Daily Bread 2011 - Mark 2
Daily Bread 2011 – Friday February 11th, 2011 Mark 2:15-17
15 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. 16 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?”17 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.”
What Does This Mean?
Jesus continues to show the disciples what it means for the kingdom to be at hand, in many ways that blow apart the stereotypes the religious leaders had created. He healed the paralytic man, but also forgave his sins upon seeing his faith. Jesus healed the presenting problem and the root problem in the man’s life. The Pharisees cited this as blasphemy, for who but God could forgive sins. Indirectly, this was one of the first ways Jesus begins to claim He is God.
In the above passage, Jesus shows that the kingdom is available to any and all who would seek it, including sinners and tax collectors. Tax collectors were hated because they worked for the Roman government. Sinners were discarded because of their lifestyle. Yet, Jesus seeing their desire for something more in this life went to their house. Notice he went to their turf, not visa versa.
And finally, the Pharisees cited him for not following the letter of the Law in regard to fasting and honoring the Sabbath day laws. But in both cases Jesus shows them that the Law was made for them and was meant to be a freedom, not a restriction. That is why it was ridiculous to suggest when Jesus healed someone on the Sabbath, it was breaking the Sabbath. No it was fulfilling the Sabbath because it was meant to give us rest from labors and burdens and sickness.
What Does This Mean For Us?
It is easy to criticize the Pharisees, but there is a temptation in anybody who is following Jesus wholeheartedly to slip into legalism. The purpose of the spiritual disciplines are to draw us into the “easy yoke” of following Jesus, not to put new shackles on us. That is why it is wrong to suggest well to be “really spiritual” you need to read through the whole bible in one year. Maybe the most spiritual thing you could do is focus on the Psalms or Proverbs all year. Or take a month on the Sermon the Mount.
Or with prayer maybe you need a new way to experience prayer to draw you closer to God rather than feeling like an empty routine. Try praying when you are exercising, or journal out your thoughts, dreams and thanksgivings to God. Importantly if something isn’t drawing you closer to God or helping you to follow Jesus more closely, then don’t do it. Try something else. Jesus was the king of blowing up people’s “boxes” and letting the kingdom come through him wherever he was at. May God meet you as you experience coming through you in every day life just like Jesus did.
Jesus thank you for setting us free from legalism with its burdens, so we can pursue you in ways that bring us life, peace and joy! Amen.
15 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. 16 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?”17 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.”
What Does This Mean?
Jesus continues to show the disciples what it means for the kingdom to be at hand, in many ways that blow apart the stereotypes the religious leaders had created. He healed the paralytic man, but also forgave his sins upon seeing his faith. Jesus healed the presenting problem and the root problem in the man’s life. The Pharisees cited this as blasphemy, for who but God could forgive sins. Indirectly, this was one of the first ways Jesus begins to claim He is God.
In the above passage, Jesus shows that the kingdom is available to any and all who would seek it, including sinners and tax collectors. Tax collectors were hated because they worked for the Roman government. Sinners were discarded because of their lifestyle. Yet, Jesus seeing their desire for something more in this life went to their house. Notice he went to their turf, not visa versa.
And finally, the Pharisees cited him for not following the letter of the Law in regard to fasting and honoring the Sabbath day laws. But in both cases Jesus shows them that the Law was made for them and was meant to be a freedom, not a restriction. That is why it was ridiculous to suggest when Jesus healed someone on the Sabbath, it was breaking the Sabbath. No it was fulfilling the Sabbath because it was meant to give us rest from labors and burdens and sickness.
What Does This Mean For Us?
It is easy to criticize the Pharisees, but there is a temptation in anybody who is following Jesus wholeheartedly to slip into legalism. The purpose of the spiritual disciplines are to draw us into the “easy yoke” of following Jesus, not to put new shackles on us. That is why it is wrong to suggest well to be “really spiritual” you need to read through the whole bible in one year. Maybe the most spiritual thing you could do is focus on the Psalms or Proverbs all year. Or take a month on the Sermon the Mount.
Or with prayer maybe you need a new way to experience prayer to draw you closer to God rather than feeling like an empty routine. Try praying when you are exercising, or journal out your thoughts, dreams and thanksgivings to God. Importantly if something isn’t drawing you closer to God or helping you to follow Jesus more closely, then don’t do it. Try something else. Jesus was the king of blowing up people’s “boxes” and letting the kingdom come through him wherever he was at. May God meet you as you experience coming through you in every day life just like Jesus did.
Jesus thank you for setting us free from legalism with its burdens, so we can pursue you in ways that bring us life, peace and joy! Amen.
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