CHAPTER 10 :: Time Spent with Sinners (Mark 2:13-17)
Storybook
The leaders shadowed Jesus, heads bowed and slumped; however, their composure returned as Jesus approached the sea, where Jesus noticed Levi’s tax collector’s booth. They agreed that good Jews avoid sinners and that tax collectors are the chiefs. They supposed, “If Jesus were a prophet, He’d avoid this sinner.”
But Jesus didn’t avoid Levi; He called him to follow and dine with Him, which Levi (Matthew) did. Levi is another name for Matthew, the writer of the first Gospel.
The leaders concluded, “No good Jew eats with sinners; no rabbi calls a tax collector as his disciple.” Tax collectors were social outcasts, traitors to Jews, sympathetic with the Romans, and motivated by greed. They confronted Jesus’ retreating disciples, asking, “Why is your rabbi socializing with sinners?”
But Jesus overheard, stepped in, and He confronted them, clarifying, “It isn’t those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
The leaders shook their heads, turned away, and mumbled amongst themselves, asserting, “What a fraud! Everyone knows personal righteousness comes from separating from uncleanness, not fellowship with sinners!”
Summary
Only God can forgive sins, and Jesus demonstrated His authority when He forgave the paralytic’s sins. By forgiving sins, Jesus showed His willingness to associate with sinners. Authority as the Bridegroom (Mark 2:18-22)
Storybook
The leaders spied on Jesus and His disciples, while receiving unexpected support from John the Baptist’s disciples. They were pleased to believe they had found a weakness in Jesus’ teachings and exclaimed, “They don’t fast! We know the rules; everyone knows them; we fast two days a week!”
Even John the Baptist’s disciples, who were allied with Jesus, fasted, so they, too, looked at His disciples suspiciously.
Jesus answered by drawing a parallel to a wedding banquet and a wineskin. He explained that guests don’t fast during a wedding celebration. As the Messiah, Jesus claimed His right to bring new teachings that don’t fit into tradition.
The onlookers murmured, “How strange! He claims some unknown authority to ignore our traditions and teach new ways.”
As Jesus left, the leaders gathered, questioning, “Where does he think he’s going? We’ll keep the pressure on; maybe he knows we’re on to him?”
Summary
Jesus asserted His authority to teach new things that don’t follow established religious traditions. For example, fasting pictures sorrow, and Jesus’ followers won’t fast while the Bridegroom is with them.
