Does Jesus ruin lives? Some people think that following Jesus means that their life will be ruined. They think life just won’t be worth living.

Maybe your quick answer as you read that question was, “no, Jesus does not ruin lives.” How would you respond to people that think Jesus ruins lives?

Let’s interview a few people that met Jesus when he lived on earth and see how they will answer the question, Does Jesus ruin lives?

The Leper Responds – Does Jesus Ruin Lives?

Matthew 8:1-4

Interviewer: Mr. Leper, describe yourself and your life prior to your interaction with Jesus. I am investigating the question, Does Jesus ruin lives?

Mr. Leper: Could you please call me, Mr. Former Leper. I am no longer a leper.

Interviewer: Oh, yes, I can see you are no longer a leper.

Mr. Former Leper: Well, before I met Jesus I lived outside the village as the Law commanded. (Leviticus 13:45-46) You can imagine what it was like to live outside the village. I was often alone or at the least in company with people like myself. I wore torn clothes, let my hair hang lose and covered my upper lip. As I walked along I was to yell, “Unclean, unclean.” That allowed people to know I was coming and they could avoid me. Physically, I was in pain; my skin smelled. My muscles were weak at times. You should have seen my face it was disfigured. My life was broken.

Interviewer: So you met Jesus, what happened?

Mr. Former Leper: I decided that the only hope of healing would have to come from Jesus. I had heard about him and saw the crowds following him. One day, the crowd was following him. I had the courage that day to go to Jesus. I knew he was someone I needed to respect and so I knelt before him asking him, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” Do you know what Jesus did?

Interviewer: No, what did Jesus do?

Mr. Former Leper: He stretched out his hand and touched me. Do you know long it had been since anyone had touched me? Jesus touched me and then he said, “I will; be clean.” Immediately I was cleansed of my leprosy. Jesus healed me. He told me to go to the priest and show him that I had been cleansed. That is what the Law required.

Interviewer: So back to the question, Does Jesus ruin lives?

Mr. Former Leper: Look at me. I no longer live outside the village. The clothing I wear is current fashion not torn. I have interactions and relationships with people. Does Jesus ruin lives? No, my life was ruined until I met Jesus.

Interviewer: Thank you, Mr. Former Leper. There you have it from him, “My life was ruined until I met Jesus.”

The Women with Bleeding – Does Jesus Ruin Lives?

Mark 5:21-34

Interviewer: Madam, tell me about yourself and your life prior to meeting Jesus. I am investigating the question, Does Jesus Ruin lives?

Madam: For 12 years I had a discharge of blood. I went to every doctor that I could find. I tried all kinds of remedies. Financially, I had no money left but I still had the problem. You need to understand a blood discharge is not like a broken arm. I was considered unclean not only me but everything I touched was unclean. People didn’t want to be around me because I made them unclean. So I lived alone, in pain, and without money. (Leviticus 15:19-31)

Interviewer: So, tell me about when you met Jesus.

Madam: I had heard the reports about Jesus and so I went up to him in the crowd. I decided, I just wanted to touch his garments and then I would be made well. I reached out my hand and felt his cloak. Immediately I could feel the blood dry up. I felt new and whole.

Interviewer: Is that all that happened?

Madam: No, Jesus turned to the crowd and asked, “Who touched my garments?” Jesus looked around to the crowd. I knew I had to speak up and so I went to him in fear and trembling. I fell down before him and told him the truth. That is a moment I will never forget as he said to me, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” I didn’t make him unclean rather he made me clean.

Interviewer: So the question that we are asking today, Does Jesus ruin lives?

Madam: The difference between my life before Jesus and my life now, really there is no comparison. My life was ruined until I met Jesus.

Interviewer: That is the same response that we heard from Mr. Former Leper. Both of you have said, “My life was ruined until I met Jesus.”

What about today?

Both Mr. Former Leper and Madam said that prior to Jesus their lives were broken and ruined. Without Jesus, our lives are broken. We struggle in relationships. We search for security, safety, and significance but never find it. As much as we try without Jesus cannot have a relationship with God.

We try to find meaning in life but without Jesus, we keep trying and fail. Our lives are ruined until we met Jesus.

Does Jesus Ruin Lives?

No, Jesus restores lives. We are dead in our sins and Jesus restores our life. Jesus death on the cross made it possible for us to have a relationship with God. (I Peter 3:18)

No, Jesus came to give us abundant life. Jesus doesn’t just give life but the life that he gives is abundant life. (John 10:10) He gives more than we could ever imagine.

No, by following Jesus, we have eternal life. The life that we are living now, here on earth is not all that it is. We have eternal life. (John 3:16)

How do you answer the question, “Does Jesus Ruin Lives?