Mark chapter 2: Jesus Eats With Sinners
Some folks may fight off symptoms of illness by confessing the Word, while some fight the symptoms with methods like gargling salt water, drinking plenty of fluids, or eating chicken soup. But when we have tried everything spiritual and natural and the cure does not manifest, there is a time when we say to ourselves, “O.K., it’s time to go to the doctor”.
Spiritually speaking, the publicans and sinners that attended this meal with Jesus were going to see the doctor. They knew he was from God, they had seen his healing miracles, and the teachings of Jesus were with authority and unlike anything they had heard before, and the publicans and sinners were hungry to hear more.
As usual the Pharisees were upset about his actions, and what caused them to be angry with Jesus at that moment, was that he was breaking one of the over 600 laws that men had written, which stated that a righteous Jew could not eat with an unrighteous sinner.
Jesus’ actions and teachings forced individuals to examine their hearts. We can see more of this in his Sermon on the Mount (Matt. chapter 5).
The Pharisees did not want to examine their hearts, they thought their outward actions of righteousness were sufficient. However, the publicans and sinners recognized that they were sinners and something needed to be cleansed and they wanted to hear more from Jesus.
This teaching of Jesus on the heart helped the publicans and sinners recognize the sickness of their own hearts, and that the remedy of that day (of outwardly following the law only) could not provide a cure. Sin is a heart problem; following the law only, does not cure the underlying problem of sin.
The law is like a barrier. On the one side it is clean–that is the side everyone sees. On the other side it is filthy with sin and potential to do unimaginable wickedness.
The problem those folks experienced is the same one we face today. Indwelling sin– we are all borne with it, like a congenital disease, only this is a disease of the heart.
But there is Good News! The cure for sin is the blood of Jesus and He shed it for you and me. Thank you Jesus! He can make you clean inside and out, and the choice is up to you. Choose Jesus and choose life.
Until next time, God bless you and your loved ones.
