Bless: Listen And Eat Series

Title: Listen & Eat With Them

Theme: To show the importance of fellowship & eating with people to build a relationship.

Text: Mark 2:13 – 17, Luke 19:1 - 10

Resources Used: sermon series on Bless purchased from Community Christian Church

Mark 2:13-17 Then He went out again by the sea; and all the multitude came to Him, and He taught them. (14) As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, "Follow Me." So he arose and followed Him. (15) Now it happened, as He was dining in Levi's house, that many tax collectors and sinners also sat together with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many, and they followed Him. (16) And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, "How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?" (17) When Jesus heard it, He said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."

Luke 19:1-10 Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. (2) Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. (3) And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. (4) So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. (5) And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, "Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house." (6) So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. (7) But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, "He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner." (8) Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold." (9) And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; (10) for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."

Opening Illustration

I recently heard about a story that went viral a few Thanksgivings ago. It was about a young man, Eric and elderly woman, Jan, both alone at breakfast time, sharing an unplanned meal. It was a Thursday morning, and Eric headed to his local McDonald’s to eat breakfast by himself. And a 70-year-old woman, Jan, had the same idea. As they were eating alone, Jan saw Eric sitting by himself. She approached him and asked if they could enjoy their breakfasts together. He quickly said yes, Jan grabbed her food, and Eric pulled up a chair for her to sit down.

The two of them sat together for over 45 minutes talking about church, art, and Eric’s young son. Eric said that Jan even shared some life wisdom with him, “She mentioned many times about how we all should love one another, and how we should never judge anyone because you never know how their day is going and what they’ve been through.” Then after they finished, they exchanged phone numbers, and Eric walked Jan to her car.

Don’t you love stories like this? In some ways, these two couldn't be more different, but a bond can be formed when you share a meal together. Jesus knew ow a meal would take the edge off.

The times Jesus ate with people

In fact, a lot of Jesus’ ministry was centered around meals:

• He performed his first miracle at a wedding feast.

• At with Matthew

• Ate with Zacheus

• Ate with Simeon (woman washes Jesus feet)

• Ate at Lazarus house (Mary at the feet of Jesus)

• He fed 5000 people on a hill in the countryside.

• The night before his crucifixion, he ate a meal with his closest friends.

• After his resurrection, he shared breakfast on the beach with his disciples.

Parallels

These two stories are almost two years apart. This was part of Jesus lifestyle.

1) Jesus calls to them first

John 6:44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.

You may be lost this morning but don’t ever forget that God loves you and is calling to you.

2) Both are “tax collectors” The vile of the vile of society. The hated of the hated.