The Gospel of Mark
Getting to Know Jesus
Mark 2: 13-28
"Jesus is Lord , so things must change."
Key questions: Why did Jesus choose a person like Levi?
How do you think Levi's lifestyle might have changed after meeting Jesus?
How should we treat people regarded as 'lowly sinners' in our church?
What does the reaction of the Pharisees say about their attitude of heart?
Is Levi an example for all Christians? How?
What do the latter two sections here have in common with the first one?
How important is Jesus' presence for the Jewish religion?
When is "the bridegroom taken away from them"?
How hard is it to change habits you have had for many years?
Notes
There are three very different incidents which happen one after another in this section of Mark. They are different incidents, but there is a common message: When Jesus comes into a person's life, things must change, not just stay the same.
Jesus is not just someone who comes to make people feel better, to be a "Doctor Feelgood" who understands them, loves them, gives them a pat on the head and promises to come back next week for another dose of encouragement. Of course Jesus does understand us, love us, encourage us, and promises to be there for those who believe in him, but there is much much more to Jesus than just that. Jesus also calls people to follow him, he challenges people to change their way of thinking, and their way of doing things. If you only accept half (the easy half) of what Jesus offers you, you only accept a small Jesus; you keep him small, like a good-luck charm sitting on a mantlepiece. This does not honour Jesus, but dishonours him. This does not please God, but makes him angry. This does not give a person security, but quite the opposite. People often think they can use God in their own small way, but God is not like that. Jesus is not just our buddy when we need a shoulder to cry on, he is our LORD. He wants us to be loyal to him, devoted to him because he loves us. He wants your whole life to be changed, with new purpose, with power over those things that seek to drag you down. Jesus wants to give us a special dignity and honour, to become God's loved children, a prince or princess in the service of our great King.
1. Jesus Calls a Tax-collector v.13-17
This first story shows us very clearly how Jesus is not out to play favourites. Jesus doesn't choose all the highly respected 'religious' people to be his disciples, he calls ordinary people - fishermen and even tax-collectors.Tax-collectors in particular were regarded as 'scum' by the Jews, because they were taking money from God's people and giving it to the Roman authorities. (The Roman Empire had taken control of Israel and all the land around it many years before). Tax-collectors were traitors, and not only that, they would charge too much tax, in order to put extra money in their own pockets and become rich.
So you can understand the reaction of shock and horror in verse 16, when Jesus publicly chooses one of these people to follow him. Not only that, but we are told that "A large number of tax-collectors and other outcasts were following Jesus."(verse 15). It should be a great comfort to us to know that Jesus accepts anyone - no matter what background we come from or what we have done in our past. Other people might look down on us for what we are, but Jesus looks at who we are and what we can become with his help. Jesus answers these people by in effect saying "Sure, these tax-collectors are obviously sinners, but that is why I came, to save sinners! If you think you're too good, not a sinner, then okay, you won't be saved, you won't be healed of all the rotten things in your life."All of us need to think carefully about these 2 possible responses to Jesus - 1) we can be like the people standing by who think they don't need Jesus. This is being dishonest with God, because we have all sinned and need God's powerful healing in our lives. or 2) we can be like this tax-collector and follow Jesus when he calls us. We can be honest with God and ourselves, and confess openly that we have sinned. In this way we will be healed, and know a whole new life.
But then there is something more - we don't just do this in our heads. Jesus calls Levi to actually follow him - to get off his backside, leave his old rotten life behind, and join this rag-tag bunch of sinners who want to learn from Jesus and grow together. Notice how Jesus comes to Levi (whose other name is Matthew, in Matthew's Gospel)- Jesus goes out of his way to show his love for this man who other people hated. This is a great thing for us to appreciate, just how much Jesus loves us and will meet us where we are. But then Jesus commands Levi to follow him. Jesus isn't going to just 'drop in' each week to be his counsellor, to make him feel good. And Levi doesn't answer Jesus with "Can I make an appointment for next Monday?" No, Jesus expects him to respond to his challenge, to play his part in this new relationship and follow Jesus. Jesus hasn't met Levi just to leave him where he is. Jesus loves him enough to want him to move on, to help him in a big way. Jesus wants Levi's life to be totally changed, with all the power God has to offer him, through Jesus.
And it's exactly the same for us - God often wants more for us than we even realise, but we'll never know until we say "Yes" to him, and that means to follow him all the way. If you are feeling that you haven't really said this to God, then do it now. Pray earnestly and honestly, confessing all your sins and turning away from your old life. Put yourself into His hands, and commit yourself to following this great loving Lord.
But also don't despise the church God has given you to help as well. Levi didn't follow Jesus alone, he joined a group. And Levi didn't choose who were in that group, Jesus did. The church is where you can be encouraged and where God has provided teachers and pastors and an opportunity for you to learn more about Jesus. And remember - don't look down on the other sinners God has chosen, like the 'religious' people around Jesus did.
2. Other pictures of change v.18-28
These other two incidents, where the Pharisees challenge Jesus about fasting and picking wheat on the Sabbath, show us the same point that has been made with Levi - now Jesus is here, things change. Since Jesus, the wonder-ful saviour from God has come, it is an exciting time for great celebration, not a time to fast. People should be bursting with joy. But now also the old religion has to accomodate the new changes Jesus brings - this is the meaning of the "new wine in old wineskins " picture. This is all about making the appropriate response to Jesus - our response should be one of joy and acceptance, not sadness and bitterness like the Pharisees are doing.The same goes for the law about the Sabbath. Jesus corrects a bad understanding; the sabbath is not supposed to be a burden but a joy - picking a few grains when you're hungry surely doesn't qualify as 'work', like the Pharisees had classed it. They were so caught up in doing everything right by the Law that it created a blockage of pride, instead of an openness and humility which recognises that Jesus meets their real need. No wonder Jesus never chose a Pharisee to be one of his disciples; it's a case of "O Lord, it's hard to be humble, when you're perfect in every way." Instead, they should have given up their legalism, and seen their LORD who had come among them, to change them deeply inside, and fill them with joy, rest, peace, and everything else God had promised would come.. What is your response to Jesus?
Paul Harper, St Judes Carlton '96
Revised Holy Trinity Bacchus Marsh, 2000, St Luke’s Mulgrave 2003