Doctors, Bridegrooms, Patches And Wineskins

Title: Doctors, Bridegrooms, Garments and Wineskins Script: Mk. 2:16-22

Type: Expository Where: GNBC 10-1-23

Intro: Dr. Kent Keith said in the paradoxical commandments, “People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered. Love them anyway. If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. Do good anyway. If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway. The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. Be honest and frank anyway. People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.

Help people anyway. Give the world the best you have and you’ll get kicked in the teeth. Give the world the best you have anyway.” (Rich O’Toole sermon) If ever this was true of anyone, it was true of Christ. He had healed, taught, delivered, and yet the ones who should have loved Him the most questioned and doubted His very ministry. In today, passage we see Christ responding to those doubts with 3 interesting comparisons.

Prop: In Mk. 2:16-22 we see 3 Interesting Comparisons Christ Makes so as to Answer Questions about His Ministry.

BG: 1. This event takes place about 12-18 months into the public ministry of Jesus.

2. The story focuses around the religious leaders bewilderment at Christ’s ministry to outcasts and His calling of Levi (Matthew) a despised tax collector.

3. In His reply, Christ makes 3 comparisons to His ministry so as to teach these guests about Himself and His ministry. In this we would also do well to remember.

Prop: Let’s look to Mk. 2:16ff so to notice 3 interesting comparisons Christ makes about His ministry.

I. Christ Compares His Ministry to the Work of a Physician vv.16-17

A. Jesus Accepts Those the World Rejects.

1. Sinners Find a Friend in Jesus.

a. v.14 We are introduced to “Levi the son of Alphaeus” as he is sitting in his tax office. The name, “Levi” was after the 3rd son Jacob and Leah, the patriarch. The Levites became a holy tribe of priest who carried out the rituals of worship in Israel. The name “Levi” meant “joined or joined together”. It was meant to be “joined with God”, but Levi had turned his back on God and joined himself with the world of the Romans.

b. It’s hard for us to imagine just how hated Levi would have been. We all “get” the anger and resentment we have for tax collectors. (Brad Oglesby meme: “Would you kindly fix the road I was already taxed to fix, so I won’t damage the car I am annually taxed to drive, which I purchased with the income you already taxed, which sits in the garage of my home which you have highly taxed!) Now, beyond that, Levi was seen as a traitor to his nation and people, a sell out for profit to the Romans. He was also seen as spiritually compromised by the religious leaders for being ceremonially unclean by his daily contact with Gentiles. Again, cannot imagine a more despised man.

2. Levi Comes to Christ When Jesus Calls him.

a. Jesus bids Levi in v. 14 to “Follow me!” and he does! Here’s the Good News: Jesus is calling you today and like He said to Levi, says: “Follow me!” It never ceases to amaze me the people who come to Christ! Illust: I think it’s funny when non-Christians attempt to criticize the church by saying: “The Church is full of hypocrites!” When I was young I used to get all choked about those charges. Today, my attitude is different. “You are correct! We also have the corner on the market of addicts, murderers, gossips, perverts, thieves, liars, adulterers, greed monsters, whores, bigots, neurotics, power hungry, blasphemers, in general, every type of failure the world can find. We have them in all different colors, shapes and sizes: White, Black, Brown, Yellow, green. So, there ought to be someone you can identify with at church!”

b. When Levi comes to Christ, He gives him a new name. Levi – joined, is changed to Matthew – gift of God! Amazing! A man who had forsook his religious heritage for wealth and pleasure is called by Christ and responds! Levi is despised and rejected, he has joined with the world, but friend, Jesus gives him a new name! He declares Levi to be “Matthew” the gift of God! God is in the business of changing names and destinies my friend: Abram, Sarai, Jacob, Simon, Levi! God gave them new beginnings, new hope, new blessings! Same is true with you! What are you known as? What sin weighs you down you can’t get past? Friend, trust Christ and allow him to change your present and future!

B. Christ Compares His Ministry to The Ministry of a Doctor.