Mark 2:15-17 - February 24, 2010

Mark 2:15 “While Jesus was having dinner at Levi's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the "sinners" and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: "Why does he eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?" 17 On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

Sinners know lots of other sinners! Jesus was criticized harshly for the kind of people that He associated with. The religious leaders of the day were chronically negative about the Lord for who He chose to spend time with. But Jesus understood a powerful truth that these men had either forgotten or had never learned. In answer to their criticisms in Mark 2:17 Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

Jesus knew that the best way to call a sinner back to God is to spend time with them. He was not threatened by their sinfulness, nor offended by their sin. Instead He greeted them with a compassionate kindness and through this capitalized on a tremendous truth: sinners know lots of other sinners. Through reaching Levi Jesus reached “many tax collectors and ‘sinners.’” By accepting one man He gains access to many men. He does not embrace their behavior but he treats them with kindness and values them as people and through this He turns many of them towards righteousness.

One of the hardest things about ministry is remembering what ministry is about. For many people ministry becomes a career opportunity. For others ministry is the source of their identity and a sense of personal value. The larger the crowd or the more important the audience the better they feel about themselves. Pastors compare the size of their congregations and facilities with other ministries as a measurement of success, forgetting that the real measure of effective ministry is transformed lives and godly, fruitful disciples.

It is time for the church to remember its true mission. It is time to for the saints of God to turn from a materialistic, capitalistic faith and restore focus on the value God places upon people. Jesus demonstrated the fact that God values ALL people and is searching for opportunities to reach into their lives. Jesus had a profound capacity to focus on the individual and yet minister to the multitudes through it. There is a need for the eyes of the church to turn from a primary focus on numbers and events and renew its passion to raise up worshippers of God and deliverers of men… one life at a time!