PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Mark 2:13-17
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples.” (Mark 2:15)
The church is not a gathering of saints, but of sinners that God accepts as saints.
What we really have in common in the church is our desperate condition and need for Jesus.
It strikes me often how sinners were drawn to Jesus, but often are not drawn to church.
When one immoral woman was encouraged to seek out a church, she observed:
‘Why would I go there, they’ll only make me feel worse than I already do.’
This is so sad, and even worse, it is a betrayal of our identity and calling as church.
We are not those who have overcome sin, but who have been welcomed despite sin.
God has absorbed the guilt and shame of our sin, to welcome us back to His table.
If the church excludes sinners, then I must be excluded too.
The problem with the religious leaders was not that they were not sick.
Their problem was that they didn’t see themselves as sick, not like others.
As Jesus followers, we of all people should know how much sinners need Jesus.
May we not put up walls that keep sinners out; they need a doctor too, like us.
Praise God Jesus welcomes sinners to His table; it means I am welcome too.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to realize that my sin is even more serious than I realize… which only makes Your grace all the more amazing!
Levi – probably had a good income – but was also despised because he worked for the Romans to collect taxes. Jesus, the rabbi calls and he responds. Jesus visit Synagogues as one might expect of a rabbi – but then he eats and drinks with what society condemns as sinners – but we all are sinners. This convicts me and makes me wonder if we spend too much time in our own ‘house’ – where we the goal is to prepare us to be disciples (like Jesus spending time training his disciples) but get the balance wrong – not convicted enough to connect and witness to ‘sinners’ – spending time with them – to help them find Jesus. We have to see the church as a place of training – not a social club – a place of rejuvenation and learning so that we can be effective in the marketplace – the economy – in academics etc. – a wholistic world view that embraces people wherever and whatever their circumstances.
Te religious leaders of Jesus’ time associated with only those like themselves. Even today, we in the church often like all to be like us, and must jump through certain hoops to be accepted. Christ didn’t. He accepted people as they were know who they were body and soul. Following Him brought total healing. Following Him brings us all total healing and accepting of one another as part of God’s family, ‘kids of the kingdom.’
Just as I am – Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe,
-O Lamb of God, I come!
Just as I am – Thy love unknown
Has broken every barrier down;
Now to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,
-O Lamb of God, I come!