What Did Jesus Do - When He Encountered Sinners?

1 Corinthians 2:1-2 (MSG) You’ll remember, friends, that when I first came to you to let you in on God’s sheer genius, I didn’t try to impress you with polished speeches and the latest philosophy. 2 I deliberately kept it plain and simple: first Jesus and who he is; then Jesus and what he did—Jesus crucified.

Luke 7:33-34 (NKJV) “For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34 “The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’

Is Jesus a friend of sinners?

1. Levi, a tax collector.

Luke 5:27-28 (NLT) Later, as Jesus left the town, he saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. 28 So Levi got up, left everything, and followed him.

He is now known as Matthew = Yahweh’s gift
He became one of the 12 disciples.
He wrote one of the gospels, Matthew.

Luke 5:29 Later, Levi held a banquet in his home with Jesus as the guest of honor. Many of Levi’s fellow tax collectors and other guests also ate with them.

When you meet Jesus you want to tell people!

Matthew experienced and believed Jesus was a friend to sinners.

2. Judas. The betrayer of Jesus

Matthew 26:49 (NKJV) Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.
50 But Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?”

Judas learned too late that Jesus was a friend to sinners.

3. Me

Jesus befriended me when I was at my worst.

Paul deals with the subject of how we are supposed to treat sinners.

1 Corinthians 5:9-11 (NLT) When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin. 10 But I wasn’t talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or are greedy, or cheat people, or worship idols. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that. 11 I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don’t even eat with such people.

So we are called to be friends of sinners but not compromise.

We want to be friends to sinners so that that they may be transformed and restored back to God.

Proverbs 11:30 (KJV) The fruit of the righteous [is] a tree of life; and he that winneth souls [is] wise.

Daniel 12:3 (NLT) Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever.

John 4...Jesus shows us the process.

The story of the woman at the well.

3 Things we can do to Reach Sinners
John 4:3 (NKJV) He left Judea and departed again to Galilee. 4 And He must needs go through Samaria.

He prayed and was led to go to Samaria.

1. Pray and go where you’re led.

John 5:19 (NLT) So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.

We can’t be led by peoples needs.

Jesus was led to the right person.

Pray! Ask God where and to who he wants you to go.

2. Make friends

John 4:13-15 EXB Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give will never be thirsty. The water I give will become a spring of water gushing up inside that person, giving eternal life.” 15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so I will never be thirsty again and will not have to come back here to get more water.”

We are called to love people into the kingdom.

3. Look for an opening to go in for the kill

The Holy Spirit will give you wisdom and empower you supernaturally if you will step out.

This woman was transformed and the whole city heard her story.

There is nothing like winning someone to Christ!

So, what did Jesus do when he encountered sinners?
He befriended them.
He loved them.
He ate with them.
He related to them (built relational equity.)
He corrected them from a heart of love.
He saved them!

1 Timothy 1:15 (NLT) This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”--and I am the worst of them all.