Mark 2 Post 1

Well I have began my attempt to read through the entire NT by starting in the book of Mark. I know it's not the first book, but it is what I chose!

I wanted to spend some time writing about one passage in particular. There are two things that really struck me about the passage. I think I will discuss one today and the other sometime in the next couple of days.

The passage is Luke 2:13-17. These verses tell the story of when Jesus asks Levi to follow him. Shortly after this, Jesus decides to eat dinner with Levi, his disciples, some tax collectors, and "sinners." The Pharisees get all fired up about who Jesus was eating his dinner with. The Pharisees ask why he is doing that. Jesus responds by saying: "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

Honestly, I think that many Christians today share the same thoughts as the Pharisees on this. It is really easy to squirm or question someone who chooses to spend a lot of time with "sinners." We use verses that talk about not being yoked with unbelievers as reasoning to avoid these situations or challenge those that do spend their time with "sinners."

When we debate about whether or not to spend time with "sinners" or non-Christians, we subtly can begin to become puffed up in our own self-righteousness.

Jesus says it is the sick that need the doctor. He came to call the sinners, not the righteous. What does this say about the type of attitude that we should have about ourselves and others? We to our sinners.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.