Mark 2:12-16: a reflection

12He arose, and immediately took up the mat and went out in front of them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!” 13He went out again by the seaside. All the multitude came to him, and he taught them. 14As he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office. He said to him, “Follow me.” And he arose and followed him. 15He was reclining at the table in his house, and many tax collectors and sinners sat down with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many, and they followed him. 16The scribes and the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with the sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why is it that he eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?”

When Jesus calls Levi the tax collector to follow him, and then sits down to eat with many tax collectors and sinners, the scribes and Pharisees are scandalized: Why is it that he eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners? To them, such people were beneath a righteous teacher, to be kept at a distance; but Jesus drew near to them, welcomed them, ate with them, called them to himself. He did not wait for the sinful and the outcast to clean themselves up before he would come near; he came to them where they were, welcomed them, shared their table. This reveals the heart of Christ toward sinners: he draws near to them, welcomes them, calls them, rather than keeping them at arm's length as the self-righteous did. Jesus did not come for the self-righteous who thought themselves whole, but for sinners who needed him, and he welcomed them. Christ draws near to sinners and welcomes them; he calls the very people the self-righteous would exclude. The grace of Christ reaches to sinners, not to those who think themselves righteous.

Notice whom Jesus welcomed, and how the self-righteous responded. He called a tax collector to follow him, and sat at table with many tax collectors and sinners, people the scribes and Pharisees considered beneath them, to be avoided. But Jesus drew near to these very people, welcomed them, ate with them, called them to himself. He did not require them to make themselves acceptable first; he came to them where they were. This scandalized the self-righteous, who kept such people at a distance; but it reveals the heart of Christ, who draws near to sinners rather than excluding them. Jesus came not for those who thought themselves righteous and whole, but for sinners who needed him; and he welcomed them, called them, shared their table. The grace of Christ reaches precisely to those the self-righteous would exclude, the sinful, the outcast, the ones who know their need. To know ourselves sinners in need of Christ is not to be excluded from him but to be exactly whom he came to welcome. Christ welcomes sinners; his grace is for those who need him.

That is worth resting in, for Christ draws near to and welcomes sinners, calling to himself the very ones the self-righteous would exclude. We can feel that our sinfulness keeps us at a distance from Christ, that we must first make ourselves acceptable before we can come near; but Jesus drew near to tax collectors and sinners, welcomed them, ate with them, called them to himself, scandalizing the self-righteous. Christ came not for those who think themselves whole, but for sinners who need him; and he welcomes them. Our need does not disqualify us; it is exactly what Christ came to meet. When you feel your sinfulness keeps you from Christ, remember that he drew near to and welcomed sinners. Rest in the truth that Christ draws near to and welcomes sinners, calling to himself the very ones the self-righteous would exclude, as he called Levi the tax collector and ate with tax collectors and sinners; for Jesus came not for those who think themselves righteous and whole but for sinners who need him, and he does not require us to make ourselves acceptable before we come but welcomes us where we are, so that our sinfulness does not keep us at a distance from Christ but is exactly what his grace came to meet, and to know ourselves sinners in need of him is to be precisely whom he came to welcome.

Lord Jesus, when you call Levi the tax collector to follow you, and then sit down to eat with many tax collectors and sinners, the scribes and Pharisees are scandalized: Why is it that he eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners? To them, such people were beneath a righteous teacher, to be kept at a distance; but you drew near to them, welcomed them, ate with them, called them to yourself. You did not wait for the sinful and the outcast to clean themselves up before you would come near; you came to them where they were. This reveals your heart toward sinners: you draw near to them, welcome them, call them, rather than keeping them at arm's length as the self-righteous did. Show me whom you welcomed, and how the self-righteous responded. You called a tax collector to follow you, and sat at table with many sinners, people the scribes and Pharisees considered beneath them. But you drew near to these very people, welcomed them, called them to yourself. You did not require them to make themselves acceptable first. This scandalized the self-righteous; but it reveals your heart, who draw near to sinners rather than excluding them. You came not for those who thought themselves righteous, but for sinners who needed you. Let me rest in that, for you draw near to and welcome sinners, calling to yourself the very ones the self-righteous would exclude. I can feel that my sinfulness keeps me at a distance from you, that I must first make myself acceptable before I can come near; but you drew near to tax collectors and sinners, welcomed them, called them. You came for sinners who need you. My need does not disqualify me; it is exactly what you came to meet. When I feel my sinfulness keeps me from you, help me remember that you drew near to and welcomed sinners, Lord, and that to know myself a sinner in need of you is to be precisely whom you came to welcome.