Something quite beautiful happens when people come close to those who are in need, rather than turn and move away.

In April 1987, Princess Diana opened the UK’s first purpose-built HIV/AIDS unit that exclusively cared for patients infected with the virus. At the time, people with AIDS were frequently treated as outcasts, with some even facing violence or harassment. Fear of transmission led to people with AIDS being ostracised at work, schools, and within their families. In front of the world’s media, Princess Diana shook the hand of a man suffering with the illness. Although just a small gesture, it had a significant impact at the time.

Diana chose to come close to those in need and by doing so did something beautiful. Luke 15 begins with what seems just incidental information:

“Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.’”

The tax collectors and sinners gathering with Jesus were viewed in the same way as the patient who Diana shook hands with. They were the socio-religious outcasts of the day. No doubt, they were made to feel it by those who had a higher social status.

If you were spending time with this group of tax collectors and sinners, what would you say?

“Try harder”? “Get your act together”? “Think about who you are friends with”?

What does Jesus say? In the following chapter after this short anecdote, Jesus tells three stories that describe the great celebration which occurs when the lost is found.

Incredibly, Jesus moves towards the outcasts. He chases them down and ‘finds’ them in all their brokenness and mess. And when they are found, God the Father will celebrate in reckless and extravagant ways because a great reversal has happened: what was dead is now alive again, and what was lost has been found.

Beautifully, Jesus came for the lost. He moves towards us in all the mess we have made.