Mark 2: 13-17 (MSG)
Then Jesus went again to walk alongside the lake. Again a crowd came to him, and he taught them. Strolling along, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, at his work collecting taxes. Jesus said, “Come along with me.” He came. Jesus and his disciples were at home having supper with a collection of disreputable guests. Unlikely as it seems, more than a few of them had become followers. The religion scholars and Pharisees saw him keeping this kind of company and lit into his disciples: “What kind of example is this, acting cozy with the riffraff?” Jesus, overhearing, shot back, “Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? I’m here inviting the sin-sick, not the spiritually-fit.”
What is your perception of Jesus?
Do you see him as the pious, judgmental, clean icon in stained glass windows, too holy and untouchable to offer you forgiveness and life-change? Do you believe that he only helps those who help themselves, those who walk under the veneer of outward religion?
If any passage of the Gospel should burn the bridge to that lie, it would be this one.
Jesus is a man of the people. All people. Sinful, dirty, critical, angry, arrogant, atheistic, cheating, lustful, hurting, scared people. If these words don’t cover you, write your description here:___, because you’re covered also. This is radically different from the world’s point of view. Revered teachers of today (many who think they are the Savior) are usually coddled at fancy dinner parties by the wealthy and educated, the holy and intellectual. They tell the world how great they are through their teachings, books, or publicity pushers. Just like it was in Jesus day. The only difference is, whether present or past, Jesus stays the same. And Jesus wasn’t your typical teacher. Jesus hung out with “sinners.” Sinners like you and me. Sinners like the dude hawking change for whiskey on the street corner. Sinners like the girl selling her body for a hit of crack or simply to feel loved. Sinners like the spouse who thinks the grass is greener on the other side.
Imagine it: A “bellyship” which Jesus sits at the head of a table surrounded by pimps, whores, addicts, alcoholics, adulterers, molesters, and us.
Consider this: Jesus loves us just the way we are, but He also loves us too much to let us stay that way.
