Jesus is Approachable! IRS Collectors, Prostitutes & Sinners LIKE Him!

Jesus is this fascinating, unique human being who can confront the entire class of Pharisees and Priests, who can cleanse the entire Temple Worship area from all its abuses and restore true worship,  who has the power to silence raging storms at sea, and who can master nature and change water into wine, … this Jesus, so powerful, is also so very “approachable.”The very people who are most susceptible to rejection and fearful of criticism, actually come to Him.

At Levi’s house (who becomes Matthew the Apostle) the prostitutes, Tax Collectors and “sinners” not only come to Jesus but they “eat” with Him. (Mark 2:15) In the old world, eating with someone was more about friendship and interaction than today. They found Christ very “approachable.” They like being around Him, just as the children did. He was open and they responded to Him. He held to the truth, but did it in a way that did not drive people away from Him at first glance. If Jesus was harsh or accusing or fault finding – these are the LAST people who would have come to be with Him. The Pharisees are offended by His approachability and accuse Him as a “friend of sinners!” In Matt 11:19 The Pharisees were criticizing Jesus (paraphrase) “He is always hanging out with these people, eating and drinking with them as if they were friends! He seems to like them?”

Since Jesus is so approachable by everyday imperfect and sinful people… then so is God. He is open and receives all who come to Him. And He works with us, leading us to change and grow and become just like Him – the family image is God’s Character. He confronts evil and sin but in a way that draws us to into deeper goodness rather than driving us from it. God Is Just Like Jesus.