While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with Him and His disciples, for there were many who followed Him. When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw Him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked His disciples: “Why does He eat with tax collectors and sinners?” On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Mark 2:15-17
“The unifying theme that emerges from [texts such as Mark 2:15-17] is one that may be called ‘contagious holiness’. Jesus regularly associates with the various sorts of sinners on whom the most pious in his culture frowned, but His association is never an end in itself. Implicitly or explicitly, He is calling people to change their ways and follow Him as their Master. But unlike so many in His world (and unlike so many cultures throughout the history of the world), He does not assume that He will be defiled by associating with corrupt people. Rather, His purity can rub off on them and change them for the better. Cleanliness, He believes, is even more ‘catching’ than uncleanness; morality more influential than immorality….
Was Jesus a party animal? Not in the sense we usually mean by the expression: someone who simply loves to eat, drink, and enjoy other forms of entertainment with friends just for the immense pleasure of it. There were always kingdom purposes involved in Jesus’ presence at banquets and other special meals. Yet it remains striking how willing he was to socialize, even in the intimacy of table fellowship, with anyone and everyone for the sake of accomplishing His mission.”
Craig Blomberg in Contagious Holiness: Jesus’ Meals With Sinners (Downers Grove: IVP, 2005) 129.
Jenni and I fly to San Diego today to facilitate discussions and speak at the CBMC President’s Council weekend. Why do we support this organization and participate in this annual gathering? We love how CBMC prepares God’s workers to serve as marketplace ambassadors.
Over the next few days, we will discuss sharing our faith with others in our sphere of influence. That includes sinners and skeptics. Interestingly, generosity intersects with evangelism when we look at the example of Jesus. His example of “contagious holiness” as Blomberg so keenly describes it, models the way for us.
Jesus was focused. He always had “kingdom purposes” in view. He befriended the least likely characters. He enjoyed table fellowship with them which opens the door for friendship. The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ Luke 7:34
How might you generously pursue table fellowship with someone not as a evangelistic project but to make a friend? Friendship opens the door for sharing your Christian faith, and that’s the greatest gift you can give someone because it’s priceless. Jesus gave His life to give it to you.