ON YOUR MARK: WEEK 2 DAY 4
MARK 2:13-17
JESUS CALLS LEVI
13 He went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them. 14 And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. 15 And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16 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?”17 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.”
There are people who leave churches that are filling up with people who are new in their faith in Jesus. This happens because long-time Christians forget that these amazing new believers do not have a cultural understanding of church language and behavior. These new believers are just happy they met Jesus and want to be in His church, yet we expect and want them to be just like us. That is like a doctor leaving a hospital because the sick and wounded keep coming in. How cruel and selfish would that headline read if we read it in the news?
Many seasoned faithful Christians have forgotten that Jesus did not start a Christian country club, He started a revolution that did not prize the good behavior of a select few, but the deep need everyone has to heal the sickness of our sins. The church MUST be a place where we bring the wounded of this world. If you are looking for a safe, comfortable religion that prizes your special status with God, then Jesus’ words might sting a little today. Let us be reminded that Jesus healed us and we now serve at His pleasure in this hospital. Jesus is the great physician, but we are also making rounds with His Spirit living in us and we are taking an active role in people's transformation. The church is not a country club; the church is a military field hospital and we can never forsake our call to care for those who come in. How will we serve today?