Are We Sitting With Jesus… or Blocking the Way to Him?

Jesus did something that still challenges us today.

He sat at tables with sinners — people who didn’t know Him, didn’t follow Him, and in many ways, didn’t live anything like Him.

And yet… they wanted to be near Him.

At the same time, He overturned the tables of those who claimed to know God — not because they lacked knowledge, but because their actions were actually preventing others from coming close.

That contrast should stop us in our tracks.

Because it forces a question we don’t always want to ask:

Which one are we?

Jesus Sat With Sinners — And They Leaned In

In Matthew 9:10–13 (NKJV) we see a powerful moment:

“Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, ‘Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?’ When Jesus heard that, He said to them, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: “I desire mercy and not sacrifice.” For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.’”

Jesus wasn’t repelled by broken people.

He was drawn to them.

And more importantly — they were drawn to Him.

There was something about His presence that made sinners feel seen, not condemned… invited, not rejected… challenged, but still loved.

That should tell us something about what it looks like to truly reflect Christ.

Jesus Overturned Tables — When People Blocked Access to God

Now contrast that with what happens in John 2:14–16 (NKJV):

“And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business. When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables. And He said to those who sold doves, ‘Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!’”

This wasn’t random anger.

This was intentional, righteous correction.

Why?

Because this marketplace was set up in the Court of the Gentiles — the one place where outsiders could come and seek God.

And instead of finding a place to encounter Him…

They found noise. Distraction. Profit. Barriers.

Jesus didn’t flip tables at sinners who were searching.

He flipped tables at believers whose behavior made it harder for others to find God.

The Hard Question: Are We Helping or Hindering?

We may not be selling animals in a temple courtyard.

But if we’re honest… we can still create barriers.

• When our lives don’t match our message

• When our words are harsh but our love is absent

• When we prioritize being right over being Christlike

• When pride, hypocrisy, or bitterness become visible to others

We may not realize it… but people are watching.

And what they see shapes what they believe about Jesus.

Our Lives Are Our Witness

Scripture makes it clear that following Christ is not just about what we say — it’s about what we represent.

2 Corinthians 5:20 (NKJV) says:

“Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.”

An ambassador doesn’t just speak for a kingdom — he represents it.

That means:

• Our attitudes preach

• Our actions speak

• Our responses reveal what we really believe

And here’s the sobering truth:

Our sin, after coming to Christ, doesn’t just affect us.

It affects:

• Our credibility

• Our influence

• Our ability to show the transforming power of Jesus

If our lives look no different than the world…

Why would the world believe our message?

Is Jesus at Our Table — Or Flipping It?

Here’s where it becomes personal.

It’s one thing to say: "I know Jesus.”

It’s another to ask: "Is my life aligned with Him?”

Are we:

• Sitting with Jesus, learning and growing?

  
  

  Or…

  
  

• Aware of Him, but resisting the areas He wants to change?

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Because sometimes the table Jesus wants to overturn…

Isn’t out there. It’s in here.

• The table of pride

• The table of hidden sin

• The table of compromise

• The table of religious appearance without true transformation

And the truth is — He flips those tables out of love.

Not to shame us.

But to remove anything that keeps us — and others — from fully encountering God.

Revival Starts With Us

We often ask:

“Why aren’t more people coming to Jesus? ”Why isn’t the church growing? ”Why does the world seem so far from God?”

But maybe the better question is:

Are we clearing the way… or blocking the door?

Revival doesn’t begin when sinners start acting better.

It begins when believers start living transformed.

When:

• Our lives reflect His love

• Our actions align with His truth

• Our hearts stay humble and teachable

• Our witness becomes real and visible

That’s when people start leaning in again.

Final Thought

Jesus is still sitting at tables with people who don’t know Him.

The question is…

When they look at us —do they feel invited to come closer?

Or do they feel like they’re standing outside, unable to get in?

Let’s not just invite Jesus to sit at our table.

Let’s give Him permission to change it.

Pastor Scott