DAY EIGHT | MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20
Mark 2:13-17
Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him.
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. When 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?”
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.”
Reflection
One of the things I have noticed growing up is how hard it is to find a happy middle ground. It seems that as soon as our society or culture swings too far in one direction, it is just a matter of time before it swings in the opposite direction. You can imagine a grandfather clock’s pendulum swinging a little in one direction, and then a little in the opposite. Now imagine a little boy picking it up and watching the pendulum swing wildly in both directions, so erratic, it feels like the clock will tip over.
In the story of God, we see God’s people swinging wildly from one extreme to the other. Throughout the story of God’s people, we see their disposition toward turning away from God. We see the prophets repeatedly crying out for God’s people to obey the laws of God. Now it seems we have an equal and opposite reaction. The pharisees make sure they practice and uphold every single law. They have even created laws to protect the other laws. The problem is the laws were only there to guide people’s heart back to God and the Pharisees have lost heart.
Jesus’ kingdom does not dismiss the laws of God, but it is also gracious enough to invite those outside the law into relationship with God. Jesus is the perfect balance of truth and grace. Gracious enough to call Levi and his fellow tax collectors to spend time with Jesus and in truth provokes them to examine their way of life.
Where do we so easily swing wildly from one extreme to correct from another extreme? How has our zealousness prevented us from seeking out those that need the gospel the most? Jesus be the center of it all.
Mark 2:13-17
Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him.
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. When 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?”
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.”
Reflection
One of the things I have noticed growing up is how hard it is to find a happy middle ground. It seems that as soon as our society or culture swings too far in one direction, it is just a matter of time before it swings in the opposite direction. You can imagine a grandfather clock’s pendulum swinging a little in one direction, and then a little in the opposite. Now imagine a little boy picking it up and watching the pendulum swing wildly in both directions, so erratic, it feels like the clock will tip over.
In the story of God, we see God’s people swinging wildly from one extreme to the other. Throughout the story of God’s people, we see their disposition toward turning away from God. We see the prophets repeatedly crying out for God’s people to obey the laws of God. Now it seems we have an equal and opposite reaction. The pharisees make sure they practice and uphold every single law. They have even created laws to protect the other laws. The problem is the laws were only there to guide people’s heart back to God and the Pharisees have lost heart.
Jesus’ kingdom does not dismiss the laws of God, but it is also gracious enough to invite those outside the law into relationship with God. Jesus is the perfect balance of truth and grace. Gracious enough to call Levi and his fellow tax collectors to spend time with Jesus and in truth provokes them to examine their way of life.
Where do we so easily swing wildly from one extreme to correct from another extreme? How has our zealousness prevented us from seeking out those that need the gospel the most? Jesus be the center of it all.