Today I'd like to look at Mark 2:13-17. In this passage we find Jesus calling another disciple Levi son of Alphaeus, who is later called Matthew. Levi is a tax collector and believe it or not in Jesus' day they were more disliked then they are today.
In fact a Jewish tax collector could assign his own wages. It worked like this. If it was tax time and the tax collectors came to your town they could say, "you owe $10,000 in taxes." The problem is that they knew how much you really owe and you don't. So you might only owe 5 or 6 thousand but they are charging you more.
These guys were not very popular. This disciple being called is a big deal. Jesus calls to Levi, "Follow me." And he does.
After this we find Jesus in Levi's house eating diner. And in this house we find Jesus, Levi, Jesus' other disciples, other tax collectors, and "sinners". (Historical oral tradition suggests that this reference to "sinners" may have been a denotation of loose women or prostitutes.)
This is a huge deal because in the ancient Middle East the sharing of a meal was one of the greatest symbols of intimacy. When they sat at a table they would sit on the floor or on cushions, they would lean on their left hand and eat with their right. Each person would lean on the person sitting next to them. So to say the least you only ate with people you really cared for.
Well it is no surprise that Pharisees became indignant. They couldn't believe that a rabbi would dare to eat with the likes of this crowd. How dare He surround Himself with this kind of filth.
The Good News: When Jesus heard about the complaints of the Pharisees, He responded with these words, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
This is great news for you and me. We have sinned, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23. Jesus came to help and call people like you and me. He knows how messed up we are and He still desires to come in and eat with us. Listen to His words in Revelation 3:20, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me."
May you open the door of your heart to Jesus today. knowing that there is nothing you can do to make Him love you any more or any less than He does right now. May you rest assured that Jesus loves you so much that He gave His life that you would be saved.
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