Jesus is described as a friend of sinners who loves everyone unconditionally. The document presents four case studies from the Bible that illustrate Jesus' friendship with sinners: 1) Jesus has lunch with Simon the Pharisee and forgives a sinful woman; 2) Jesus has dinner with Zacchaeus the tax collector and brings salvation to his home; 3) Jesus attends a party hosted by Matthew, a new disciple who was formerly a tax collector; 4) Jesus defends a woman caught in adultery from being stoned by saying whoever is without sin should throw the first stone. The document argues Jesus was friendly toward sinners not to condone sin but to transform and save them, as he

1. Series – JESUS is ______________ Part 3: JESUS is your Friend!
Pastor Chuck Bernal – March 3, 2016
The Word became a humanbeing and lived here withus. Wesaw his true glory, the glory of the only Son
of the Father . . . No one has ever seen God. The only Son is the one who has shown us what God is like.
(John 1:14, 18 – CEV)
The Sonof Mancomes along, feasting and drinking wine, and you say, “This guy is a glutton and a drunk,
a friend of sinners and tax collectors!” (Luke 7:34 – The Voice)
But think about this: whilewe werewasting our lives insin, God revealed His powerful loveto us in a
tangible display — Jesus died for us. (Romans 56:8 – The Voice)
Jesusis a __________ of sinnersand loveseveryone unconditionally
FOS CASE STUDY 1: _____________________________________________
Jesus spoke up. “Simon,” he said to the Pharisee, “I have something to say to you.” “All right, Teacher,”
Simon replied, “go ahead.” Then Jesus told him this story: “A man loaned money to two people—$5,000
to one and $500 to the other. But neither of them could pay him back, so he kindly forgave them both,
letting them keep the money! Which do you suppose loved him most after that?” “I suppose the one who
had owed him the most,” Simon answered. “Correct,” Jesus agreed. Then he turned to the woman and
said to Simon, “Look! Seethis woman kneeling here! WhenI entered your home, you didn’t bother to offer
me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with
her hair. You refused me the customary kiss of greeting, but she has kissed my feet againand againfrom
the time I first came in. You neglected the usual courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has
covered my feet with rare perfume. Therefore her sins—and they are many—are forgiven, for she loved
me much; but one who is forgiven little, shows little love.” And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
Then the men at the table said to themselves, “Who does this man think he is, going around forgiving
sins?” And Jesus said to the woman, “Your faithhas saved you; go in peace.” (Luke 7:34, 40-50 – LB)
FOS CASE STUDY 2: _____________________________________________
As Jesus was passing through Jericho, a man named Zacchaeus, one of the most influential Jews in the
Roman tax-collecting business (and, of course, a very rich man), tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was
too short to see over the crowds. So he ran ahead and climbed into a sycamore tree beside the road, to
watch from there. When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by
name!“Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick! Come down! For I am going to be a guest in your home
today!” Zacchaeus hurriedly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. But
the crowds were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled.
Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “Sir, from now on I will givehalf my wealth to the
poor, and if I find I have overcharged anyone on his taxes, I will penalize myself by giving him back four
times as much!” Jesus told him, “This shows that salvation has come to this home today. This man was
one of the lost sons of Abraham, and I, the Messiah, have come to search for and to save such souls as
his.” (Luke 19:1-10 – LB)

2. FOS CASE STUDY 3: _____________________________________________
Later on as Jesus left the townhesaw a tax collector—withtheusual reputationfor cheating—sitting at a
taxcollectionbooth. The man’s name was Levi. Jesus said to him, “Come and be oneof my disciples!” So
Levi left everything, sprang up, and went with him. Soon Levi held a party in his home with Jesus as the
guest of honor. Many of Levi’s fellow tax collectors and other guests were there. But the Pharisees and
teachers of the Law complained bitterly to Jesus’ disciples about his eating with such notorious sinners.
Jesus answered them, “It is the sick who need a doctor, not those in good health. My purpose is to invite
sinners to turn from their sins, not to spend my time with those who think themselves already good
enough.” (Luke 5:27-32 – LB)
FOS CASE STUDY 4: _____________________________________________
The Jewish leaders and Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery and placed her out in front of the
staring crowd. “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the very act of adultery. Moses’
law says to kill her. What about it?” They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use
against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. They kept demanding an
answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, hurl the stones at her until she dies. But only he who
never sinned may throw the first!” Then he stooped down again and wrote some more in the dust. And
the Jewishleaders slipped away one by one, beginning withthe eldest, until only Jesus was left infront of
the crowd with the woman. Then Jesus stood up again and said to her, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t
even one of them condemn you?” “No, sir,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”
(John 8:3-11 – LB)
Stage 1: I’ma goodpersonandI amjustifiedin_____________ badpeople
Stage 2: I’ma goodpersonbut I shouldshow ____________ tobad people
Stage 3: I’ma sinner whoneeds ____________ just as muchas the next guy
Stage 4: I’mlovedby Jesus just as I am,andsois __________________ else
Jesus was a FOS (Friend of sinners) not because He winked at sin, ignored wrong or endorsed
immorality. Jesus was a FOS because all people matter to GodandHe loves everyone unconditionally.
Jesus came for the lost – not just to be with them – but to save them and give them a brand-new life.
Because Jesus was a FOS, He loves everyone just as they are – but He doesn’t want them tostay there.
His friendshipwasn’t - (and isn’t) - about companionship, it’s about transformation. He loves us just as
we are but He loves us too much to let us stay that way.
Jesusis a friendof sinners and loveseveryone unconditionally
FOS CASE STUDY 1: A lunchwith Simonthe Pharisee
FOS CASE STUDY 2: A dinnerwith Zacchaeusthe taxcollector
FOS CASE STUDY 3 A party withMatthewthe new disciple
FOS CASE STUDY 4: An encounterwitha waywardwoman
Stage 1: I’ma goodpersonandI amjustifiedin criticize badpeople
Stage 2: I’ma goodpersonbut I shouldshow compassiontobadpeople

3. Stage 3: I’ma sinner whoneeds helpjust as muchasthe next guy
Stage 4: I’mlovedby Jesus just as I am,andsois everyone else