I don’t see what all the excitement is about. It’s disgusting how all these people hang around Him. It’s not like He’s in with the right crowd.
CITIZEN 2:
So true. He’s done some pretty miraculous things, but why does He have to ruin it by the people He hangs around with?
CITIZEN 3:
I know where you’re coming from. But, well, I’m sure you both know that my wife’s brother, Daniel, was in jail last year for charging too much for his grain.
CITIZEN 2:
Didn’t he fix his scales or something?
CITIZEN 3:
Yeah, I guess. Well, anyway, Dan was in Capernanum last week and went to see what this crowd of people was gawking at, and Jesus was there. My sister said Jesus looked through the crowd until He spotted my brother-in-law and then worked His way through the people until He was standing right in front of him. She said Jesus smiled at Dan, said a few words to him, and embraced him warmly. My wife says she has never seen her brother so happy. He’s changed somehow.
CITIZEN 1:
That’s your story. I don’t think I would follow a man that actually liked being with sinners.
CITIZEN 2:
‘Birds of a feather flock together’, you know. I heard this “prophet” was seen eating with some very disreputable people last week.
CITIZEN 1:
Talking with folks is one thing, but eating with them is a little too much, don’t you think?
CITIZEN 3:
Still, last Monday Dan stopped by and had a pleasant visit with my wife, Miriam. Until now I don’t think he has spoken a civil word to her in two years.
(Jesus enters)
JESUS:
If you had a hundred sheep and one of them strayed away and was lost in the wilderness, wouldn’t you leave the ninety-nine others to go and search for the lost one until you found it? And then you would joyfully carry it home on your shoulders. When you arrived you would call together your
friends and neighbors to rejoice with you, because your lost sheep was found.
CITIZEN 2:
That makes sense.
JESUS:
Well, in the same way heaven will be happier over one lost sinner who returns to God than over ninety-nine others who haven’t strayed away.
(Citizens 1 & 2 look thoughtfully at citizen 3)
CITIZEN 3:
All I know is that my brother-in-law is a changed man. Yesterday I caught him humming!
NARRATOR:
Jesus still seeks out the lost. It’s comforting to know that He loves the unlovely, and that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. He exchanges our cold and angry hearts for hearts of love and forgiveness. Jesus reassures us with these words: “For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it.” (John 12: 47b) And all of heaven rejoices over the once lost sinner that now is found.
END
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