Mark 2: 13-17

Theme: Salvation

Series: Getting to Know Jesus

Some people get the impression that you have to be a certain kind of person to become a Christian. I can’t tell you how many times people have told me, "well I will come to church, but I have to quit drinking first." "I coming but I have to change a few things." "I’m just not good enough." Just how good do you have to be to come to church? How good do you have to be to come to Jesus? Who would he call to be a disciple? Do you have to have special skills? Do you have to be rich or popular or very righteous? Do you have to be politically connected? Do you have to be smart or be religious?

Jesus was about to answer that question in a dramatic way. He stopped at the tax office. There were major trade routes running through Capernaum. Traders had to pass through this tax office, sort of like all trucks having to pull over that the weigh station out on the interstate. Tax collectors were not the kind of person that you wanted as your neighbor. They had no conscience, they would steal from anyone. A tax collector had a contract with Rome to collect a certain amount of tax. He had the power and support of the Roman army if the tax was refused. The deal was, as long as they collected what Rome wanted, they could collect and pocket all they wanted. So, they often over taxed their victims. And they usually became excessively wealthy.

The tax collector was a hated man because he collected taxes for a foreign occupying government. They were hated because they often dealt with gentiles. The rabbinic literature of that day said that the tax collector was to be hated and that hatred was to be extended to his family as well. And it was proper to try to defraud the tax collector because he was, by Jewish law, considered to be a thief and a robber. In Jewish society of the first century AD, you would not have met too many men who were considered lower than a tax collector.

Yet, here they were at the tax office. And Jesus does the most incredible thing. He approaches Levi and says to him what he had said to Peter and Andrew and James and John, "Follow me." The people must have been astonished at this. Just how exclusive a club was this if Jesus would call a sinner like Levi?

Just as incredible, Levi got up and followed Jesus. By doing so, he lost everything. See, it was a competitive market for the position of tax collector. There were a lot of people who would do anything for money, Jews and gentiles alike. Whoever had this position was guaranteed to get rich. And if you gave it up, there was no going back. Someone else would have taken your place. If Peter and John wanted to quit Jesus, they could go back to their boats. But, Levi, the most hated of society, the fallen Jew, burned all his bridges behind him and followed Jesus. There was no going back.

There were more surprises. Jesus went home with Levi. It was a time of joyous celebration. So, a big party was held and Jesus comes to Matthew’s house to the party. He eats with sinners. The way the text reads is interesting. Although the banquet is at Matthew’s house, it reads like Jesus is throwing the party. Jesus seems to be the host of the party! Could it be that not only did he go home with Levi, but that he threw a party in his honor to celebrate his becoming a disciple? It reminds us of the great banquet that Jesus will one day invite us to. We will eat our fellowship meal in heaven with him

The guest list was notorious. It was made up of tax collectors and other disreputable personalities who were not often seen at the local church. They may have been rich or poor, well known or those who live in the shadows of society. But they were all unwelcome in the synagogue and were hated by the Pharisees. But, who else would Levi know? And who else would Levi care to share his new found Savior, unless it was with other sinners?

Can't you picture the scene? The table is long and full of food. At the head of the table is Jesus and at his right is Levi. Levi has shared his testimony with his friends. "This one has called me to follow him and I left everything and followed him." Levi was just sharing his testimony with his friends, he wanted them to know about Jesus.

The disciples were about the table and observing the ease with which their master talked with the other guests and how he skillfully answered their questions about the kingdom of God. There must have been great laughter there, for it was a celebration you know.

Quite often at great social events, the public was allowed to come and watch. No doubt the Pharisees were welcome, but they preferred to stand to the side and grumble. "He, he eats with the sinners and laughs at their jokes and he even touches them."

The Scribes and Pharisees huddled together as they shared their disgust of the situation. Perhaps it was Peter they talked to. "Why is he eating and drinking with the tax-collectors and sinners?" The behavior of Jesus was eating away at them.

It must have shocked them, for certainly when the Pharisee asked the disciples this question, they did not intend for Jesus to hear. But Jesus answered them, nothing was a secret to him. "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners." The Pharisees were too dense to know that they had just been verbally slapped in the face. When Jesus spoke of the righteous, they quite literally accepted it as a compliment. But what Jesus meant was that the "righteous" are the ones who think themselves righteous, self righteous. They are the ones who measure themselves by the failure of others. It is in this way that self righteous exploits the sinners. In fact, Pharisees were glad that there were sinners, otherwise they could not claim to be righteous. He drinks, I do not; she had to get married, I did not; he is shady when it comes to business, I am not; he comes from the wrong side of town, I do not, she wears the wrong kind of clothes, I do not.

What we need to see is that we are all sinners before God. Solomon said that the purpose of man is to respect God and to keep his commandments. How many of you do that? Isn’t it the last thing on you mind? The fact is, we are all in rebellion against God. We are all sinners and Jesus came to rescue sinners. That is why Jesus called Levi. That is why Jesus ate with sinners. There are only two kinds of people, lost and saved. The saved are those who come to believe and accept by faith that Jesus died on the cross for their sins. He was your sacrifice. If you believe and place your faith in Him, you are saved. If you have not done that, you are lost.

Is it worth it? Did Levi do the right thing by becoming a follower of Jesus and leaving all of his wealth? Of course it was. Will Jesus make you give up your job? No, not necessarily. But God may call you in another direction in life. And if you are doing something immoral, Jesus will call you away from that.

Well, what are the benefits of being a Christian? The answers are many. Some of them are: you will have a direct relationship with God. You will not be condemned by his wrath, but be the object of his incredible love. The Bible says that those who are followers of Jesus are given love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, the very traits that are missing in most of us. You also gain the fellowship one has with other Christians in God’s church. And we have eternal life, a life that will last forever with God. In that day when he returns, we will be made perfect and we will spend eternity with him forever. To me it sounds like it is worth it and I have never regretted following Christ.

Jesus is the friend of sinners. He came looking for sinners, even the likes of me and you. He has shown great love to us who are sinners. So, who can be saved? The answer is simple, you can, you can.