The Second Scandalous Mystery
Jesus was tainted by his associations. Tax collectors were working for the Romans, in other words, they were viewed as traitors to their own people. If Jesus were the Messiah, then how would he dare associate with those who had compromised themselves with their enemies? Tax collectors were judged collectively as thieves. Since the righteous Pharisees, scribes and others would not freely mingle with them; their social relations were usually only with those who were judged as sinners and reprobates. Jesus did not shy away from the sordid crowd. It may be that they were also shocked that a holy teacher and prophet would sit with them. But I suspect they were also moved. Jesus would let them know that God had not abandoned them. They also had an immeasurable worth in the eyes of God. Jesus responded to his critics by saying, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.” The message lost on the religious leaders was that they too were sinners needing redemption.
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