Many people refer to Jesus as a man of sorrows, but for the most part His sorrow and grief were caused by the religious leaders who should have recognized who He was and known Him better than anyone else. Instead, they despised and rejected Him, criticizing everything He ever said or did. They constantly fought Him on every truth He spoke. However, the ordinary people loved it when Jesus hung out with them because He gave them a true sense of being accepted and not rejected. He enjoyed attending their social gatherings, their parties and weddings. They knew He loved them, and they loved being with Him. There had never been a rabbi who loved to go to parties and banquets and weddings. Maybe you just moaned and said, “NO! Jesus was serious and solemn! He was too holy to be fun!” I disagree!
Consider Luke 7:34 in the Mirror Bible, “The Son of Man [Jesus] …eats and drinks and you say he is a glutton and a drunkard! I mean, look at his friends, they are the scum of society—prostitutes and publicans [tax collectors].” That same verse in The Message simply reads this way, “The Son of Man came feasting and you called Him a boozer.”
Why would Jesus hang out with sinners? In Luke 5:33-34, He was asked that question one day, “John the prophet is known for leading his disciples to fast often and pray. As the religious leaders of the land, we do the same. Why do you and your disciples spend most of your time feasting at banquets?” Another time they asked His disciples in Matthew 9:11, “Why would your Master dine with such lowlifes?” Jesus responded in verses 12-13, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do…I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”
Jesus was full of joy and fun but that doesn’t mean He compromised His heavenly message. He was true to the reason He came, to His principles, and to His sincere love for the people. A good pastor friend said this years ago and I was changed by it: “If you knew all of my sins, you wouldn’t want me to be your pastor.” The whole congregation gasped! Then he said, “And if I knew all of your sins, I probably wouldn’t want you in my church, would I?!” Everyone laughed! I could put it this way, “If you knew everything about me, you might refuse to read this article!” But as the Apostle Paul said in 1 Timothy 1:15, “…Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.” I can totally relate to Paul! So I don’t want to judge people, because I know what Jesus saved me from, yet He still loved me and forgave me, and even today, He still forgives me!
Let me end with Romans 5:8-9 in the Mirror Bible, “Herein is the extremity of God’s love gift: mankind was rotten to the core when Christ died their death. If God could love us that much when we were ungodly and guilty, how much more are we free to realize his love now that we are declared innocent by his blood?” This quote by Francois du Toit sums it up, “God does not love us more now that we are reconciled to him; [but] we are now free to realize how much He loved us all along.”
Maybe you used to follow Jesus but fell back into sin and now feel that Jesus would never forgive you or accept you again—that’s not true! Just tell Him you’re sorry and turn back to Him! Or maybe you feel that you are too bad to be forgiven, too unworthy, too unacceptable, that Jesus would not even look your way—you are exactly His favorite kind of person. He would be sitting right next to you having a wonderful time, laughing and joking and loving you right into eternity. So, what are you waiting for? Here’s a simple prayer, “Jesus, I’m a mess and I have made a mess with my life, and I don’t see how You can ever love me. But I’m asking You to forgive me and I ask You to write my name in Your Book of Life!” If you prayed that prayer, I am proud of you!!
-Emil Liko 10/23/26