Jesus a Friend to Sinners
Jesus: A Friend to Sinners
Luke 15:1–2
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
Matthew 11:19
“The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’”
My son’s favorite thing in the world is playing with friends. Within the first 60 seconds of being home, I know the question is coming: “Can I knock on a door?” Thankfully, we are blessed with neighbors all around us with kids for Cooper to play with. He’ll start at one house, and if no one is available, he’ll try the next three or four. I often joke that he is the feral child of our street. Sometimes he doesn’t even mind if the kids aren’t home—he’ll gladly talk with the parents as long as they’ll let him.
Cooper loves being with a friend. And honestly, so do we. Who doesn’t enjoy being with people we trust, enjoy, and feel free to be ourselves around? While Cooper is usually the one going door to door, every once in a while we hear a knock at our own front door. When that happens, he darts out of his room to answer. Great joy fills him when a friend comes knocking.
In Revelation 3:20—originally written to believers—Jesus says:
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”
Jesus, the friend of sinners, is knocking at our door. The Pharisees meant “friend of sinners” as an insult, but Jesus lived it as truth. He desires time with us. His knocking reframes how we think about our relationship with God. It’s not primarily about us trying to get His attention or wondering whether He will welcome us. It is Jesus—our friend—knocking on the door of our lives, wanting to be with us.
Do you see the reversal? Jesus enjoys time with us rather than refuses it. Friendship is mutual—it’s a two-way street. Too often I slip into thinking the relationship is all on me, that I have to keep Him pleased or earn His nearness. But Jesus doesn’t tolerate you. He wants you.
Whether you have many friends or whether you’re walking through a season of loneliness, remember this: you have a friend in Jesus who is knocking—gladly, patiently, faithfully—on the door of your heart today.
