Jesus - Uniquely Friend of the 'Outsider'

I recently picked up the book, Jesus Before Christianity, again. I began 2014 with several posts about it (starts here). I keep reflecting on the man Jesus and am continually taken with what a man He must have been. So now as we close out the year, I return to this book and write a few posts quoting parts of it in my desire to know Him more and perhaps help others know and love Him more as well..

Albert Nolan on Jesus and how the poor and sinners of that time and culture would have been impacted by His unreserved inclusion of them:

"...what made Jesus different was the unrestrained compassion he felt for the poor and the oppressed.

"It would be impossible to overestimate the impact these (festive) meals must have had upon the poor and the sinners. By accepting them as friends and equals Jesus had taken away their shame, humiliation and guilt. By showing them that they mattered to him as people, he gave them a sense of dignity and released them from their captivity...Moreover, because Jesus was looked upon as a man of God and a prophet, they would have interpreted his gesture of friendship as God's approval of them. They were now acceptable to God. Their sinfulness, ignorance and uncleanness had been overlooked and were no longer held against them....There can be no doubt that Jesus was a remarkably cheerful person and that his joy, like his faith and hope, was infectious...The poor and the oppressed and anyone else who was not too hung up on 'respectability' found the company of Jesus a liberating experience of sheer joy...He made them feel safe and secure...His very presence had liberated them."

Do others different from us feel this way around us? Lord Jesus, may we Your people be more like You, large of heart and inclusive of all, a haven where anyone can feel unafraid, unashamed and accepted.