notorious

Mark 2

13 Then Jesus went out to the lakeshore again and taught the crowds that were coming to him. 14 As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Levi got up and followed him.

15 Later, Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable, notorious sinners. (There were many people of this kind among Jesus’ followers.) 16 But when the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees saw him eating with tax collectors and other sinners, they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat with such scum?”

17 When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

I guess the question for you & I is do notorious sinners like to hang out with us?

And if so, why?

And if not, why not?

Mark says "There were many people of this kind among Jesus' followers."

Hmmmmm...

So if we are followers of Jesus...

And are trying to be & live like Him...

Then wouldn't it follow that, well, you know...

Notorious sinners like being around us?

Why did they hang with Jesus?

Did He demonstrate a certain level of love & connection that was significantly stronger & more genuine than the regular person?

Then shouldn't we be & do the same?