Jesus, Friend of Sinners

He [Jesus] saw Levi... sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.”Mark 2:14Remember, Israel was an occupied country at this time. The Roman army had marched in and made Israel part of the empire, and that meant paying taxes to Rome. The problem was that the Romans needed people to gather taxes, but who in their right mind would take money from their own people for a foreign occupying power? So, Rome offered an incentive. They set the amount collectors had to gather from each town, and then allowed them to keep any additional money they might gather. The folks who took these jobs were regarded as the scum of the earth by their own people. Levi was a tax collector, and Jesus called him to be a disciple. This choice stirred up some conflict. It wasn’t long before Levi wanted to share the new life that he had found with his friends, but who were his friends? While Jesus was having dinner at Levi's house, “many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples” (2:15). The word sinners was used to describe people who were notoriously immoral, people with bad reputations. Whatever choices you may have made, whatever stigmas you may bear, whatever regrets you may have, whatever alienation you may feel, Jesus Christ offers His friendship to you. And if you receive His friendship, it will change your life. Jesus brought tax collectors out of extortion. He brought prostitutes out of prostitution. Jesus will meet you where you are, but He will never leave you where you are. His grace will change your life. Never regard anyone as a hopeless case. Picture Jesus sitting with these despised people around His table: “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners” (2:17). God does these things to magnify His grace.Do you think Jesus is offering His friendship to you? Why or why not?