Jesus wandered down a busy street following a young man with tats on his neck. It was sundown, the young man, Matthew was moving briskly down the street. Both hands clasped close to his mouth as he tried lighting a cigarette. The screeching of sirens were muted by the shadows of Matthews thoughts. The darkness of his thoughts turned to ending it all. Night was coming. Soon his demons would meet him at his door. Finally, with shaky hands he gets his cigarette lit. Inhaling brought a sigh of relief. He ducked through the door of a familiar tattoo shop. Jesus followed him in. 

Inside the parlor the heavy layers of smoke were split by the glow of various beer signs hanging on the walls. A few pictures of some nude girls, a couple of dogs playing poker and lots of tattoo art covered almost every inch of the walls. The bass of the music could be felt pounding in your heart. A couple of men and one woman getting some work done. 

Matthew didn’t seem to notice Jesus. Matthew was greeted by John, a burly man with more hair than a Sasquatch. John, 6′ 5” with piercings in his eye brows, lips and tats starting on face and creeping down his hairy back. After a quick fist bump and some shop talk they turned and noticed Jesus. Jesus smiling at the amusement of his creation. Two men deeply trying to fit in through the art etched on their bodies. He smiled at them, perfectly comfortable in his own skin.

Jesus looked directly into Matthews eyes. His demons shuttered but he felt strangely comforted by this man’s eyes. Jesus said, "I over heard you guys talking about dinner. Name a place, I’ll buy."

John with a baritone voice, "What do you mean you’ll buy."

Jesus, "Let’s go to Matthew’s, everyones welcome." 

It’s almost as if the whole place went silent when Jesus spoke. Somehow Jesus’ voice pierced the darkness. It was captivating, calling and moving everyone to action. His voice was familiar even though they had never met Him. His voice thundered over the music even though He didn’t raise it. A man with no tats and no piercing somehow drew them to Himself. He was so compelling they could not deny His offer. So they went.

Emerging onto a busy sideway walk the large posse followed Jesus. They ducked in and out of a few alley ways. Jesus took out his heavenly iphone 7 (the number of perfection) and ordered pizza. Just before getting to Matthews house Jesus bumped into a few pastors. Nate a skinny guy who’s tie shined as bright as his over bleached teeth. And Ben a larger guy full of spunk and always crackin’ jokes. 

Nate with a smirk on his face, "Where you going with, um those guys? Don’t you know, you are who you hang with Jesus?

Ben, "Yeah, garbage in garbage out. You’re really setting the example for our kids, Jesus."

Nate getting agitated, "What are they going to think when they see who you hang out with? You are supposed to be an ideal role model but we always find you in the wrong places with the wrong people."

The guys from the shop didn’t even know Jesus but something in their souls resonated with Him. As these pastors started talking they were quickly reminded of why they hated church. John had a harsh stare, almost begging for a reason to fight. Somehow without Jesus saying much at all they sided with Him. They wanted to be with Him. They couldn’t explain it but they knew He would stand up for them.

On hearing this, Jesus questioned them, "Is it the healthy or the sick that go to your church? If you get sick don’t you go to the doctor? I AM here for sick, the broken and the wounded. You are here to offer sunday morning service, to huddle with others just like you. You need to learn to show mercy to everyone. This is why I have come. Not to call people who do everything right, but to call those who do everything wrong. To call those who don’t fit in, the weird, the hopeless, the fatherless, the teenage killer, the 13 year drug addict, the girl who skips school to get an abortion, the man who cheats to get to the top—that’s why I AM here.

Jesus turned, looking at the strange group following Him and said with full confidence, "These are my people."