Friend of despised, downtrodden, untouchables and hopeless people
The natural tendency of human heart is to identify with the higher sections of society. While everybody wants to be called a friend of highly educated, of noble birth, of good background people, Jesus did the opposite. The people (religious/political authorities) 2000 years ago had the same inclination as of today.They wanted to be entertained by the rich, religious, and of high learned.
But Jesus stood different from the crowd. He identified with the despised, downtrodden, the sinners, tax-collectors, the prostitutes, the Samaritans, and the uncleans.
Because of Jesus' association with the humble and the outcaste people, He was called their friend by the people. For some it was a shamful title but Jesus took it gladly, knowing that the the title which world offers is of not eternal value. He loved the lowely, humble, despised, the down-trodden and outcaste from his heart. It was not a showy thing for Him.
The question arises why did Jesus associate himself with the sinners and despised? The answers could be many but let me list, a few here:
1. Jesus is Creator: Jesus is the image of invisible God among us. He is the Creator, all things were made by Him. All the people love their best handiwork in the world and show them that it belongs to them. They take pride in that, It was created by them. It is same with Jesus too, He created man and woman by His hands, and He takes pride in them, for they bear His very image and were the supreme in all his handi-work.
2. The friendship in Eden garden: In the garden of Eden, God came to meet his representative, and image bearer everyday. He showed his love, concern and care for them. He showed his friendsip with them. He came to love them. Do you remember, even on the day of fall, God came to meet them, and asked where are you? I have come to meet you and fellowship with you. But we know someting bad happend that day and the friendship was broken, but God also promised to restore it, in the seed of Woman. And from that promise, Jesus came to the world in a form of Saviour and God-friend.
3. Restoring the relationship: Satan is enemy of God, since he hated God and rebelled against Him, he also hates the people associated with their Creator. Since satan himself is not at peace, he wants others also in the same state. It was Satan's conspiracy to destroy the friendly relationship between God and humanity. And satan extends that hate compaign to God's creation, the people of His hands.
So when Jesus came to this world, He restores that relationship and unites people with people thru His death and resurrection. He makes them one in Church and prayes for them to be united as one as He is One. Restoring the broken relationships was Jesus mission.
4. Jesus was the perfect man: Since Jesus came as the perfect and sinless man in the world, therefore He loved the people and cared for them as it was intended from each perfect man. He came to show us, this is, what God wants us to be in our relations, this is how God sees us and this is how you should treat your brothers and sisters in the world. He is the perfect example of friendship, for He loved people unconditionally and without being partial in any form.
5. To give the dignity and honor : God knew, that because of sin, the world is affected very much and satan is trying to destroy the people in various ways. So Jesus, knowing that the priestly class of his time, and the political authorities did not do anything for a marginalized section of society but rather put them down, became friend of them. He restored them to the fellowship of other people and united them in bond of love.
Jesus became the friend of sinners and despised because he Created them. Jesus became the friend of sinners because, it was the real plan of God to love everyone and not to hate. Jesus became the friend of people, to show us that Son of God expects the same from all of His followers.
Jesus became the friend of sinners to show the love of God to them. Jesus became the friend of poeple to show that God the Father loves all His people irrespective of their background, color and look. Jesus, knew many have come to destory and punish them but there was none to offer the hope and love. God could not bear it, any more and therefore He manifested His Agape Love for His wonderful creation.
Through his friendship, Jesus wanted to remove the bad labels from the people such as sinners, unclean, polluted and untouchables etc. While He was upon the earth, He called his people as His, 'children of God' 'friends', disciples', 'followers', 'saints', 'sheep', 'light of the world' "people of the located on the hills" etc. These shows, how much Jesus loved His people.
I really did not have good friend in my life. And I always longed for it but as I mentioned above the world has its own standard, so I felt some time lonely and despised but now I thank God that I have the best friend in the world. I thank Jesus for walking and talking with me. I thank Him for unconditional love. I thank Him for identifying with me and standing beside me. I thank Him for restoring my relationship with God and with many others, whom, otherwise I have thought they are my enemies. Jesus has changed my perspective to see the people.
Yes, I can say with the great hymn writor, "what a friend we have in Jesus all our sins and griefs to bear...
How about you friend, do you feel the same way as of me? Then know Jesus and have Him as your friend today! Get the best friend in the world has ever known!
Raj
