Jesus is an interesting word/name. It elicits various degrees of response ranging from extreme excitement to antagonistic anger.
For the believer, the name of Jesus symbolizes salvation, comfort, trust, and the assumption that if He came back today He would want to be with them. For those who have not bought into the whole idea of needing a Savior, the name of Jesus often symbolizes the need for a crutch, judgmental attitudes, the feeling of never measuring up, and the assumption that if Jesus came back today He would not want to hang out with them. Both sides hold to their assumptions and these beliefs perpetuate their image of who Jesus was and is today.
If Jesus were to come back today and hang out who would he spend his time with? We can get a good idea by going to the journals of one of Jesus' close friends while He was on earth the first time. Matthew, a Jewish tax collector, was despised and hated by most of his fellows Jews. By the church goers of his day he was considered an outcast. Matthew records an amazing incident where Jesus was invited to his house. His journal records this:
Later, Matthew
invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with
many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. But when the Pharisees saw
this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such
scum?” When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people
do.” Then he
added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this
Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those
who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” (Matthew 9:9-13)
From this we can deduce that Jesus enjoyed hanging out with those who society considered outcasts. In fact, He says that is why He came the first time - to hang out with those who needed him the most. The Bible often records just the opposite of what we see today. Jesus spent a great deal of time hanging out with "sinners" and often got into trouble with the "religious church goers".
I have this challenge to all my readers. If you are a non-believer please know this. If Jesus came back today to hang out, He would want to hang out with you! He loves you and doesn't judge and actually would prefer your company. If you are a follower of Jesus understand something. Jesus loves you deeply but would probably not hang out with you but encourage you to hang out with Him and those who feel disenchanted and disillusioned by the church.
To put it plainly, If Jesus were here today, he would be hanging out with those who think he wouldn't and not hanging out with those who think he would!
HMM.... Your thoughts?
Chuck
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