“As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him. Now it happened, as He was dining in Levi’s house, that many tax collectors and sinners also sat together with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many, and they followed Him. And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, “How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?” When Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.””
Mark 2:14-17 NKJV
Here in Mark Chapter 2 we read a story about Jesus’ call to Levi (Matthew) to become one of His disciples. Levi was a tax collector. In those days, the job of a tax collector was a dishonorable job, particularly to the Jewish leadership. We can also gather from the text that Levi’s friends too were tax collectors and sinners.
Use your mind’s eye to picture how the scene in Mark Chapter 2 would look. Food, smiles, and fellowship. The Messiah, the savior of the world, the only perfect person the world has ever known, spending His time and enjoying a meal with a group of dishonorable, sinful men and women. What a confusing scene!
In fact, it’s an incredible example Jesus sets for us. Jesus’ actions in this event paint a perfect picture of how to help lost people come to a redemptive relationship with their savior. Jesus became a friend of sinners to save them, not to condemn them.
What happens at a dinner table? Usually the dinner table is a place of conversation, laughter, and bonding. We’re not told in the text what was said at this table, but one thing we can speculate is that Jesus wasn’t wagging his finger at his hosts. It’s unlikely that he was explaining to them all the reasons why they’d be condemned to an eternity in hell. Without a doubt, Jesus’ first concern was about showing these people love. It’s more likely that he showed them love and compassion to build a bridge, not to tear one down by judging them and scolding them. How can we know this? It’s in John 3:17: “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”
John 3:17 NKJV
It’s an incredible example that followers of Christ should be excited to recreate. If we truly believe what we claim to believe, what could be more important than building relationships with the lost and introducing them to the redemptive love of Christ? It’s now our job to judge and condemn the lost. We were given a great commission to share Jesus with the lost. Allow yourself to be used by God through showing his love to sinners. In doing so, you will bear more fruit and store up for yourself treasures in Heaven.
Comments