JESUS is your Friend!

The Word became a human being and lived here with us. We saw his true glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father . . . No one has ever seen God.

The only Son is the one who has shown us what God is like. (John 1:14, 18 – Contemporary English Version)

The Son of Man comes along, feasting and drinking wine, and you say, “This guy is a glutton and

a drunk, a friend of sinners and tax collectors!” (Luke 7:34 – The Voice)

But think about this: while we were wasting our lives in sin, God revealed His powerful love to us in a tangible display — Jesus died for us. (Romans 56:8 – The Voice)

Jesus is a friend of sinners and loves everyone unconditionally

FOS CASE STUDY 1: A lunch with Simon the Pharisee

Jesus spoke up. “Simon,” he said to the Pharisee, “I have something to say to you.” “All right, Teacher,” Simon replied, “go ahead.”

Then Jesus told him this story: “A man loaned money to two people—$5,000 to one and $500 to the other. But neither of them could pay him back,

so he kindly forgave them both, letting them keep the money! Which do you suppose loved him most after that?” “I supposethe one who hadowed him the most,” Simon answered.

“Correct,” Jesus agreed. Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Look! See this woman kneeling here!

When I entered your home, you didn’t bother to offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair.

You refused me the customary kiss of greeting, but she has kissed my feet again and again from the time I first came in. You neglected the usual courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head,

but she has covered my feet with rare perfume. Therefore her sins—and they are many—are forgiven, for she loved me much; but one who is forgiven little, shows little love.”

And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Then the men at the table said to themselves, “Who does this man think he is, going around forgiving sins?”

And Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” (Luke 7:34, 40-50 – Living Bible)

FOS CASE STUDY 2: A dinner with Zacchaeus the tax collector

As Jesus was passing through Jericho, a man named Zacchaeus, one of the most influential Jews in the Roman tax-collecting business (and, of course, a very rich man),

tried to get a look at Jesus, but he wastoo short to see over the crowds. So he ran ahead and climbed into a sycamore tree beside the road, to watch from there.

When Jesus cameby, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name! “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick! Come down! For I am going to be a guest in your home today!”

Zacchaeus hurriedly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. But the crowdswere displeased.

“He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled. Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “Sir, from nowon I will give half my wealth to the poor,

and if I find I have overcharged anyone on his taxes, I will penalize myself by giving him back four times as much!”

Jesus told him, “This shows that salvation has cometo this home today. This man was one of the lost sonsof Abraham,

and I, the Messiah, have come to search for and to save such souls as his.” (Luke 19:1-10 – Living Bible)

FOS CASE STUDY 3: A party with Matthew the new disciple

Later on as Jesusleft the town he saw a tax collector—with the usual reputation for cheating—sitting at a tax collection booth. The man’s name was Levi.

Jesus said to him, “Come and be one of my disciples!” So Levi left everything, sprang up, and went with him. Soon Levi held a party in his home with Jesus as the guest of honor.

Many of Levi’sfellow tax collectors andother guests were there.

But the Pharisees and teachers of the Law complained bitterly to Jesus’ disciples about his eating with such notorious sinners.

Jesus answeredthem, “It is the sick who need a doctor, not those in good health. My purposeis to invite sinners to turn from their sins,

not to spend my time with those who think themselves already good enough.” (Luke 5:27-32 – Living Bible)

FOS CASE STUDY 4: An encounter with a wayward woman

The Jewish leaders and Pharisees brought a woman caught in adulteryand placed herout in front of the staring crowd.

“Teacher,” they said

to Jesus, “this woman was caught in thevery act of adultery. Moses’ law says to kill her. What about it?”

They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. They kept demanding an answer,

so he stood up again and said, “All right, hurl the stones at her until she dies. But only he who never sinned may throw the first!” Then he stooped down again and wrote some more in the dust.

And the Jewish leaders slipped away one by one, beginning with the eldest, until only Jesus was left in front of the crowd with the woman. Then Jesus stood up again and said to her,

“Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” “No, sir,” she said.And Jesus said,“Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” (John 8:3-11 – Living Bible)

Stage 1: I’m a good person and I am justified in criticizing bad people

Stage 2: I’m a good person but I should show compassion to bad people

Stage 3: I’m a sinnerwho needs help just as much as the next guy

Stage 4: I’m lovedby Jesusjust as I am, and so is everyone else

Jesus was a FOS (Friend of sinners) not because He winked at sin, ignored wrong or endorsed immorality.

Jesus was a FOS because all people matter to God and He loves everyone unconditionally.

Jesus came for the lost – not justto be with them –but to save themand give them a brand-new life.

Because Jesus was a FOS, He loves everyonejust as they are – but He doesn’t want them to stay there.

His friendship wasn’t - (and isn’t) - about companionship,it’s about transformation.

He loves usjust as we are but He loves ustoo much to let us stay that way.

Let’s Pray