Friend of...

Carole King had a hit song back in 1971 called "You've Got a Friend." That song was popular because, well, who doesn't want a real friend? I listened to that song over and over, vowing to be a friend for others -- especially my girlfriend at the time -- and wishing
I had a friend good enough to "come running" to see me again, and feeling I didn't and maybe never would. Much later in life, I finally realized who that Friend was, and it is Jesus. I began to read over and over again, what this very unusual man, God and man in one person, did when he met people. He loved them, invited them in, included them in meals and fellowship, and told them they were forgiven and accepted by God.

Over and over, Jesus proved himself the loving friend of sinners. The only people he corrected forcefully were those who believed they were already good enough and didn't need forgiveness.

Prostitutes, IRS enforcers, thieves, vagabonds, the mentally ill and physically disabled, the broken, hurting and general no-goods, were his companions, his friends. He loved them. He was probably the only one who had told them they were loved, in a long time. Most of them were shunned by the "good people" in their society. No wonder Jesus was considered some kind of dangerous crank by the religious establishment!

Jesus did something else:  he told his disciples, after his resurrection, that they were going to be his witnesses (re-presenting him to the world) -- see Acts 1:8. So what kind of people were they sent to? All kinds of them, including prostitutes, IRS enforcers, thieves, vagabonds, the mentally ill and physically disabled, the broken, hurting and general no-goods. And if Jesus accepted them, preached the good news to them of God's love, and told them they were forgiven, then the disciples were to do the same. To the same people. As their friends.

That means we are to be doing the same too. By the power of the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:18-19) as Jesus did. Going to all the people, as he did. So let's be friends of sinners, God helping us, every time we have the opportunity.