Zacchaeus  (Luke chp 19)

When Jesus was travelling through Jericho, a man named Zacchaeus (who was a Jewish tax collector) wanted to catch a glimpse of him.  However, he was not tall enough to be able to see over the crowd's heads, so he climbed a sycamore tree in order to get a better view.  When Jesus passed by, he called Zacchaeus down from the tree, and told him that he was going to be a guest in his house.  The people were surprised that Jesus wanted to stay with a sinner, but it had a great effect on Zacchaeus himself - he promised to give half of his possessions to the poor, and to pay back four times what he owed to anyone whom he had cheated.  Jesus concluded the incident by saying that he had come to seek out and save the lost.

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Levi  (Mark chp 2)

Jesus had been teaching a large crowd by the sea, and as he moved on, he saw Levi sitting in the tax house, and called Levi to follow him.  He then dined with a great many tax collectors and sinners, and the Pharisees asked why he ate with such people.  But Jesus replied that the sick needed a doctor whilst the healthy didn't.  He said that he had come to call sinners, not the righteous.

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The Woman and Simon the Pharisee  (Luke chp 7)

When Jesus was eating a meal in a Pharisee's house, a woman (who was a sinner) wet Jesus' feet with her tears then dried them with her hair.  She then kissed his feet, and broke an alabaster flask of ointment over them.  The owner of the house, and the people round about were surprised, because they knew that the woman was so sinful, so they did not expect Jesus to be talking to her.  But Jesus told a parable about a man who was owed money by two different people - one owed him five hundred denarii, the other fifty.  He forgave them both their debts, but the one who had owed more would love his creditor the most as a result of his forgiveness.  Jesus then said that because the woman had showed so much faith, and such great love, all her many sins were forgiven.

Themes

• Show that you mean it - It isn't enough simply to say that you are sorry, but you must prove that you mean it by your actions.
• Tax collector - tax collectors were outcasts and they used their positions to cheat people.  They worked for the Roman government, and were considered unclean, representing a shady part of 'the establishment'.
• Faith and Forgiveness - because she showed such an abundance of faith and love, Jesus forgave the woman's sins.  The way to God is through genuine faith, rather than superficial actions which are not sincerely meant.  And anyone - even the greatest of sinners - can grow close to God in this way.
  
• - Jesus came to seek and save the lost
  - Jesus came to call sinners, not the righteous
  - Whilst the sick need a doctor, the healthy have no need for one
• In all the stories, people were surprised that Jesus would want to associate with outcasts and sinners, but he says that his mission is towards those who are lost, not those who know the way.  He came to minister to precisely those outcasts, who need his aid in order to find God.  Those who are well don't need a doctor, but the sick do - and Jesus was like a 'spiritual doctor' for those in need.
  
  

Contemporary Issues

• Outcasts in today's society.  Who are they?
  
• Prejudices in the modern world.
• Supporting charities.
• Being a "good Christian" - even towards those you dislike.

Revision