If Jesus was here today, where would he be? I asked that question a few years back to a group of church ladies I taught, and they all gave me answers like this: church, in a pulpit, or here at the ladies meeting.

The ladies looked shocked when I said, “Yes, those answers are nice and all, but more than likely Jesus would be hanging out at bars, drug houses, or even the local street corners where the ladies for hire normally gather.” 

Does this picture put a look of horror on your face or these words to your lips: “My Jesus would never visit such places”? Then I’ll say to you what I said to that ladies group: “Be careful, Pharisees. Listen to these verses.” 

“Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them’” (Luke 15:1,2).

Jesus met people where they were. He didn’t act as if he was better. He loved all people from all walks of life. This servant attitude made up Jesus’ ministry and even had many turn against him because they thought he shouldn’t be associating with “sinners.” Rather than looking at outward appearance, he looked at the heart, reached out to those who needed help, invited them to dine with him, and took the riffraff of society to be his followers. To whom do we need to apply this same love to today?