'Sinners' encountering Christ

Matthew 9 : 9 - 13

It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick

Today, the more traditional churches remember Matthew, the tax collector who was 'called' right from his place of work, to follow Jesus. Matthew is remembered as one of the Twelve who were specially chosen to closely accompany Jesus.

It was just another normal day for Matthew.......sitting at his tax collector's booth. But then this man came along and with a couple of words, turned his whole life around. What was going on in Matthew's heart as Jesus addressed him? How did God's grace find a way into his heart? It was an ordinary setting, his everyday workplace.......and yet also a place of deep encounter with Jesus.

It seems that the 'sinners' and 'tax collectors' were attracted to Jesus. He was willing to dine with them, and they too presumably felt comfortable in his company. Perhaps it was the way Jesus was able to see beyond what we see of a person. I know how easy it is to 'label' people based on past experiences, and worse still even based on hearsay.......But I believe these 'sinners' felt comfortable because Jesus could somehow convey to them that he saw beyond what they were in life...he saw what they could be. He conveyed hope to people who were aware of their despised status. He saw with compassion the 'sickness' within, which he had come to heal. Whenever I am aware of my failings, it is not so much the knowledge of what is right (the 'law') that sets me free. I am set free when Lord himself tells me that he sees beyond the sin to what I could be, if I only continue to trust him.

Encountering Jesus is very different from just knowing about him. He is no longer with us in human form. But we have the four gospels which tell us about his time here on earth. As we read story after story of his encounters with people, we can enter into the stories, bringing with us our struggles, hopes, fears, questions and joys. We can pray Scripture in this very relational way and encounter Jesus ourselves.