israel
			c.  Jesus appealed the the am ha arets
			d.  Pharisees felt Jesus was a bad example
				- To “eat with” them implies endorsement of these people
				- Jesus should have just preached repentance to them
				- Jesus got too cozy with them
		6.  This could have been Jesus’ own house (Mk 2:1)
	C.  ILL:  Tawny, the town slut, party animal came to a respectable church meeting
		1.  What a sight!  All those respectable people in respectable clothes
			a.  She came in wearing one of her loud tiger print pants
			b.  Hair was orange
			c.  Nobody really spoke to her
		2.  She was awe struck by the sermon she heard and returned next week
		3.  After about the fourth time she came, a leader came to visit her
			a.  Asked her not to come back
			b.  Reason was because people felt it looked bad for sinners to be 
			     there, what would people think?
			c.  There were some who said if she continued to come, they would 
			     stop coming
		4.  She asked, is there some place else to go?  A place for sinners?
	D.  Jesus made a place for sinners
		1.  A place that does not have room for sinners has no room for Jesus
		2.  What sense would it have made for Jesus to spend all his time with 
		      those who were well?  He went to the lives broken by sin
		3.  Are we really Christ like, or do we need to reform ourselves?


II.  Jesus at Simon’s House (Lk 7:36ff)
	A.  This time Jesus is dining with the respectable folks - all are sinners
	B.  Something unusual happens
		1.  A “sinner” comes in
			a.  Text not tell us what kind of sinner she is
			b.  One thing for certain, she recognizes her sin
		2.  She goes in search of Jesus
		3.  Imagine the sight, the commotion, the audacity!
		4.  Simon felt indignant toward both Jesus and the woman
			a.  “If” Jesus a prophet, he would know that the woman is a sinner
			b.  You were not supposed to touch sinners, would be defiled
			c.  Simon would soon learn that Jesus DID know
		5.  Jesus’ reply - “I have something to say to you”
			a.  Jesus contrasts her response to Jesus with Simons response
			b.  She responded with an open heart and humility
				- She knew the size of her debt
				- All she knew was that she needed to get to Jesus
				- Did not even speak, all she could do was cry
			c.  Simon was to proud and righteous to even extend customary 
			     hospitality
				- No difference in Simon or womans need for Jesus
				- Difference is Simon was to proud to see his need
		6.  Jesus transformed her tears of sorrow to tears of joy
	C.  ILL:  Not too long ago, had to look for doctor
		1.  Asked several about who is a “good” doctor
		2.  “Good” doctor doesn’t necessarily mean one who treats diseases
		3.  Good doctor knows he in poeple business - treats people, not diseases
		4.  So we search for “good” doctors
	D.  Why did this woman go looking for Jesus and not some other Rabbi?
		1.  Simon’s reaction answers that question
		2.  What a contrast between Simon and Jesus!
			a.  Simon despised and avoided the sick
				- He only dealt with disease in a lab - not personally
				- He dealt with sin, not sinners
			b.  Jesus loved sinners
				- He dealt not just with sin, but with the sinner
		3.  If someone were searching for a good doctor, where would they go?
		4.  Is this the clinic, the emergency room they would come too?
		5.  If someone is starving for love, meaning, a sense of belonging, would 
		     they stop their search here?


III.  It seemed that the sinners kept coming to him
	A.  Zachaeus - Jesus at with him too
	B.  Woman caught in adultery - Jesus not condemn
	C.  Did this begin to tarnish his reputation?
	D.  Mt 11:19 - Jesus gained a bad reputation among the religious elite
		1.  Jesus not worried about that
		2.  Jesus was more underwhelemed by the religious leaders lack of mercy
		3.  Jesus called them white-washed tombs
			- Everyone looked the same on the inside


Concl:
1.  Jesus came to seek and save the lost
2.  Are you a “righteous” person?  - Need to come to the feet of Jesus
3.  Are you a “sinner” - Need to come to the feet of Jesus
	- I fyou humble yourself, you will have the ability to treat “fellow” sinners as Jesus
treated sinners