“Then Jesus said to them, “When I sent you out with no money bag, or traveler’s bag, or sandals, you didn’t lack anything, did you?” They replied, “Nothing.” He said to them, “But now, the one who has a money bag must take it, and likewise a traveler’s bag too. And the one who has no sword must sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you that this scripture must be fulfilled in me, ‘And he was counted with the transgressors.’ For what is written about me is being fulfilled.”” Luke 22:35-37 NET https://bible.com/bible/107/luk.22.37.NET

When we think of Jesus, God living among us as one of us, we think of Him as a friend of sinners. The perfect God came to His broken world to die as punishment for those who broke His world, us, so that He could restore us to Himself as beloved children. He died between two thieves, one of whom sought reconciliation with Jesus and was promised eternal life with Him. While Jesus was counted with the transgressors in life and death, He also sent us, beginning with His disciples but continuing through His church until He returns to earth again, to live as He lived, perfect before God, living among sinners to reconcile all men to God. The Christian mission is the Great Commission. This work is the job of all who claim to be reconciled to God through Jesus, their Lord and Savior. This work is accomplished by loving, serving, and sharing Jesus with people who don’t follow Him while following Him in obedience to everything He commanded. As servants of Jesus, we live as Jesus lived. His motto was not my will but Your will, Father. Our motto is not my will but Your will Jesus. The will of Jesus is for all people to be reconciled to Him through Him so that all may live forever with Him. If we are genuinely Christians, we are friends of sinners, and the best friend lays down his life for his friends.