While Jesus was on earth he ate with tax collectors and sinners, he didn’t need to eat with people who were whole. What did Jesus mean? Luke 5:31-32 states, ‘And Jesus answering said unto them,’ “They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Jesus is telling us that those who are born again believers in him and have placed their trust and faith in him are whole already. Their sins have already been forgiven by God. They have Jesus Christ in their lives already. And we all need him day by day too, whether we are born again believers saved by grace or if we are still secular (those without Christ and are still of this world). God’s word tells us we each need him, recognized or not by us. So any sinner who has not been saved or born again by grace is the one who Jesus is saying is ‘incomplete, not whole, or sick (in need of him).’

Jesus sees people without faith as incomplete or not whole or sick. This is not to be thought of as a hard saying to take, as a denigration or unfairly criticizing, but to let people know that without him they do not have all that they need to have in this life to be equipped, and for all eternity. Jesus deals with the truth only, and Jesus places very great emphasis on having faith in Jesus and his word, the bible. In fact the bible states that without faith we cannot please him, that is how important coming to know Jesus Christ is. Hebrews 11:6 states, ‘But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.’ Wow! It’s right there, plus he promises to reward people who diligently seek him! What is not to like there?! He is urging each of us to come now. It’s saying truly come after me, seek me, and see if you will not see for yourself!

Let’s break down the words incomplete, not whole, and sick to help us even further. Incomplete means: not having all the necessary parts, not having enough of a specific ingredient, not enough, or existing only in part. Not whole means: not finished, not full, not total, imperfect, or lacking. Sick means: ailing or indisposed. This is how Jesus sees us without him and how he wants us to see ourselves; as us without him who made us! He knows you need him and yearns for you to come in faith to him. Each of these meanings shows us Jesus is telling us he knows what we feel like without being complete in him. This is why he tells us this and what we need to be complete. It’s him! No wonder we feel the way we do sometimes, right?!

To be whole as sinners we need Jesus Christ because our sins separate us (or man) from God. Sin started with Adam and Eve. Life was whole for Adam and Eve and before the apple was eaten it was a perfect existence. Adam and Eve’s relationship with God was perfect too. God had supplied their every need and there was no sin and thus no death. God cannot be in the presence of sin and because of sin any possible relationship with a holy God was gone. Read for yourself in the chapter of Genesis. But God loving us and making a plan in his goodness, provided a way for us to come back into a relationship with him. That is why he sent his one and only son, Jesus, who came into the world to die for our sins on that cross, and take our place. He then rose again three days later for us. Only Jesus could do that! Notice again that Jesus Christ has already died on the cross to forgive everyones sins in this world. So he’s freely given us this gift of himself, but we must by grace alone through faith, believe and accept that he’s done all this for us. In fact when Jesus Christ began to preach, his first words were in Matthew 4:17, “Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” It still is truly amazing to me after forty plus years of being a Christian! In John 10:7-11 Jesus says, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” There’s only one way to have a relationship with God and it is through our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus states in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Narrow is the way and it’s only through Jesus.

Don’t you desire a new life and relationship with Jesus today? Come as you are, sincerely repent of all your sins, and believe what he has done for you.

Whether you are a Jew or a Gentile, Jesus is coming back one day!