Sermon on May 6 by Pastor Roland Eskinazi

Scripture: Mark 2:13-17

How much like Jesus are we? With whom do we identify most in Jesus’ calling of Levi and at his home later?

1. FOR WHOM DOES JESUS COME? (v13)

• A big cheat
  Levi was Mr. Reject in his town. By calling a cheat and sell-out, He expresses the scandalous nature of grace.
• … who must lose a bad reputation
  It is not Levi’s goodness that fits him for his call, but his very bad reputation.

‘We feel that it’s our duty to tell you that Matthew (Levi) has been blacklisted by the Greater Jerusalem Better Business Bureau’
(Jordan Management Consultants)

Jesus comes not for the likely, but the unlikely!

2. FOR WHAT DOES JESUS COME?

• What you were you are no longer (v14)
  The Lord does not call you or anyone because of our wisdom or righteousness.
  Be confident – right now He is using all the experiences of your life ‘to cover you in His dust’, so you may follow Him obediently and gladly.
• What you love you love in the open (v15,16)
  Jesus gladly invades every space in Levi’s life. Are we demonstrating the scandalous anti-prejudicial love of Jesus?
  Often those in our sub-community (schoolmates, co-workers) can be more open than our neighbours.

Jesus comes to reach people, not build programs!

3. WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE DOES JESUS USE? (v17)

• Are you an honest, not a dishonest sinner?
  Jesus is the friend of sinners – if we look down on others and think we have it all together, have we really been healed?

‘Of all the sights in the world, the sight of Christ crucified is the sweetest.’
(Charles Spurgeon)

• Are we a going, not a sitting church?

I want people in the church to be able to fulfil the purpose for which they were created; without being dependent on gifted preachers, nice buildings, and great programs to do it for them’.
(David Platt: ‘Radical Together’)

Remember! Jesus comes for the likely, not the unlikely; to reach people not build programs; for rejects, not super-saints. Will you follow in His dust?

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QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION

1. What kinds of ‘sinners’ are you reluctant to befriend? What weakness or fears keep you from showing the love of Jesus to them?
2. Which people do you think Jesus would hang out (spend time) with today?
3. In what ways might we be tempted to act like Pharisees in the way we seek to honour Jesus?
4. How can you use your space, your home and your resources for others to come to Christ and follow in His dust.

 

Photo credit FreeImages.com/Patrice Dufour