Do you remember middle school lunch, when the table you sat at said so much about who you were? Like a predictable scene from a tween television series, popular kids sat at one table and theatre kids sat at another. Everyone sought “coolness” and thought “geekiness” could be caught like a cold. But in those shows, there’s always one heroic character who breaks the status quo, mixes up the social groups, and earns the respect and praise of their peers. In reality, though, failing to stick to the status quo doesn’t always get applause. And for Jesus, it was downright dangerous.
During Jesus’s ministry, a religious group known as the Pharisees were considered the “cool kids,” so to speak. They were devoted to the Mosaic Law, so much so that they added more restrictions and limits in an attempt to get people to follow their interpretation of how to pursue holiness. As respected keepers of these laws, the Pharisees created a holiness hierarchy where they sat supreme. So, you can imagine their frustration and confusion when Jesus entered the scene and associated with known sinners, forgiving them of their sins.
On one occasion, the Pharisees caught Jesus dining at a table with tax collectors and sinners and asked why He would align Himself with this group of people—as if being a tax collector or a sinner might somehow rub off on Jesus. The Pharisees could not understand why Jesus spent time with those people instead of “holy” people. They completely missed the grace of true forgiveness He came to offer.
It’s so easy to think like a Pharisee. I can get caught up in my own self-righteousness, deciding who is most worthy of forgiveness based on my standards. Thankfully, Jesus sees what we cannot: the heart. He said, “I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mark 2:17). And anyone who receives Jesus also receives “the right to be children of God” (John 1:12).
Unlike a school hierarchy of popularity, or a Pharisaical hierarchy of holiness, Jesus is not ashamed to call us His brother or sister (Hebrews 2:12). He doesn’t need our attempts to appear righteous. His righteousness extended to us is enough. Despite knowing all the ways we fail Him, He forgives.
What matters is that Christ is proclaimed for who He is and what He has done. He is the Savior who came to forgive and heal and make us more like Him. It is His work that makes us worthy of His presence. Now, we are defined by an invitation to sit at His table, where all are welcome.
Loving this devotional! Very thought provoking.
So awesome!
This is my first time reading the bible which has been a little scary, but getting to know Jesus is so AMAZING. Thank you for everyone’s opinions and comments as it really helps me (a beginner) break down and understand the passage. Bailey’s article helped as well as it helped me illustrate a picture in my head.
Thank goodness He came for the sinners and not the righteous! “Lord, let me focus on my need for your will in my life daily.”
Great devotion. Jesus loved everyone and we should do the same. He never compromised but only spoke truth and that truth brought healing and forgiveness. How lovely is grace
Hello Ellen! My understanding has always been that Jesus says this to the unclean spirits because He knew as word would spread, so would the anger and jealousy of the Pharisees, and thus start the plot to kill Him.
We see Him tell Mary a similar thing in John 2 when He turns the water into wine as well as Mark 1 when he heals the man with leprosy.
I saw another gal recommended The Chosen series and I second it! Watching that show really helped me see Jesus’ compassion, love and personality in a more tangible way. It doesn’t replace the Bible at all, but it helped put more of a tangible person for me in Jesus. I specifically remember the episode where Jesus heals the lame man after He is lowered from the roof. Seeing how the actor.protrayed Jesus….seeing Jesus’ face as the Pharisees watched Him heal and start to hate Him….it started to click for me how Jesus wanted His ministry to flourish as long as possible. How much He loved being among us.
Hello E _! I have a few thoughts…first being that we don’t know that Jesus didn’t go out to Mary and his siblings. It just says that He advised that those who do God’s will are His brothers, sisters, and mother (Mark 3:35). He may have gone and spoken to them later, He may not have. We are not told one way or the other but we know Jesus was loving, perfect, and the Son of our good and wonderful Father, so we can trust that whatever He did was right and honorable.
Also, Mark 3:21 tells us that his mother and siblings were coming to “restrain him” because “He (was) out of his mind”. They were coming to restrain Him from preaching and doing God’s will. That leads me to think that even they didn’t fully understand Jesus as the Messiah at that point (keep in mind, the Jews idea of who the Messiah would be and how He would accomplish God’s will was drastically different than who Jesus really was and what He did). Instead of supporting Jesus in His walk to obey God, they were going to try to restrain Him. Had they been inquiring of God first, they wouldn’t have tried to stop Jesus. Yes, family is important, but God is our first priority as we are here FOR Him and by Him.
I hope that helps!
The name Jesus in the Greek form is Yeshua which means “to save”. Literally, Jesus came to save us from our sins. Whenever you are in need of help call the name of Jesus to save you. I have noticed how my thoughts are sometimes bombarded by Satan. I just repeat the name of Jesus so he can save me.