Our Lord Jesus Christ came to die for sinners, especially the worst.

Paul was an example of this grace:

1 Timothy 1 “¹⁵ Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. ¹⁶ But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.”

1 Corinthians 15 “⁹ For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. ¹⁰ But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect.”

What does this show us about the nature of Jesus?

He did not come to the world to condemn or judge us but to show us grace and unconditional love.

Luke 15 “Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. ² But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” ³ Then Jesus told them this parable: ⁴ “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? ⁵ And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders ⁶ and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ ⁷ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”

Jesus said that He would run after the lost sheep who sinned waywardly. Jesus would run out of His way and chase the lost sheep. He would not condemn and beat the sheep by blaming it but rather embrace the wayward sheep in his arms and rejoices! Can you imagine that? Jesus does not get angry at the sinner but He rejoices over him in love and grace! He rejoices in doing good and loving the worst of sinners. He has a special and wonderful love for the worst of sinners, even more than He does for those who sinned less. It’s because He knows we are made out of dust and that we don’t know what we are doing in our ignorance of sin or unbelief. But Jesus is so kind and loving that He restores and saves those who are the worst sinners.

Luke 15 “¹¹ Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. ¹² The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. ¹³ “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. ¹⁴ After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. ¹⁵ So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. ¹⁶ He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. ¹⁷ “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! ¹⁸ I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. ¹⁹ I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ ²⁰ So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. ²¹ “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ ²² “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. ²³ Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. ²⁴ For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.”

The prodigal son wasted all the inheritance but the father did not punish him or rebuke him.

He loved him so much that he ran to embrace his son.

The son wanted to punish himself by becoming a servant but the father gave him greater honor and blessing than he had before, throwing a huge party and giving him the BEST robe and ring!

The elder son had lived all his life to please the father but never knew His love. That’s why the elder son was angry and jealous of the father’s unconditional love to the worst sinner in the house.

Luke 15 “²⁵ “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. ²⁶ So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ²⁷ ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ ²⁸ “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. ²⁹ But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. ³⁰ But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ ³¹ “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. ³² But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

You see how much the father has a special love for the wayward and sinful son?

This was perfectly demonstrated on the cross.

Jesus Christ died for us while we were sinners. But He forgave us all our sins and rose from the dead to make us righteous and perfectly holy by grace through faith.

Jesus did not die for perfect people or good people. He died for sinners, the worst of sinners, the biggest failures, the weak, the faithless, the unstable, the losers, the lowly – all despised by the world – but GREATLY LOVED by God and Jesus Christ!

The greater the sin, the greater the grace – this is the special love of Jesus