Jesus Christ: The Friend of Sinners
“…a
friend of publicans and sinners”
-Matthew
11:19 [KJV]
Jesus
quoted the descriptions of His accusers. They meant to condemn; He
meant to declare. What a remarkable title: “a
friend of…sinners.”
He laid aside the royal robes of heaven to take on the humble
garments of humanity. He is the friend spoken of in Proverbs: “A
friend loveth
at all times, and a brother is born for adversity”
(17:17). He endured the “adversity” of sin against God’s people
in “His
own body on the tree”
(1 Peter 2:24).
In type, Solomon and his wife foreshadow Christ and His church: “His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem” (Song of Solomon 5:16).
How unspeakably wonderful it is that Jesus came for "sinners." Paul declared: “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to SAVE SINNERS; of whom I am chief” (1Timothy 1:15). The angel predicted: “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). Jesus said of His own mission: “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:32). The apostle John said: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). John the Baptist said it simply and sublimely: “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29); this isn’t every sinner, but His chosen "friends" of the Jews and of the Gentiles. Christ entered into the room and stead of His friends being their Substitute and Savior. What a friend!
In type, Solomon and his wife foreshadow Christ and His church: “His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem” (Song of Solomon 5:16).
How unspeakably wonderful it is that Jesus came for "sinners." Paul declared: “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to SAVE SINNERS; of whom I am chief” (1Timothy 1:15). The angel predicted: “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). Jesus said of His own mission: “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:32). The apostle John said: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). John the Baptist said it simply and sublimely: “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29); this isn’t every sinner, but His chosen "friends" of the Jews and of the Gentiles. Christ entered into the room and stead of His friends being their Substitute and Savior. What a friend!
-Gospel report by preacher David Simpson
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