He went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them. And 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. Mark 2:13-14
I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark. Today, I focus on a commentary-assisted review of Mark 2:13-14, which is the first division (Jesus Calls the Seemingly Unlikely to Follow Him) of the text 2:13-17 per commentary. Excerpts from the introduction and first division per commentary:
- "This section of Mark, what some have called “the scandal of grace” (MacArthur, “Scandal”), has the potential to bring great conviction to the hearts of many of us. Why? First, many if not most of us do not spend much time with sinners."
- "In this text we see Jesus, the friend of sinners, as He reaches out to the seemingly unlikely, the socially undesirable, and the spiritually unhealthy. Look carefully at all the characters in the story and ask, 'With whom do I most identify? Am I loving and serving sinners as Jesus did?'"
- "[T]o reach the lost, you have to be with the lost, and you must share the gospel."
- "Tax collectors were notorious in that day and were hated by the Jewish people as traitors and abusers of their own people. They were a mafia-like organization in the first century. They served Rome, the Gentile occupying power of Israel. They were like dishonest IRS agents who overcharged the people for their own profit. The Jewish writings known as the Mishnah and Talmud set them beside thieves and murderers. They were expelled and banned from the synagogue. The touch of a tax collector rendered a house unclean. Jews could lie to a tax collector with impunity. With money as his god, Levi was a social pariah who was spiritually bankrupt, having sold his soul to sin and self. His was a soul in need of a touch from Jesus."
- "Why would Levi leave everything and follow Jesus? Even more, why would Jesus invite such an outcast to do so? Levi saw something in Jesus that he wanted to join, and Jesus saw in Levi what he could become. Jesus saw a sinner in need of salvation, not a lowlife deserving condemnation. Jesus saw not the wicked life of a tax collector and extortionist but the changed life of a disciple, an evangelist, an apostle, and a Gospel writer. That’s the scandal of grace! Jesus sees in us what no one else can see and turns us into what we were intended to be—mature image bearers who reflect His glory."
Believers are called to share the Good News with all people, regardless of wealth, social standing, ability, etc. As scripture shares and the commentary emphasizes - we must go to the places where people are lost; this includes not just our neighborhoods but where there is struggle, hardship, pain, loss, etc. This is a convicting message for me as I too often fail to leave the comfort of my own home. Father God I beg You to help me become more like You in all ways, including going into the world to be a light for those who desperately need it!
Comment and discuss this post.
My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of amazing grace for me as I was an enemy and hostile to You but You loved me first and saved me. Thank You Jesus - but I am undeserving of such grace, mercy and salvation. My sin is great and it continues...daily. Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior. Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.
