In entering Mark’s Gospel we need to remember that we are entering into 1st Century Galilee. We need to see Jesus’ deeds and hear His words first of all within that context. This is especially true in the passage we turn to today in Mark 2:13-17. Here Jesus comes into purposeful controversy and dispute with the religious leaders to establish the point of His mission. But what was it about His actions that caused such a stir?
Why was it so important?
We need to understand how much the Jews hated tax collectors. Put simply the tax collectors worked for the enemy, sucking their nation dry for the benefit of the enemy. And if collaborating with the enemy wasn’t enough, Rome didn’t care if they charged more than was required – so they did, and many got rich by it.
Get this picture in your mind. Jesus was walking with a huge crowd of people in Capernaum. As he walked with all these people, they approached Levi’s booth. All the people were watching to see what Jesus would do to this man who got rich sucking them dry of their money for Rome. Jesus was walking with the very people Matthew Levi exploited all those years. They were thinking, “Go get him Jesus! Rebuke him!”
Well Jesus went and got him, but in a totally different way. Jesus called him to follow Him. He called him into fellowship. Levi, also known as Matthew (see Matt 9:9) left all behind and followed Jesus. All the people must have been stunned.
And if that was not enough, Jesus is then seen eating with this man and a whole stack of his friends. Well that was enough for the blood of the religious experts to boil.
But notice how Jesus turns around their criticism to expose both their real need as well as establish the heart of His mission: to bring spiritual healing and health to sinners.
They didn’t see they had a sin problem, nor did they recognise Jesus’ authority and ability to effectively and permanently deal with it, so they didn’t go to the Doctor’s surgery for help.
Jesus today is still ready to heal those who come to Him under an awareness of their spiritual sickness of sin. He is the only One who can. The question is whether we see our need and His remedy.