November 27, 2011
Mark 2:15-17
And as he sat at
dinner in Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were also sitting with
Jesus and his disciples—for there were many who followed him. When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that he
was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they said to his disciples, “Why
does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” When Jesus heard this, he said to them, “Those
who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have come
to call not the righteous but sinners.”
For the Sick…
Jesus got in trouble. He got in trouble with the religious people
of his day because he didn’t act the way they thought he should act. He spent time in places they did not approve
of. He spoke and ate with people that
religious people were not supposed to be seen with. What’s more, many followed Jesus. Jesus was setting an example that his
disciples were to follow. Jesus got in
trouble because he changed the way faith was lived out by those dedicated to
serving the Lord.
Jesus still does this…and he still gets in trouble. Following Jesus changes how we look at the
world. He changes how we understand our
lives. Jesus changes how we spend our
time and money. Let’s be honest, this is
not a change we particularly enjoy.
Following Jesus requires sacrifice.
Jesus was willing risk his reputation among the “religious” people in
order to help the sick. Jesus was
willing to be looked down on to save the sinner. Jesus came to give his life as a sacrifice
for all of us…for every sinner.
Sacrifice isn’t easy. Yet we are alive and able to worship today
because of the sacrifice of Jesus and the faithful who followed his teaching. Who are the sick around us? Don’t think about the physically sick. Think of lives gone wrong. Think of those who need hope, love, peace,
and life. Think of those who need the
reality of Jesus. What sacrifice are we
willing to make for them? How can sacrifice
and salvation shape our lives this Christmas season?
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