Are You A Friend Of Sinners?
Mark 6:34 And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.
I don’t know about you but I am glad that Jesus has compassion on sinners. ......................Compassion - {G} (splagchnizomai - splangkh-nid'-zom-ahee) - to feel sympathy towards someone, to pity. - Compassion is more than being sympathetic; it also involves a desire to help.
Jesus was ridiculed by the religious folk for being a “friend of sinners” - Mark 2:15 And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him. 16 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? 17 When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, they that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Many religious people today have a serious lack of compassion. Some of the people that Jesus sat and ate with would be shunned in most modern day churches.
Casting Crowns sings a song that says:
"Jesus Friend of sinners we have strayed so far away"
"We cut down people in your name but the sword was never ours to swing"
"Jesus friend of sinners the truth's become so hard to see"
"The world is on their way to You but they're tripping over me"
"Always looking around but never looking up I'm so double minded"
"A plank eyed saint with dirty hands and a heart divided"
"You love every lost cause; you reach for the outcast"
"For the leper and the lame; they're the reason that You came"
"Lord I was that lost cause and I was the outcast"
"But you died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet"
Many of us may possess:
A lack of concern
An improper outlook
A judgmental mindset
Prejudice against certain groups
How do you react when we encounter a Mormon, Jehovah’s Witness or some involved in some other cult? Are you angry, rude and hateful towards them? Or do you show them the love of Jesus? What emotions do you experience when you encounter someone who is a Muslim? As a result of the attacks we have faced in our country we are almost programmed to hate these people. If I am honest there have been times when I have been around Muslims and I have been filled with anger just by being in their presence. But no matter how hard we try we cannot justify hatred toward any group of people!
This doesn’t just happen with other religious groups. It happens with people we encounter on a daily basis. What is your reaction when you are in the presence of someone who has obviously been drinking? How do you treat those who are struggling with drug addiction?What about homosexuals? If you know someone who is living in this horrible lifestyle do you ridicule them, judge them & treat them harshly. Or do you tell them that Jesus came to save them from their sins and can deliver them from that lifestyle!
So, How do you respond when you face these scenarios? (Drugs, Alcohol, Cults, Homosexuality, etc...)
1.Are you judgmental?
2.Are you rude?
3.Do you just ignore them and go on your merry way?
4.Or do you see them as lost souls in need of a Savior?
It is high time that we lose our self-righteousness ways and grasp the fact that the people we are judging are lost and on their way to an eternity in Hell. Not one person here today deserves the salvation that we have received. Just like Jesus, we need to see people as lost souls who need a savior! I want to look at this portion of scripture and see just how to do that:
Background - Mark 6:30 ¶And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught. 31 And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.
Jesus was taking the disciples away from the crowds for a while so that they could rest. As they departed the people …..Ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him (v33b) - These were people who had not been commanded to follow Christ.They were not commissioned disciples, In fact Jesus & the Disciples were attempting to get away from them for a time of rest. This was a group of seekers who (for whatever reason) followed after Jesus. Jesus did not tell these people to go away, He didn’t set a future appointment with them, He did not become frustrated because they were hindering their time of rest ....Jesus stopped and took the time to teach them! Why? Because He had compassion on them!
There is a lesson for us in this simple verse. It is a lesson about compassion. Do we really have compassion on lost souls? Do we care that people are dying and going to Hell? Our sons & daughters, mothers & fathers, husbands & wives, friends and loved ones are dying and going to Hell. Not only should we have a burden for those whom we love, we should have a burden for anyone who has not accepted Jesus as their Savior! The church has grown so cold, so lukewarm & so hard-hearted that we don’t give a second thought to the eternity of those around us. It is time for us to wake up and realize that there are many lost souls & much work to do!
Today I want to ask this question “Are You A Friend Of Sinners?” - In verse 34 there are 4 elements found in the life of Jesus that should be found in His followers as well.
I. DO YOU SEE WHAT JESUS SAW? - v34a And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people…
Jesus did not see people who were hindering a much needed rest in His life! Jesus did not see a bunch of heathens that He did not have time for.Jesus saw a mission field.
There is an old saying that “People are either missionaries or a mission field!”
All we have to do is open our eyes and we will see the same thing that Jesus saw. We will see many people who need Jesus.
1. The United States now ranks third (3rd) following China and India in the number of people who are NOT professing Christians
2. Half of all U.S. churches did not add 1 new member through conversion growth last year
3. The SBC is reporting fewer baptisms each passing year.
Lost people are everywhere we go; many of you live with them.
Where is our concern?
Where is our passion?
Where is our burden for the lost?
It is almost non existent, we need God to break our hearts & open our eyes!
Many times we don’t see them simply because we are not looking.
Many times we don’t see them because we don’t want to see them.
Many times we don’t see them because we are so consumed with ourselves.
Let us cry out to Jesus to help us “See What He Saw”. As we move further I want to ask another question:
II. DO YOU FEEL WHAT JESUS FELT? - v34b and was moved with compassion toward them,
Not only did Jesus see a large crowd of people who needed help …He FELT COMPASSION ON THEM! Webster’s defines compassion as - sympathetic consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it. I believe we would have immense compassion if we could get a glimpse of Hell! If we could just see into the pits of Hell for a few seconds and realize that people are going to that horrible place, I believe it would change our lives forever! I am afraid that many do not truly believe in the authenticity of Hell! If we did we would be more inclined to tell people of a way out!
Throughout my life I have heard many people who claim to be born again say that certain people deserve to burn in Hell!! Guess what? So do you & so do I. We all deserve that very thing! But I believe that if you wish hell upon someone, you are in danger of hellfire yourself! You cannot feel that way without hate in your heart! The bible says - 1 John 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
We do not have to agree with someone’s lifestyle, beliefs or actions but we must have compassion on their souls! Where would You be if Jesus had not had compassion on you? Our prayer should be that Jesus would help us see what He saw, feel what He felt and that He would help us care like He cared. That is the 3rd thing I would like to consider:
III. DO YOU CARE LIKE JESUS CARED? - v34c because they were as sheep not having a shepherd:
In order for us to grasp the importance of this statement we must understand a few things about sheep. Notice:
1) Sheep are not very smart animals - they are constantly getting into terrible situations. They do not have much knowledge or ability. They need a shepherd to help guide them!
2) Sheep have no sense of direction - If a sheep wanders off from the rest of the herd, it will have a hard, if not impossible time, finding its way back.
3) Sheep have no means of defense - Lions have teeth and claws, bears have the same. Snakes have fangs, Sheep have nothing they are simply helpless! By their very nature, sheep need a shepherd to guide them, help them & protect them!
Do you realize that Jesus knew that the very people He was with were the reason that He had to die? He realized that many of them would reject Him, yet He had compassion on them! If Jesus could care like that, then we have no excuse not to have compassion on the lost & forgiveness for our enemies!
a) Do you care like Jesus cared?
b) Aren’t you glad that Jesus cared for you?
c) Aren’t you glad that someone cared enough about you to tell you about Jesus?
We must ask the Lord these questions: Lord, Let Us See What You Saw, Let Us Feel What You Felt, Let Us Care Like You Cared & finally we must ask:
IV. DO YOU DO WHAT JESUS DID? - v34d and he began to teach them many things.
If find it interesting that Jesus took this occasion to teach! Notice the progression:
1) He saw them
2) felt compassion on them
3) immediately began to teach them many things
They needed answers & He had the answers they needed. Friend, you have the answer that others need today, The answer is JESUS!!
Not only do we have the answer, we have the obligation to share that answer - Acts 1:6 ¶When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Do you share the answer with others?
Do you have a burden for lost people?
Do you care that people are dying and going to Hell?
Where is our passion to share the good news of Jesus Christ?
Are You A Friend Of Sinners?”
"Oh Jesus friend of sinners”
”Open our eyes to world at the end of our pointing fingers”
”Let our hearts be led by mercy”
”Help us reach with open hearts and open doors”
”Oh Jesus friend of sinners break our hearts for what breaks Yours”
