And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto His disciples, How is it that He eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners? Mark 2:16
A very large and successful company had many employees engaged in a broad range of activities, including a couple of dozen men in the waste treatment plant. This plant was in an isolated corner of the company’s main property, and it handled material that was smelly and unpleasant. The men who worked there dressed in rough-looking clothing, and their language was often as rough as their garments. These men were relatively unskilled, and received low pay for their humble, unpleasant labours, and were shunned and ignored by the rest of the employees. But, once a year, these men were invited to attend a dinner that was paid for by the company. And at each dinner, the company president and his wife always sat down with the refuse workers to share their special meal. It was not a job requirement; the president did it because he felt it was the right thing to do. Jesus would agree.
The question asked by the scribes and Pharisees is actually a good one. These religious leaders weren’t used to the company of tax collectors and harlots. Most of us today would also have avoided these folks, too. But Jesus didn’t. And He knew them much better than the scribes and Pharisees did. He knew all about their crooked business deals, about every penny they stole, and about every immoral act that was committed. And yet, He gladly and willingly took His place among them for a meal. As we consider that feast that day, which crowd are we in, the criticizers or the diners? On first consideration, we might see ourselves as a little more like the scribes and Pharisees. After all, we are honest and fair in our business dealings, and we certainly aren’t living in immorality. But the same Lord Who could see into the hearts of the publicans and sinners can also see into our hearts. He knows about our past life, before we were saved. But He also knows about our stumblings and strayings along the Christian pathway. He knows the thoughts of pride as we shrink from the presence of those we think are less acceptable than ourselves. He knows about every wrong thought that crosses our minds, about each little lie that we utter when we think it doesn’t matter, about every unpleasant word we utter in anger or self-righteous reproach. He Who never did nor could do such sinful things is still willing – anxious even – to dine with us today.
We appreciate the Lord’s presence with us today, and wonder if He would appreciate it more, if we were to try to be a little more like Him. -Jim MacIntosh