Labels tear us apart -- are tearing our society apart these days. They dehumanize us and destroy relationships or the possibility of relationships. Jesus isn't into labels. We shouldn't be either.
Jesus Unconditionally Came to Save the Lost
9 "Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”" Luke 19:9-10
This is from the story about Zaccheus -- a man who was a Pariah of pariahs (outcasts).
31 "Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”" Luke 5:31-32
6 "I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice." Ezekiel 34:16
"Therefore he is able to save completely[a] those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them." Hebrews 7:25
We should do the same! We need to search for the lost and bring back the strays to Jesus!
Jesus had no conditions on healing
12 "As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy[a] met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!"14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”" Luke 17:12-19
This guy had two labels on them that society said should have kept Jesus away from him: a leper and a Samaritan.
Jesus didn't listen (obviously).
"As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”6 After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 7 “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing." John 9:1-7
The disciples tried to apply the sinner label to this situation. Jesus said, "No." Told them the man was there to be healed for God's glory (also for them to learn something).
Jesus showed Unconditional Compassion
"When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick." Matthew 14:13-14
Jesus was grieving for John the Baptist in these verses. He put his own grief aside and showed compassion.
Just get to work. No matter what you are dealing with in life, still show compassion.
Jesus showed no condition on personage
25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’[a]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b]”28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Luke 10:25-29
The lawyer here knew the law -- he got part of it right, but the biggest part he got wrong. The lawyer wants Jesus to categorize people. Who's my neighbor? He wanted a simple answer. Jesus answered, "Anybody who needs you to be a neighbor. Everyone is our neighbor."
Other times when Jesus reached out to people society said he shouldn't touch or talk to or give any time to:
Mark 5 -- bleeding woman
Mark 2 -- Tax collectors
John 4 -- Samaritan woman at the well
Luke 23 -- Thief on the Cross
Big difference between what God wants to tell me and what society tells me.
Now what about us?
It's about salvation, not sin. We can't put ourselves above anyone.
Are we unconditional Christians?
"My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires." James 1:19-20
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?" Matthew 7:1-3
Instead of serving God sometimes we try to act like God (when we go around judging people. God is the one who will ultimately judge all. This isn't our job).
Cast your seed ....everywhere! Don't be picky. Just cast that seed.
Command of Unconditional Love
“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." Luke 6:32-36
Love those who make you angry. Be kind to ungrateful and evil people. Love like Jesus. It's easy to put labels on people. It's easy to love those who agree with you. I'm asking you to love those who hate you. Jesus knows it isn't easy to do. In the end times people will be lovers of self. You -- be a reflection of the Father. Be His Light.
"Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister." 1 John 4:20-21
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35
If the world doesn't see us as those who love we are doing it wrong.