Following Jesus Wherever He Goes?
24058 - Follow
Mark 2:15 And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him.
Read the context: Mark 2:13-17 (Matthew 9; Luke 5)
Ponder:
? How do you describe all the people "reclining at table" in Matthew's house?
? What about the Pharisees prompted them to "see" this gathering in Matthew's house?
? What do you imagine to be the emotional atmosphere in the house?
? What effect might Jesus' comment about "the righteous, but sinners" had on the "many who followed Jesus?"
jne: We tend to focus on the reaction the Pharisees probably would have had. We hear Jesus calling them to "repentance," but they were possibly thinking that Jesus was affirming their righteousness. We can imagine that the tax gatherers would have been offended by Jesus suggesting that they were "sick sinners." It doesn't say that they threw Jesus out, so maybe they were more intrigued than offended. But what about the "many who followed him?" They were most likely Jews themselves who had been raised with the idea that Jews shouldn't associate with gentiles (sinners).
This was a strange gathering indeed. We all tend to hear what we want to hear so it is understandable that the dinner did not turn into a brawl. So the question I ask is, "what do I hear?" I think I hear two things. The first thing I hear is that Jesus is calling me. I am at heart no better than the greedy tax-collectors, the proud Pharisees, or the intrigued but confused followers. But most of all for me personally, I am convicted by Jesus concern for the sinners. There must have been something about Him that prompted the tax collectors to come to have dinner with Him. Not only do I need more of Jesus awareness of the true needs of sinners around me, I need more of Jesus in me to be attractive to them.
Finally, Jesus was teaching His followers not only why to be with sinners, but also how to respond to criticism for doing so. Am I willing to follow Jesus wherever He goes? -316
Mark 2:15 And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him.
Read the context: Mark 2:13-17 (Matthew 9; Luke 5)
Ponder:
? How do you describe all the people "reclining at table" in Matthew's house?
? What about the Pharisees prompted them to "see" this gathering in Matthew's house?
? What do you imagine to be the emotional atmosphere in the house?
? What effect might Jesus' comment about "the righteous, but sinners" had on the "many who followed Jesus?"
jne: We tend to focus on the reaction the Pharisees probably would have had. We hear Jesus calling them to "repentance," but they were possibly thinking that Jesus was affirming their righteousness. We can imagine that the tax gatherers would have been offended by Jesus suggesting that they were "sick sinners." It doesn't say that they threw Jesus out, so maybe they were more intrigued than offended. But what about the "many who followed him?" They were most likely Jews themselves who had been raised with the idea that Jews shouldn't associate with gentiles (sinners).
This was a strange gathering indeed. We all tend to hear what we want to hear so it is understandable that the dinner did not turn into a brawl. So the question I ask is, "what do I hear?" I think I hear two things. The first thing I hear is that Jesus is calling me. I am at heart no better than the greedy tax-collectors, the proud Pharisees, or the intrigued but confused followers. But most of all for me personally, I am convicted by Jesus concern for the sinners. There must have been something about Him that prompted the tax collectors to come to have dinner with Him. Not only do I need more of Jesus awareness of the true needs of sinners around me, I need more of Jesus in me to be attractive to them.
Finally, Jesus was teaching His followers not only why to be with sinners, but also how to respond to criticism for doing so. Am I willing to follow Jesus wherever He goes? -316