In this passage we see that Jesus is making the rounds of his ministry by the sea again—and his popularity as a miracle worker and rabbi is taking off. Again, we see that Mark focus’ upon what Jesus did as a teacher, rather than what Jesus taught as a teacher
Q What do you think is more important? What we say—or what we do? Can we truly be Christians and have different values for living than Jesus does? What about ministry?
JESUS CALLED A TAX COLLECTOR TO FOLLOW HIM
In this account we see Jesus breaking religious stereo types! This time by calling Levi the tax-collector to follow him as his disciple!
“He went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them. And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphas sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him” (Mark 2:13-14).
Levi was a tax collector. Capernaum was a common trade route. Levi collected taxes on transported trade goods for the Roman government. These tax collectors made their wealth by collecting above and beyond the actual rates—they were dishonest—and they were considered traitors. Tax collectors were considered unclean.
Jesus called, “Follow me.” Just as he called the working class fishermen (Simon, Andrew, James and John) from their thriving occupations, so Jesus also called Mathew from his profitable tax booth. He said “Follow Me” a call to discipleship.
Levi rose and followed As a tax collector, Levi was not obedient to the religious law and expectations of the religious leaders, but face to face with the Christ, he abandons everything! Mark sets a pattern with Simon, Andrew, James, John and now Levi—following means leaving YOUR life behind to have HIS life!
Are you willing to leave all other pursuits behind in order to follow Jesus?
JESUS CAME TO CALL THE SPIRITUALLY SICK NOT THE SELF RIGHTEOUS
“And as he reclined at the table in his house, many were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mark 2:15-17).
When the Pharisees saw that Jesus was dining with tax collectors they began to have questions! The Pharisees held strict guidelines of whom they would share ‘table fellowship’ with. Tax collectors and sinners who did not participate in temple practices were OUT—FORBIDDEN!
“Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick” Imagine going to a doctor, and the doctor does not want to see you because you are sick. Jesus the physician came for a reason—to save the sick!
“And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules” (Ezk 36:26-27).
The Pharisees were ‘separatist’ in practice! In an attempt to keep the law, they devised strict extra biblical guidelines and separated themselves from anyone who did not adhere to the same guidelines that they did.
They separated themselves from anyone who did not hold the same strict guidelines as they did! They created strict religious and social pressures that created a chaism between the sick and the physician. Jesus came to break all of that!
Are you ready and willing to bring people to the Great Physician? Our mission is to call sinners to Christ
“I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” Jesus is not after the righteous! What does he mean by that? No one is righteous without him—No one is right before God without placing their faith completely on him and his work on the cross!
The Pharisees were going about righteousness the wrong way. They could never satisfy God by keeping the Law. All have sinned except the Jesus the Son of God!
“But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith” (Ro 3:21-25).
Jesus is our righteousness! Through whom we are made righteous through grace by faith.
“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2Cor 5:21).
JESUS SHARED THE TABLE OF TAX COLLECTORS AND SINNERS
How did the Son of Man welcome people into the Kingdom of God?
Was it through performing miracles? A: No! Miracles validated his authority!
Jesus’ Strategy was Table Fellowship—The meals he shared communicated and demonstrated that the Kingdom of God was open to all who would accept the Son of Man! He ministered most of his teaching, and miracles from homes. Some of the meals he shared were even object lessons!
Why is this strategy important?
Jesus reclined at Levi’s table—To share a meal at someone’s table was a ceremonially rich sign of friendship and unity! Being a guest of honor at a feast was to accept their approval and approve them!
Many tax collectors and sinners reclined with Jesus—Levi was a gateway to other tax collectors and sinners! Where do you find tax collectors today? Where do you find the sick?
The early church followed Jesus example and the Lord gave them favor!
“And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved” (Acts 2:46-47).
Want to expand your influence for Christ? My ministry blueprint has been to (1) Preach and teach, (2) Share my table, (3) Look for opportunities to serve, and (4) bring a few along for the ride!
What would happen if you shared your table, or a table at Starbucks, with someone who was spiritually sick? Who needs Jesus? Imagine what God could do through you if you were to make sharing a table a weekly habit!
This article is part of the Son of God--Servant to Man series on the Gospel of Mark.
This message was preached March 5, 2017 at Living Water Foursquare Chapel in Yucca Valley CA.
No comments:
Post a Comment