Jesus Calls Tax Collectors and Sinners His Friends

TEXT: Luke 15:1-10
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” 3 So he told them this parable: 4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. 8 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? 9 And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ 10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

In the Name of the Father and of the +Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Tell me something. What is a friend like? Someone who is willing listen to you when you’re happy or sad? Someone who will keep your darkest secrets? Someone who understands you? Someone who likes to spend time with you? Someone you can count on?

Usually a friend is someone we like… someone we care for… someone we love.

There are those whom we know that we would never call, “Friend.” They’re not our type. They have different interests. They do wrong things…. Bad things. They’re a bad influence. They’re sinners.

The Scribes and Pharisees were surprised that Jesus would eat with sinners. The Pharisees thought these sinners weren’t the type to be friends with a prophet of God. They did wrong things…. bad things. Even worse, they weren’t typical sinners – liars, cheaters, thieves, fornicators. These were the worst of sinners. Even the liars, cheaters, thieves and fornicators didn’t like these people. Imagine Jesus eating with rapists, serial killers, child-pornographers… with the man that molested your daughter… with the terrorist who killed your loved one by crashing a plane into his twin tower office building. Jesus ate with the armpit of society. They were the worst of the worst.

It doesn’t seem right. AND… it definitely doesn’t seem fair. We are Americans. Americans demand justice. IN our world it’s only fair when sinners have to pay what they’ve done. We feel justified when sinners feel the pain that we’ve suffered. Our simple philosophy of justice mirrors the Charlie Daniels song: “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. You’d better watch where you are going. Remember where you’ve been. That’s the way I see it. I’m a simple man.”

Maybe… for the more morally conscious Christian, we might be satisfied enough if Jesus came to change their ways. To make them better people. To make them morally straight. For the moral Christian, they’d be happy enough if Jesus would offer some psycho-therapy. If Jesus would make them good, law abiding citizens.

No. That’s not the kind of friend Jesus is. “Even while you were yet sinners, Christ died for you.” The parable of the lambs and of the woman who lost her coin both proclaim that notorious sinners and the Pharisees are all His lambs… They are all His coins… They are all His friends…. Even though they are all sinners.

“Greater love has no one than this…. That Someone lay down his life for His friends.” That Someone is Jesus. He wants to be with sinners… to eat with them… to enjoy their company. No, he didn’t come to make them morally straight. He didn’t come to teach bad people a lesson. He came to save them. To love them. To lay down His life for them. His friends include His enemies. They include those who spit upon Him, crowned Him with thorns, and drove nails in to His hands and His feet. Jesus calls them all friends. He prays for all of them saying, “Father, forgive them. For they know not what they do.”

Jesus is shameless. He doesn’t care about his reputation. He doesn’t worry about His image. Jesus searches for sinners, receives them, bathes them in baptism, pardons them in His absolution, and forgives them by giving His Body and Blood for them. He forgives them and expects nothing in return… He doesn’t even ask that you go out and convert anyone… that’s the Holy Spirit’s job.

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Yes, it’s true… The free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus. Jesus loved you and gave Himself for you!

The day of your baptism caused the angels to sing. When the pastor forgives your sins the heavenly hosts rejoice. When you receive Jesus your friend at this altar the whole company of heaven laud and magnifies Jesus’ Name.

Dear Friends of Jesus. Know that Jesus receives sinners like you and eats with you. Know the joy of Heaven to see one sinner who repents rather than ninety nine righteous persons who need no repentance. Rejoice with your Forever Friend Jesus Christ, who looks for sinners and when He finds them makes them His treasure.

In the Name of the Father, the +Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.