Some people are really good about going to the doctor regularly for checkups but most of us only go when something is wrong, when we are sick or injured. Jesus makes this same observation in yet another confrontation with the Pharisees in Matthew 9 when he says, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick."
Jesus is hanging out with sinners and tax collectors and the Pharisees are not too happy about it. But think about it, who needs Jesus? Obviously we all do, but those that haven't given their lives to Him yet need to be introduced to Him. How can we introduce people to Jesus without spending time with them, without going where they are? Yet so often churches are more like a country club with exclusive membership and we make people who don't fit in with our standards and our appearance feel like outsiders.
Jesus didn't just hang out at the synagogue and hope that people would find Him, He went and ate with the worst of the worst. I am not saying that we should go hang out at strip clubs so we can reach the people that are there. In fact, I am not really sure what I am saying, I certainly don't have all of the answers. What I do know is that as Christ followers we are called to go out and make disciples of all nations. What does that look like? What are the implications of Matthew 9:9-13? Let me know what you think?
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