Critical Care Series

Critical Care

Mark 2:13-17

Mark 2:13-14 (HCSB)

Then Jesus went out again beside the sea. The whole crowd was coming to Him, and He taught them. Then moving on, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office, and He said to him, “Follow Me!” So he got up and followed Him.

An Unlikely Candidate

* The Tax Collector

* Collected taxes for the government

* Citizens and merchants

* Kept a commission on taxes collected

* Often excessive

* Generally despised for loyalty to Rome and dishonesty

* Untapped potential

* Jesus extended the invitation to come and follow

* Jesus saw the potential in this disciple

* Authored the gospel of Matthew

* Complete surrender

* Left his profession behind

Mark 2:15 (HCSB)

While He was reclining at the table in Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were also guests with Jesus and His disciples, because there were many who were following Him.

Building Relationships

* An invited guest

* Jesus entered Levi’s house

* Jesus reclined at his table

* Jesus stepped into Levi’s sphere of influence

* Hope for the hopeless

* Jesus took an interest in those who were shunned by society

* Jesus invested Himself into their lives

* Jesus genuine interest gave them reason to follow Him

Mark 2:16 (HCSB)

When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that He was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they asked His disciples, “Why does He eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

Known by the Company You Keep

* Jesus’ reputation

* Eating with disreputable people

* Why would He want to be seen with “those” people?

* Shunning the religious circles

* Jesus surrounded Himself with “sinful” people by choice

* Jesus was a teacher

* He should know better

* Teachers of the law and sinners don’t mix

Mark 2:17 (HCSB)

When Jesus heard this, He told them, “Those who are well don’t need a doctor, but the sick do need one. I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Responding to the Need

* The analogy of a doctor

* Equipped to care for the sick

* Healing

* Intervention

* Restores the sick to health

* Jesus’ purpose

* To call the sinner to repentance

* Of little use to those who are already righteous

* Leading the perishing to new life

What is the company you keep saying about you?

**Powerpoint available on request