Joel M Bradshaw

13He went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them. 14And 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.

15And 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. 16And 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?”17And 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.”–Mark 2

1. Do you ever feel burdened by your past choices? Do you worry your sinful reputation is so bad that Jesus could never find a use for you?
2. Just remember that Jesus called Matthew (Levi) to join His crew.
3. Tax collectors were some of the most hated people and were seen as sellouts and traitors. Jesus then ate a meal with these “messy, broken sinners.” Jesus’ own reputation took a hit that day in the eyes of some.
4. But the sinners feeling welcomed by Jesus was EXACTLY the point.
5. You don’t make fun of the out of shape person on the treadmill at the gym. They are where they need to be. Leave them alone.
6. Sinners need Jesus most of all. The great irony is the religious elite were just as sinful as the tax collectors and prostitutes whom they loved to label and reject. They needed Jesus, too!
7. Who do you see yourself as in this story? If you are more Pharisee than tax collector, you might be missing the point!–JMB