Jesus: Teacher, Friend, Physician

Introduction: Once again Jesus is calling a Disciple. Unlike his unopposed calling of the first 4 disciples, where Jesus calls Peter, Andrew, James, and John and then goes and dines in Peter’s Mother-in-law’s house…God-fearing honorable people…This time, there is opposition and dispute as Jesus calls an undesirable with undesirable friends to leave all and follow him. NOTE IT is the same call to discipleship, but only a more obvious need.This passage further relates to last week, when we asked can JESUS forgive sins, this week can Jesus be a teacher, friend, and physician for SINNERS,READ Mark 2:13–17 Jesus Calls Levi[13] He went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them. [14] And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.[15] And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. [16] And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” [17] And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” (ESV)Prayer of Illumination#1 The Teacher of Sinners: Irony (vv.13-15)#2 The Friend of Sinners: Inquisition (vv.15-17a)#3 The Physician of Sinners: Iniquity (v. 17b).#1 look in vv.13-15: Jesus the Teacher, who has called Fisherman, and now calls the Fisherman’s Tax Man (Irony)[13] He went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them. [14] And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. [15] And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him.A) Jesus’ focus remains “teaching” didactic preaching. And in fact as much as it is mocked it is a crowd: shoulder-to-shoulder speaker to crowd, teaching—followed up with conversations on the teaching around food.A) Matthew Henry remarks that: “whither he went [to the seaside] for room, because he found…no house or street large enough to contain his [audience]; but upon the strand there might come as many as would. It should seem by this, that our Lord Jesus had a strong voice, and could and did speak loud; for wisdom crieth without in the places of concourse. Wherever he goes, though it be to the sea-side, multitudes resort to him. Wherever the doctrine of Christ is faithfully preached, though it be driven into corners or into deserts, we must follow it.”i. Wisdom “cries out with a Loud voice proverbs says” Christ is our Wisdom. Let us follow Him. Christ call out, he doesn’t suggest, do not let scripture become a suggestion.ii. And we need Christ’s wisdom today. Because this passage is going to, I believe, correct a reactionary instinct in many young zealous Christians right now. That is, Jesus is willing enter into the world of sinners without ever being of the world, without ever compromising, he’s not chasing relevance or giving approval of sinners in their sin [on the one hand], but he also is not chasing the pharisees and the righteous’ approval of how tough he and his online followers are in ever increasingly narrow infighting circles…Jesus was able to talk, teach, and call sinners to himself, without needing to virtue signal. Without ever increasingly emotional purity tests….Because he is willing to call Levi and Levi’s friends to go and dine with him. And social media and the town gossip will not like this…iii. Equally, we can remember the pendulum is always swinging, maybe we love dining with sinners not to be salt and light, but the gospel and the call to discipleship, Christian morality goes first silent, and then compromised…iv. We need Christ as an anchor, the gospel as transforming and saving sinners, and then giving confidence to us as an anchor. Good faith, clear convictions, kind yet unapologetic-apologetics, if you will.v. We are helped to remember that it is never about us and our ability to change hearts and minds and sanctify others. It is the Effectual Call of Christ, the work of the Holy Spirit in sanctification, we are just called to faithfulness.vi. And so with Christ he preaches and he issues this call to discipleship to Levi or MatthewB) And what is notable?A) As we said the Irony is He is a tax-collector not an honest fisherman. Fisherman…the irony is that Jesus is calling a group of disciples where Levi very likely had unfairly robbed and tax Peter, Andrew, James, and John…i. So we have Levi the sinner, the tax-collector who could not be a witness in court who was likely excommunicated from the synagogue. He is a disgrace to Israel, a traitor and a cheat.ii. But no more. He has been called by Christ and as we saw in Mark 1? The call is to Leave all behind and follow him. Then we mentioned family, community, that Jesus becomes the number 1 priority.iii. But he does the same thing with our SIN! Family & Community is only a willingness to leave it behind in priority to Jesus. BUT sin? Sin MUST be left behind and put to death. It no longer names us, that man is dead, that sin is being put to death, and Christ and his kingdom, by his word and spirit, now is Levi’s new life.iv. And he desires that for all his friends.1. Soon he and all the other cheats and traitors in the region will all get together to eat with Jesus and hear what he has to say…2. When Jesus calls the sinner, the sinner leaves all behind and is radically joined to a new community.3. And in this new community, you have current followers of Jesus all those disciples at a table with sinners who desire to hear what Jesus has to say, to hear more about the Kingdom of God.a. There are many in the Bible who, because of the grace of God, heard of the mercy of God: Rahab and the Spies, Ruth the Moabite woman, both in the lineage of Jesus; both, when first called, would have been listed with those of questionable morals, next to tax-collectors…v. Jesus is dining with unclean sinnersvi. The question next becomes this: Does this make Jesus morally and ceremonially an unclean sinner?vii. Well the pharisees and scribes are asking it…But we have already read Mark chapter one, Jesus is a baptized messiah prophet-king-priest, has taught with authority, cast out an unclean spirit, he has cleansed a leper, he has forgiven sins. He heals the body, he heals the soul…Jesus forgave sins and a paralytic walks, but the pharisees would now like to know: Does the gospel save just the good sinners, the acceptable and respectable sinners, or also the bad sinners?Who will follow Jesus, who will be transformed by him?C) Jesus teaches the good and the bad sinner, the bad sinner is receptive to the message of Christ: Repent and turn to God for the Kingdom of God is here in Christ Jesus…You were under Judgment but here is forgiveness and graceD) What do the pharisees miss? Their Need. They missed their own need, their own sin, and only felt the Fear of losing their place (More on that next week). This week their need. I’ve used good sinner and bad sinner tongue and cheek. All sin is an affront to a Holy God, but not all sin is equally heinous in the sight of God then others, so Jesus must show and assure his church that he can overcome all kinds of sins. If he did not we would quickly make Christianity a religion of self-salvation where God comes and makes the pretty ok, first round draft pick sinners a little better…E) Here is where we get the rationale of why Jesus has picked fisherman and tax-collectors to be the 12 apostles. It is an indictment against the continuing hard-hearted, spiritual exile of Israel. G.K. Beale points out that “fisher’s of men” has a double meaning, it means rescue, but a fisherman is also a hunter, Jesus probablt draws the idea from Jer. 16:16 where God points out that he will fish, he will gather israel but he will also punish them for their spiritual hypocrisy and idolatry.F) A large part of the mission of the twelve disciples, analogous to Jeremiah’s hunters, is to pronounce judgment on rebellious Israel.G) Has Jesus come to rally those who are (thought to be) already spiritually well, righteous, and in right relationship with God. Or did Jesus come to heal spiritually unwell, sinners that they may “follow” him,H) Jesus’ actions are going to increasingly expose the pharisees real problems answering, are the scribes and pharisees truly well?I) Are the pharisees going to be called to repent or face judgment by a tax-collector, a sinner calling a pharisee to believe on Jesus?J) Jesus’ actions so true salvation offered to sinners. And true judgment on the pharisees unwillingness to acknowledge their own need.#2 Why? Why does Jesus eat with sinners and tax-collectors: The Friend of Sinners & the Inquisition (vv.15-17a)[15] And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. [16] And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”A) The implied Accusation of the Pharisees and Scribes: Jesus by eating with unclean sinners is himself unclean.a. For us we just see the phrase “there were many who followed him.” And from our side of evangelical doctrine say “praise God, ruined sinners to reclaim.” Levi is throwing a going-away party and ensuring all his friends get a chance to meet Jesus. Amazing witness.B) But the pharisees SAID UNTO THE DISCIPLES!!! [And this is Attempted triangulation against Jesus and the Disciples. Going behind his back.a. They don’t go to Jesus. They go to his disciples!b. Are you really comfortable that Jesus wants you to eat with Levi? With those kinds of people?i. Note: [Not breaking any laws, only “hedge laws”]c. Ill: Now, I don’t think as some enthusiastic teachers have said before that Christ is calling Christians to night clubs at 2AM in order to be like Jesus.d. [Better Rosario Butterfield’s Testimony [tell the story] of Ken & Floy Smith’s table hospitality all while teaching the gospel of Christ, the Bible, and answering questionsi. Levi has become Jesus’ disciple the meal is for the many people in Livi’s life to come and see their need of a savior, of his tender mercy towards sinners that they too can have what Levi has received. Forgiveness, cleaning, and healing, belonging to the Kingdom of God restored…While those who assumed they belonged (scribes and pharisees) can have their self-righteousness challenged.SO let’s circle back ot the pharisees one last time…For the sermon Jesus will keep at them next week as well.#3 The Actual Need of the Pharisees & Scribes and US: (v 17b).“Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” (ESV)Jesus is simultaneously defending his interest in dining with Sinners and having the pharisees need to reflect…A) Are They Righteous? (Yes & No)a. Of a certain skin deep, externalism, that may produce a better life. Of the Liberal Protestant kind, is it “better” than the prodigal son’s living? Yes, but Does it stand up to the righteous standard of a perfectly Just, wise, and Holy God? By no means! Jb. esus has severe words to say for the Pharisees un-merciful hypocrisy!i. Jesus frequently sides with the Pharisees as correct on matters,ii. he also always dismantles extra-biblical rules and their disinterest in sinners being shown saving mercy.iii. He also exposes their sins of the heart vs. external sins…Paul says, it was coveting, it was his heart that betrayed him over to sin, good on the outside a rebellious flesh on sin on the inside. And it drove paul to Christ and the Holy Spirit for forgiveness and transformation in a way the Law never could.c. So: Are the sinners, sinners? Yes, of a damaging kind. They are unjust, unchaste, and probably run the table of the ten commandments regularly.d. Neither group is righteous, read Romans 1-2. No one is righteous no not one. …That doesn’t flatten out or disregard real differences in sin’s severity and consequences in life…But it reminds us that Only one is truly righteous.e. The Lord Jesus Christ, he is righteous, the Just and the Justifier. The group physician.f. But here is the point. Will they be healed? Will they look to Jesus? Will they go to Jesus for forgiveness and then, like Jesus become compassionate and merciful?B) The scribes and Pharisees, Are they compassionate and Merciful? (No)a. Matthew’s gospel adds to this same account: “Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’”i. God does not desire hypocritical forms of religion…sacrifices that show the forgiveness and mercy of God, but by a people who show no forgiveness or mercy…The Lord desires a forgiven and “mercied” people to forgive and show mercy.b. Same story but in Luke Chapter 5, Luke notes Jesus also said, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”c. Mercy AND Repentance, Repentance from the greatest to the least of sin. Repentance from Pharisee all the way to the tax-collector and back again.Matthew Henry summarizes this exchange well: “Note, Those are too tender of their own good name, who, to preserve it with some nice people, will decline a good work. Christ would not do so. They thought the publicans were to be hated. “No,” saith Christ, “they are to be pitied, they are sick and need a physician; they are sinners, and need a Saviour.” They thought Christ’s character should separate him from them; “No,” saith Christ, “my commission directs me to them; I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. If the world had been righteous, there had been no occasion for my coming, either to preach repentance, or to purchase remission. It is to a sinful world that I am sent, and therefore my business lies” – Matthew HenryC) The pharisees crucial mistake…is not that they understand the severity of the sin of the sinners…they are indeed right. Sin is offensive to God. But they mistakenly underestimated the severity of the sinfulness of their so-called righteous. They saw no need, no spiritual sickness in themselves so they did not rejoice when the Doctor Came and healed others, saying I too am Sick, I AM NEXT.D) They ought to have rejoiced, “he can save a sinner like that, then he can save a sinner like me.”a. In the Lord of the Rings—Boromir is in conflict with Aragorn (who over the movies is supposed to take on the Kingship of the Great City of Gondor and defeat evil) But Boromir is the stewards son; he is threatened by the return of the King. And he is proud of his family and his families strength and he does not see that Gondor is crumbling, that his father is mentally sick, and so he says,“Gondor has no King, Gondor needs no King”b. Israel has the Pharisees and the sacrificial system; they proudly think, they have no need of a messiah who will fulfill the law, be the temple, be the lamb, and take away their sin. What they want, what they desire is a removal of the Romans and join them in extra-biblical moralizing exactness! …They think they and the ceremonial law and the man-made laws built around the ceremonial laws are sufficient stewards to save their nation.c. Not a merciful savior, not a lamb slain for sinners.d. In today’s passage, Jesus has called a sinner to follow him because he can with mercy save sinners because he has fulfilled the actual law in exactness.e. If you follow Christ then Rejoice he is merciful, sit at his table and dine with him, reject all trust in your own righteousness, reject all clinging to remaining sin, and arise and follow the Son.f. Ryle says, “No sin-sick soul is too far gone for [Jesus]. It is his glory to heal and restore to life the most desperate cases.”E) But do you believe Jesus is merely a nice idea, or do you desperately believe that he is your savior, your physician.F) Have you gone to Christ for the healing of your heart?G) Remember last week he can forgive your sins. Cancel the debt, remove the shame. Christ forgives sinners. This week. AND you are a sinner.a. The pharisees have forgotten one of the purposes of Holiness. The goal of Holiness is First, to Love God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind, the second is like it to Love your neighbors as yourself.b. As Sinclair Ferguson says, “a Physician washes his hands clean, he is set apart in order to be able to perform the surgery to make the sick well.”I will close with this, because I anticipate it to be an important but what about.What about Us and our friends, who are various kinds of sinners, and you in various stages of your life?Very briefly: It depends on your maturity, your stability, and your groundedness in the truth. But we must remember this call to mercy over against the Pharisees, who were exacting increasingly narrow terms of friendship.C) This is best done in table conversation with people who know you and your situation,D) A Few wisdom categories for you to discuss and applya. Close Confidants are those who we will be transformed to be like in our fellowship. These ought to be fellow believers.i. In this category goes those we date and marry. Anyone we are yoked to ought to be following Christ as well.b. Second, there are those friends whom we have a self-awareness of where they need Christ and understand our distinct calling and ethic. Measured not against our righteousness but the call to faithfully follow Christ and our desire that they follow Christ as well. That they would know and stand for truth, beauty, and goodness as we do.i. Two places: people may be at here: Mockers, scoffers, and potentially even disdainers of our boundaries and stance.ii. Or In Sin, even egregious sin, but open, hearers, willing to respect your boundaries and not call you into it.1. Psalm 1 and Proverbs calls you to flee from scoffers, fools, and this kind of hardened wicked.2. But Christ’s example here invites us to teach and maintain friendship with sinners as a mercy and witness.· A Final principle is to be aware of your age and steadfastness, your maturity. Do not foolishly underestimate your peers’ pressure, your unsettledness.o This means you may be able to be close friends with someone who is sinful in one area but not another area. In other words, if your great temptation is gambling your friends, who are sinners should not be at sports games where they are bidding you to just do some sports betting with them. But instead, you invite them into something better a family game night no betting relationships and fun away from their sin and into a new and better fellowship. …o Seek out the counsel of parents, fellow believers, and accept a warning if another believer sees compromise in your life. Be willing to at the counsel of others to set up boundaries.§ Jesus eating with sinners for dinner in a crowd is not 2 AM at a night club or being alone, the sole Christian at a party. He had the disciples with him; it was for a righteous purpose and not him finding “the line” and jumping back and forth over it.§ This wisdom allows us to be courageously compassionate and to offer the gospel with the accompanying mercy call to repentance to others without falling into sin on the one hand or pharisaism on the other hand.Prayer | Benediction This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jamesensley.substack.com