Walking along the waterfront of a great harbor a few weeks ago, we noticed over an office door the sign, “Receiver of Wrecks.” Upon inquiry, we found that the company represented by that office took the ships that had been battered by the waves and the rocks, rebuilt them, and made them seaworthy again.
That is just what Jesus is—a receiver of wrecks. Souls that have been wrecked on the shoals of sin, battered by the seas of life, submerged by the tides of trouble, are salvaged by Jesus Christ, and made worthy of eternal life.
“The Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners.” They sought to malign Him and tarnish His reputation by declaring to all the people that He received sinners. But, unwittingly, they paid Him one of the greatest compliments He ever received. By their cavil they raised Him to the heights of reputation. No greater thing could be said of Him than that He “receiveth sinners.” That is the reason He came to this old world, not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. Christ Jesus showed sinners that sin is the way of death, that He is the way of everlasting life. He showed sinners that sin is degrading and repulsive, but that He would plant their feet on the heights of character and achievement.
Let us fervently thank God that Jesus “receiveth sinners.” B.
