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It was a familiar pattern. Jesus shows up. Peoples lives are touched in miraculous ways. The religious leaders grumble and complain. Unbelievable!
There were a variety of occasions for their complaining and just as many reasons. Perhaps it was because Jesus was taking the spotlight away from them. Maybe it was because their status quo was all of a sudden challenged by this unknown upstart from Nazareth.
One thing is certain. He just wasn’t doing things… the way they’d always been done! One of my favorite episodes occurs in Luke 15 where we read this account:
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” ~ Luke 15:1-2
They were bothered because people who had previously wanted nothing to do with God were gathering around Jesus! The religious leaders likely would not have gotten within 10 feet of such filthy people. But they felt drawn to this unorthodox young teacher.
The particular Greek wording used here indicates that this kind of thing happened all the time; it was ongoing. The sinners, the morally bankrupt, wanted nothing to do with the Pharisees and teachers of the law but were continually flocking to Jesus.
Where are the sinners and morally bankrupt flocking today?
Where do they feel drawn?
Why isn’t it to us or the church?
Just wondering!
A ragamuffin in awe of God's grace and glory... pursuing real life in Jesus.
>> Where are the sinners and morally bankrupt flocking today?
Where do they feel drawn?
Why isn’t it to us or the church?
We’d like to dodge the answer, but we can’t.
They flocked to Jesus. Therefore, if we were like Jesus, they would continue to do so.
Evidently, they do NOT see Jesus.
Very true and very sad!
I think because they felt loved by Him and accepted for where they were at, not that He wanted them to stay in sin, but being sinners didn’t keep Him from loving them. Ours is not an accepting world, people get looked down on for what they do and at times for what they don’t do.
It is a sad reality. How do we change our mind set to see people through His eyes and not our own.
Great insight Nancy! Your question about how we learn to see people as God sees them is so critical!