Jesus Welcomes Those on Society’s Lowest Rung

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.” Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it.” Luke 15:1-4

Jesus’ Parable of the Lost Sheep is a familiar mission story to most of us. The opening portion of it is quoted above where Jesus says, “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?” Jesus is the one who in actuality leaves the ninety-nine in the open country and seeks the lost one. He does it, not just once or twice, not here and there whenever the mood strikes him. He does it constantly—not for animals, but for fallen human sinners! He seeks lost sinners, one by one! He finds them, one by one! He puts each on His shoulders, and by His own power brings each one home to heaven. He is the Good Shepherd!

Remember that Jesus told this parable to the Pharisees, who were complaining that Jesus “welcomes sinners and eats with them.” The Pharisees weren’t complaining about Jesus’ practice of eating with sinners in general, but that He was eating with the least-honored, least-successful, most-reviled members of their society—that is, the tax collectors and prostitutes. They actually were accusing Jesus of participating in their sinful life by eating with them; instead of seeing this as an example of Christ’s love that fulfilled the Ten Commandments. The Pharisees needed to repent of their own loveless behavior and also to realize that they were lost sinners who needed Jesus to seek and find them!

All people are sinners who share the same needs as the Pharisees: 1) The need to repent of sin, especially to repent of any loveless behavior or attitude towards those on society’s lowest rung! 2) The need for Jesus to seek and to find lost and condemned sinners.

Sinful Desire for the “Right Kind” of Sinner

Even Christians in whom Christ’s love dwells can have a sinful attitude about evangelism. The temptation is to be very picky about those they invite to church. In San Antonio, Texas, where the Lord has planted the congregation I serve, the most famous and loved citizen is David Robinson, a former NBA star and player for the San Antonio Spurs. What is noteworthy about him is that David is a Christian, active in his church, and very generous with his money. Christians can be tempted to think, “If only we could get someone like that in our church! Our problems would be solved!” Such thinking is wrong, because there are ninty-nine other people who also need to hear the gospel about Jesus dying for their sins. Unfortunately, we might be tempted to not speak with people whom we consider sinners, gang members, drug addicts, and people of other races; as if Jesus didn’t mean to love these kinds of people.

Jesus Sought Us

We may prefer working among people that are like ourselves and avoid those who make us uncomfortable. However, we ought to remember that Jesus was not afraid to find us when we were lost in unbelief and sin. We were not His children by nature, but in His mercy Jesus sought us out through His Word and the gracious sacrament of baptism. Jesus caused us to believe on Him and made us His children, forgiven of all our sins. Even now Jesus is carrying us heavenward by His power in His Word and Sacraments. If God’s Word reveals that a sinful attitude towards less than desirable people exists in our hearts, it also leads us to repent of our sins and to ask God to forgive our sin. Jesus always forgives us because He shed His blood on the cross to pay the ransom price for all sins. Our Good Shepherd will never turn away from us as He leads us to His heavenly home.

Seeking the Lost Sinner

St. Paul was one of those lost sinners whom Jesus sought out and brought to faith. He wrote, “The love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died” (2 Corinthians 5:14). St. Paul called himself the chief of sinners because he persecuted the church. But Jesus turned Paul from a persecutor to an apostle who proclaimed “Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2) to everyone he could reach, even to the worst sinners. Paul reminded them of their past sins, and added, “Such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11).

The Gospel moves us, then, day by day, to spread the Gospel to all sinners of our community according to Jesus’ compassion! In other words, we seek all the lost—even those on society’s lowest rung—because we too were nothing and we were lost, and yet Jesus sought us out to bring us heavenward! By the Word of God we reach out to all sinners! Through the Word, Jesus is the one in actuality seeking the lost and bringing them heavenward—just as He did for us! Truly, Jesus is the Good Shepherd to all sinners!

Matthew Crick is pastor of Faith Lutheran Church in San Antonio, Texas.