Did Jesus Have A Social Life?
Matthew 11:19 NIV
[19] The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.' But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”
This was an answer to a complaint or condemnation that the jews brought against Jesus. It was like He was saying “whatever you do people will talk about you. “ Let us put this in context by reading the preceding verses ;
Matthew 11:16-19
NIV
"To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: [17] "'We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.'
[18] For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.' [19] The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.' But wisdom is proved right by her deeds."
Whatever you want to call it the above gives us a bird’s eye view into the social life of Jesus. That Jesus led a low-key life is undisputed. He walked with and lived among the despised, rejected, looked-down-upon members of society as confirmed by what was said concerning him.
The Jewish bourgeoisie found His association with the lowly unacceptable! They felt he was debasing the status and lowering the class, image, esteem etc that religious leaders are held. He was a disgrace to religious leadership!
Read this ;
Luke 15
KJV
1+ Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.
2+ And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
They even queried and questioned his disciples about this. Read it;
Mark 2
KJV
16+ And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?
Unknown to them Jesus overheard what they were saying to his disciples and turned round to answer them. Read it;
17 When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
He said in today’s language “ I came not to call the holier than thou’s!
Truly if He were to be with us today He would love to eat at the chop bars and not restaurants let alone at Kempiski! He would love to take for breakfast koko and massa, instead of baked beans, fried eggs and toasted bread!
I am not by any means saying these are bad please, (I do enjoy the same from time to time resource permitting )because He attended parties, ate at the home of some well-to-do members of society These were exceptions and not the rule.
So yes, Jesus had a social life. He attended Jewish social gatherings such as weddings where songs are sung, people dance, celebrity singers, comedians etc are invited to perform!
(Look for and read if you can “Sketches Of Jewish Social Life In The Days Of Christ by Alfred Edersheim)
Today some believers have no social life simply because it is seen and regarded as evil and satanic. To sit at a table at a wedding party with someone unknown or who does not attend his fellowship is a sin.
To play and listen to a song by Tracy Chapman ( Words don’t come easily ) Boney M ( by the rivers of Babylon) James Brown ( Say It Loud) Wilson Pickett (Midnight Hour) Percy Sledge ( Take time to know her) all these are sinful
To go out with loved ones to eat banku and tilapia at a kenkey joint, to go to the gym and exercise (or at home) with a secular song in the background to help the step-by-step movements during the exercise and make the practice pleasant is evil.
It must always be “ Jerusalem My Happy Home, Blest Be The Tie ( meanwhile the tie that binds is a curse and questionable!)! Yes, these are beneficial and have a place but are the spiritual, not the social life. Many have mistaken the spiritual for the social.
Man must have both the spiritual and the social not leaving out the economic life. We go to work ( economic) we attend church ( the spiritual) we must also sit, eat, chat, laugh etc ( Social)
From the scriptures, it is evident that Jesus had a social life. Do you have a social life?
My thoughts.