Evangelists introduce sinner to Great Physician

“And hearing this, Jesus said to them, ‘It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.’” (Mark 2:17)

When Susan Bambo explained to Juan why she and a fellow evangelist had knocked on his door, Juan shared that his wife attends a Catholic Church. Because Bambo is a master’s student at Southwestern Seminary and the other evangelist, Brandon, is a member of nearby Stadium Drive Baptist Church, Juan presumed that they, being Christians, would want to talk to his church-going wife rather than himself.

“I do not go to church,” Juan told them. “She is the one you need to talk to.”

But just as Jesus said that it is not the healthy who need a physician, but the sick, so the evangelists explained that, actually, they wanted to speak to Juan. And just as physicians offer treatment to those who are ill, so the evangelists offered Juan the cure for what ailed him—the Gospel of Jesus Christ to save him from sin and death.

In response to Juan’s assertion, Bambo explained that she and Brandon were in the neighborhood that day, Sept. 8, not to speak with Christians, but to speak with “everyone who was ready and interested in listening to us share the love of Christ.” Juan agreed to listen to them, so Bambo and Brandon shared the Gospel with him, expounding on Christ’s love for the world by first placing it in its proper context.

“Because we are sinners,” Bambo said, “we cannot be with God. God sent His Son to bridge the gap between us and Him so we can have a relationship with God.”

Alluding to such Scriptures as Romans 10:9 and John 3:16, they explained how Juan could become a Christian, who admitted he did not know whether he would go to heaven if he were to die that day. They told him that, in order to have eternal life, he must have a relationship with Jesus Christ.

“You have to acknowledge that you are a sinner,” Bambo said, “and that Christ came to die for your sin, to clean you up, to forgive you, and to give you eternal life.”

Juan asked questions throughout the discussion, indicating not only his interest in what they were saying, but also his conviction for leading a life of sin and his need to experience Jesus’ cleansing blood. When the evangelists extended an invitation for him to do just that, Juan accepted.

At the evangelists’ direction, Juan repeated the main tenets of the Gospel, thus proving his understanding of the message. Brandon then led him in the sinner’s prayer, and Juan became a believer in Jesus Christ.

Being “sick,” Juan had been attended by the Great Physician. Now, Juan is cured of his spiritual ailment, and eternal life with the Savior awaits him.