Mark 2:13-17

Have any of you ever watched any of the “I Am Second” videos? They are pretty incredible. The whole idea is that Jesus is number 1, and we fall in line behind him. Now, to be fair, the Bible would probably say that it SHOULD be, “I Am Last,” but the whole movement that started revolved around celebrities giving testimony to the work that Jesus had done in their lives. One of the more moving ones that I saw was of the old bass player of a band called KORN, named Brian “Head” Welch. In it, he talks of being on tour with his band, and having this crippling addiction to crystal meth. His real estate broker shares a verse with him and invites him to church. He accepts Christ, quits his band, and Jesus radically changes His life.

In high school, my self-righteousness would have said, “that guy?! There’s no way he ever becomes receptive to the gospel. He’s way too far gone.” But the beautiful thing about our passage this morning is that Jesus shows us that no one is too far gone. No one is beyond the reach of the love of Jesus. In fact, it’s those who live on the fringes of society that we see Jesus spending time with.

Controversy #2: Jesus eats with sinners!

Read 2:13-17

Big Idea: The call of Jesus stretches to those who the world has disregarded as outcasts.

1.. Jesus calls the outcast (14)

Mark has Jesus on the move again. He’s down by the sea, the same place where he picked up Simon, Andrew, James and John. And as he is there, the crowds are following Him, He is teaching them, and then He passes by one of the tax booths. In it, we find Levi, who we will come to know as Matthew, the tax collector. 

A little history surrounding tax collectors, from a historian: “Tax collectors like Matthew were despised by the Jews because they were a symbol of their subjugation to the Roman government, with whom they were regarded as collaborators against their fellow Jews and thus were regarded as ‘traitors.’” They had significant contact with the ‘Gentile dogs’ and were patently dishonest, not hesitant to ‘shake down’ their fellow Jews and practice out and out extortion. They were usually lumped by Jews into the derogatory category ‘sinners.’ Some rabbinic writings even compared them to murderers and robbers.”

A little more: “When a Jew entered the customs service he was regarded as an outcast from society: he was disqualified as a judge or a witness in a court session, was excommunicated from the synagogue, and in the eyes of the community his disgrace extended to his family.”

So they weren’t just hated for working with the Romans. They weren’t just despised for extortion. They were excommunicated. They were cut off. They were disregarded and disgraced. 

And Jesus walks up to one of them and says, “hey, how would you feel about leaving everything behind, and following me?” It’s important to note that Jesus has not yet declared who of his followers would become his disciples. When Jesus calls people to follow him up to this point, it’s more of a general, “come with me and let me teach you and show you the authority of the Son of God.” Jesus will call the specific 12 to himself in Mark chapter 3. But, Jesus walks up to the most despised among the people, and invites him into what He is doing. He invites Him to be a part of His life. He invites Him, in effect, into community with Him.

It’s believed that Levi is the last of the eventual 12 to be called. So Jesus is rounding things out by choosing a tax collector.

Let’s pause here for a moment. I just need to let you know that I am eternally grateful that Jesus shows no partiality to those He calls. I am brought to tears at the thought that no one is too far gone for Jesus to rescue. This belief drove the philosophy behind how I approached Student Ministries. I don’t believe in giving up on people. It doesn’t matter what they’ve done. It doesn’t matter how far from God they might appear. It doesn’t matter how far from God they ARE. No one is beyond the reach of the love of Jesus. As we get into the next few points, this is so important to lock in. Maybe there are people that you know, people who are a part of your lives who you would say, “yea, it seems like there is no hope for them.” But, we are called to love them just like we see Jesus doing in our passage this morning.

2.. Jesus eats with the outcasts (15)

Read vs. 15. Levi is so overcome by the compassion of Jesus, He is so overwhelmed by the person of Jesus, that he invites all his friends over to meet Him. Luke 5:29 tells us that “Levi made a great feast in his house.” And I’ve got to paint this picture for you to understand how beautiful it is. 

What does it mean that Jesus “reclined?” When people shared a meal together during that time and they reclined, that meant that the meal had turned into an intimate setting of breaking bread and conversation. Here’s what that looked like. “1st century middle eastern meals were not eaten while sitting at a table, but while reclining on one’s side on the floor with the head closest to the low table and the feet farthest away. They reclined on a couch that stretched around 3 sides of a room. The host took the center seat at a U-shaped series of low tables, surrounded by the most honored guests on either side.” So not to ruin everyone’s image of the famous painting, The Last Supper, but that’s probably not how they were situated in the Upper Room breaking bread together. 

Don’t miss this now. In the first century, breaking bread with someone was a sign of social acceptance and friendship. You wonder why the Pharisees were so angry?! 

But just picture this. Jesus, the Creator of the Universe, God in flesh, inviting the sinner to feast at the table with Him. I mean does it get any better?! And what a picture of what’s to come! 

Revelation 19:6-9 - “Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, ‘Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”—for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”

I read this book years ago, and picked it back up this week in light of this passage. It’s really good. Often times, we talk about reaching people with the gospel. Sharing our faith is so intimidating, especially when it’s not something we’ve done, or done often. This book is full of the hows, but really centers around this idea of fellowship over a meal. In it the author says, “We are faithful in meeting with other saints on a regular basis around the Lord's table, but are we faithless in our refusal to meet with lost people around theirs?” And I think it really begs the question, how much time are you spending around the table with people who don’t know Jesus? How often do you break bread with unbelievers? There’s something about sharing a meal with someone. It seems to break down barriers and open conversations that might not be had otherwise. 

It’s a challenge for all of us to consider.

3.. Jesus challenges the self-righteous (16-17)

Curiosity and anger drove the Pharisees to follow Jesus as well. They weren’t at the meal, but probably were observing through a window or doorway into the home. And they are watching this take place. Jesus, a Jewish Rabbi, sharing a meal with sinners. Of course, the Pharisees didn’t look at themselves as such, but for them a sinner was someone who was “known for moral wickedness and consequent exposure to divine displeasure.” For the Pharisees, the sinner was the one who didn’t obey the law as interpreted by them, along with the burdensome traditions that accompanied it. 

Jesus either overhears the conversation, or has one of His disciples come and tell them the concern, and he answers, “Listen, if you’re healthy, great! Then you don’t need me! But those who are sick and in need of healing, they are the ones who need the doctor. I’m not here for you. You are already righteous. The righteous don’t need me! What do you need me for! These people, these sinners, these outcasts, these are the ones who need help! This is why I came!”

Jesus is calling out their self-righteousness. They think they are worthy. It’s the ones who understand their need, who understand that they have no leg to stand on before God, those are the ones Jesus came for!

Jesus will butt heads with these religious leaders so many times, because of their attitude, and their disbelief. Does he want them to receive Him as the Savior? Of course He does! But He also knows that the hardness of their hearts will continue to be an issue. His time is limited, and He knows who is ready. Those who recognize their need. 

Application

In “Jesus Revolution,” Chuck Smith made a decision to open his home, and his church, to those far from Jesus. There were some in his church that refused to do that. But, the thing that started the whole movement was the willingness of one man to invite those who many had disregarded as outcasts, into his home, and into his life.

Now, our relationships with each other, with other believers, is so, so important. We need each other, and God tells us not to forsake meeting with each other. So that has to be a priority for all of us. 

However, if the ONLY people we “do life with” are Christians, then we’ve got to shift our thinking. We have to believe that Jesus wants us to invite those that do not know Him into our lives. We have to pursue relationships with people, have them in our homes. Meet them for coffee or lunch. Invite them over to watch the game. Invite them over for game night. Leave the kids at home and meet another married couple for a double date. 

Nobody is too far gone that Jesus can’t reach them! Guys I believe that we will see a radical difference in our lives and in our church if this becomes true of us!