This Sunday, we enter a new section of the gospel of Mark. Having seen four demonstrations of Christ’s authority, culminating in His authority to forgive sins. The next four passages show us the religious leaders’ opposition to Jesus, which leads to their resolution to destroy Christ (Mark 3:6). Last week, as Christ forgave and healed the paralytic, we saw the beginning of this opposition as scribes viewed Jesus’ authority to forgive sins as blasphemy. In Mark 2:13-17, Jesus calls one of the most despised and immoral people in Hebrew culture - a Jewish tax collector. As Jesus continues to proclaim the Kingdom of God, calling people to repent and believe the gospel, He shows that this salvation is even open to the worst of sinners. Not only that, but Jesus fellowships at table with the worst of sinners. Christ’s association with sinners brings the opposition of "scribes of the Pharisees," who saw this as an act of defilement. Jesus responds with a well-known proverb saying, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mark 2:17). This is both a glorious welcome for sinners and a warning for those who see themselves as righteous by their works (as the Pharisees did). Jesus is a friend of sinners, but He is not a friend of sin. In Luke’s account of this event, Jesus says, "I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:32). A sure sign of the Kingdom of God breaking into the life of a sinner is repentance and faith. When Jesus calls Levi, who is probably well-known and hated for his extortion of the people of Capernaum, He calls him to leave everything behind and follow Jesus. Sunday, we will examine Levi’s call, this fellowship meal of sinners, and Jesus’ warning to the self-righteous.
I. Jesus Calls The Worst Of Sinners (v. 13-14)
II. Jesus Fellowships With The Worst Of Sinners (v. 15-16)
III. Jesus Calls Sinners Not Self-Righteous (v. 17)
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