We know that Jesus’ mission from the Father was to save fallen humanity. The problem is many do not know they need to be saved.
We see beautiful stories of salvation in the gospels. The man who had been robbed needed the Samaritan to save him, little Zacchaeus needed Jesus to make him right with God, the woman at the well was steeped in sin and shame and needed Jesus to set her free, the prodigal son needed his father to forgive him and reinstate him as a son, Bartimaeus needed Jesus to set him free from is blindness, and so the stories go.
But, what about the Pharisees. They were the religious professionals; they were a cut above the sinners and the ordinary people. Surely they didn’t need Jesus to save them, or did they?
We read a shocking story today that reveals Jesus’ desire to save even his enemies, the Pharisees (Luke 11:37-41).
“After Jesus had spoken, a Pharisee invited him to dine at his home. He entered and reclined at table to eat. The Pharisee was amazed to see that he did not observe the prescribed washing before the meal. The Lord said to him, ‘Oh you Pharisees! Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, you are filled with plunder and evil. You fools!”
Imagine this. Jesus had just finished a speech and a kind Pharisee decided to invite him to dinner. What a nice thing to do. Though he didn’t say anything, the facial expression of the Pharisee indicated disapproval. Jesus, a purported man of God, didn’t follow the simple rule of washing before meals. Reading the expression on the man’s face, Jesus proceeded to insult him. He went so far as to call the whole group of Pharisees, “fools.”
Does this sound like loving one’s enemies? Jesus reads hearts. He knew that the self-congratulating Pharisees needed salvation as much as the sinners, the blind, and the tax collectors did. Trouble is, the Pharisees didn’t know it. They didn’t have need for God’s love because their hearts were filled with “plunder and evil” and a distorted sense of self-satisfaction.
If I were Jesus, I would have gotten up, gone to the basin and washed my hands so as to appease the Pharisee. After all, he was getting a free meal. Jesus, however, loved the man too much to keep his mouth shut. He insulted the Pharisee, not as an attack, but as a gesture of salvation. Maybe his words would pierce the man’s heart and release the poison that was stuck inside
.
Jesus concluded his remarks by showing the Pharisee a pathway to salvation.
“But as to what is within, give alms and behold, everything will be clean for you.”
He urged the Pharisee to do what the tax collector, Zacchaeus did—engage generously in the ministry of giving alms to the poor. This would help the man empty contents of his heart, and receive God’s saving love.
Jesus continues to save. Am I open to what he wants to give me today?
“Let your mercy come to me, O Lord, your salvation according to your promise” (Ps119:41).
