The Story of Jesus Jesus the Christ: Jesus Celebrates the Outcasts- Mercy

“The more unsavory the characters, the more at ease they seemed to feel around Jesus. People like these found Jesus appealing: a Samaritan social outcast, a military officer of the tyrant Herod, a quisling tax collector, a recent hostess to seven demons. In contrast, Jesus got a chilly response from more respectable types. Pious Pharisees thought him uncouth and worldly, a rich young ruler walked away shaking his head, and even the open-minded Nicodemus sought a meeting under the cover of darkness. The Christian church now attracts respectable types who closely resemble the people most suspicious of Jesus on earth. What has happened to reverse the pattern of Jesus’ day? The down and out, who flocked to Jesus when he lived on earth, no longer feel welcome. How did Jesus, the only perfect person in history, manage to attract the notoriously imperfect? And what keeps us from following in his steps today?” –Philip Yancey: The Jesus I Never Knew p

How did Jesus, the only perfect person in history, manage to attract the notoriously imperfect? And what keeps us from following in his steps today?” –Philip Yancey: The Jesus I Never Knew p

5 Dinners That Break All the Rules Matt 26; Mark 14- Simon the Leper- Woman came in and anointed him Luke 7: Simon the Pharisee- Woman came in with Alabaster jar, weeping, wet his feet with tears, wiped with hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. “If this were a prophet he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner. Luke 14- Prominent Pharisee- Jesus healed a man with dropsy on the Sabbath…”when you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind and you will be blessed. Although they can’t repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” (Great Banquet Parab) Luke 19:4-5- Zaccheus- “The Son of man came to seek and to save what was lost.” Matt. 9- Matthew- “Go learn what this means I desire mercy not sacrifice”

Jesus Knew His Reputation Matt 11:19- “The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and “sinners.” But wisdom is proved right by her actions.

An Accusation Jesus Gladly Received Luke 15:1-2- “Now tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering around to hear him. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” – Lost Sheep – Lost Coin – Lost Son

Matthew the Tax Collector Matt. 9:9-13- “As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collectors booth. ‘Follow me’ he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. While Jesus was having dinner at Matthews house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and “sinners”?’ On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Learn This: Mercy not Sacrifice Opposing Grace and Mercy there is a System of Standards, Self-Righteous Judgments, Human Sacrifice and Shame. A Religious Caste System built upon earning, deserving, shoulds, oughts and criticisms. A System where those who fail don’t deserve love and are ranked & judged as worthless, dispensable losers. They are cast out, rejected and kept away from our love, acceptance and

Jesus Jeopardized the System Jesus’ actions jeopardized the very existence of the Jewish leaders religious caste system. Grace introduces a world of new logic. -Yancey

Woman Caught in Adultery: John 8 – Teachers of the law and Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery – “In the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women, what do you say?” – Jesus began to write – They kept barraging him with questions – Jesus straightened up and said, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” Then stooped down and wrote again as they all left one by one. – “Women, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” ‘Then neither do I condemn you, Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Parable of Tax Collector and Pharisee (Luke 18:9-14)