They That Are Sick

When Jesus heard it, he said to them, "Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." - Mark 2:17

This was the answer Jesus gave to the dissatisfaction about his presence among the sinners and tax collectors at Matthew's feast. The Pharisees thought He was compromising Himself by having a meal with these kinds of people. They were accusing Him of being one of these types of people.

But Jesus gave them a wise and good answer. These wicked and sinful ones were the very people that needed Him most. It was just with Him as with a doctor. A doctor doesn't go on house calls to people with perfect health! Those who are well do not need a doctor, but the sick and those with a disease need him. In fact, the worse their sickness or disease, the more they need his comfort and help.

No one would ever have a problem with a doctor  visiting the sick in their homes, or hospitals, or into plague-infested areas. No one would ever suggest that he must have low standards because of the kind of people among whom he spends his time. It was just the same with Him, Jesus said. He had come to this world just so that sinners might find hope and salvation. For this reason, He could not be blamed for going where sinners were. The worse the sinners the more reason there was why He should be found there. "Good" people, like those who criticized Him, did not need his services; but wherever He found a poor, lost sinner, there was one of the persons He had come to help and save.

One suggestion is, that, like their Master, Christ's disciples should carry the gospel to the lowest people in society. We should not mingle among the wicked as companions; but when we strive to save them we are becoming Christ to them. Another lesson is, that no sinner need ever despair of hope, since the worse he is the more surely is Christ willing to save him.

Apply This To Your Life Today... Who in society do you shun? Who can you reach out to and be Christ to them?