SINNERS AND THE SERVANT

THE MARK SERIES SINNERS AND THE SERVANT Mark 2:13-17 STUDY (12) Rev (Dr) Paul Ferguson Calvary Tengah Bible Presbyterian Church Shalom Chapel, 345 Old Choa Chu Kang Road, Singapore 698923 www.calvarytengah.com 27 May 2012

Before he founded the Salvation Army, William Booth (1829-1912), was a young Methodist minister. This was a respectable occupation in the 19 th century. However, Booth was greatly burdened that the church was ignoring the vast numbers of the poor who lived in physical and moral degradation in the inner city slums. These people were isolated from all the major denominations, who were only concerned with the middle and upper classes. In 1861 at a conference in Liverpool of the Methodist denomination, Booth requested permission to take the gospel to the masses of people in the squalor of the urban slums. The presiding bishop refused to accede to the request telling the young pastor that he should not waste his talents and gifts on such people. Observing from the gallery was William Booth s wife Catherine. She stood up and implored her husband to obey God and take the Gospel to the masses. William Booth then got up and left the building with his wife to go out and found the Salvation Army. Its primary mission was to reach the poor with the message of saving faith. Tens of thousands of souls were saved around the world because William Booth and his wife were willing to cross the social line to reach the lost. At the end of his fruitful life, Booth became such a respected figure that 40,000 people attended his funeral, including the Queen of England. Booth was honoured because he followed in the footsteps of Christ in taking the gospel to every man and woman, regardless of social status. OUTLINE The Lord Jesus Christ had just had His first recorded clash with the religious leaders of Judaism over the forgiveness of sin in Mark 2:1-12. Quickly following on from this, Mark records another one in v13-17. This time the conflict will arise on the nature of Christ s mission. When the angel announced the birth of Christ he told Joseph, thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save his people from their sins (Matt. 1:21). Jesus Christ did not come simply to make people happy about themselves or to heal their physical diseases. He came to save them from their sins. The devil is happy for any church to function with a thriving congregation and full offering bags if it has no impact on his kingdom of sinners around it. The Lord Jesus Christ sought out every possible type of sinner. He was the greatest evangelist there ever was. No opportunity was lost in reaching one soul. In this event, we see Christ seeking out sinners and His reasons for doing so. The section reveals the: (1) SEEKING OF THE SERVANT (2) DEFENCE OF THE SEEKING (1) SEEKING OF THE SERVANT In this passage, Mark shows Christ engaging in seeking individuals in two separate incidents. In the first incident we have Christ seeking out a tax collector or publican called Levi who would eventually become the apostle Matthew. We are told, And as He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow Me. And he arose and followed Him (v14). TAX COLLECTORS These were one of the most unpopular groups of people in Israel. They worked collecting taxes for the hated occupying armies of Rome. Tax 2

collectors bought the right to raise a certain amount of taxes for the Roman Empire. It was a bit like a tax franchise. The Roman authorities only wanted the fixed sum purchased paid out to them. This meant that any surplus amounts raised by the tax collectors would be personal profit for them. It was a system that was very susceptible to corruption. Tax collectors often took advantage of their position to extort more than was due. They were known for being greedy, dishonest, and heartless. Matthew Henry points out, A faithful, fair dealing publican was so rare, that even at Rome one Sabenus, who kept a clean reputation in that office, was after his death honoured with this inscription on his grave: Here lies an honest publican. The Jewish populace especially despised them and refused to fellowship with any Jew who became a tax collector. They were excommunicated from the temple. The families of tax collectors would have despised them for the shame they brought. But these tax collectors were so consumed with money that they were willing to be rejected, hated and classified by society with the unclean Gentiles and openly immoral sinners. Levi was clearly a man like this. Despite this unpromising background, Levi walked away from his tax office and obeyed Jesus call, And he arose and followed Him (v14b). In Luke 5:28 we are given an additional detail into the incident, He left all, rose up, and followed Him. Levi left all of the lucrative benefits of his occupation to follow Christ. The man who had lived for money had now found a different treasure. He may have lost a wealthy career, but he gained a glorious calling of eternal glory. Levi could sing: I have decided to follow Jesus; I have decided to follow Jesus; I have decided to follow Jesus; No turning back, no turning back. Jesus Christ was not hindered by the social prejudices of that day in reaching out to such people with the gospel. Despite the fact that He knew all about Levi s past, He passed by where this tax collector was working and deliberately spoke to him, Follow me. The Master wanted a man that nobody else wanted. Doubtless, the patriotic disciples were astonished and appalled that Christ spoke to such a public sinner. This horror would have deepened when they heard their Master encourage the man to join their illustrious band. But Christ knew that the eternal souls of people are more important than society s prejudices. From a human perspective, it would not appear that Levi was the most promising raw material for a disciple. I am sure that most people in Capernaum had given up on Levi. Many may have wondered why Jesus did not seek out someone better than this. However, Christ saw something in Levi that no one else saw. He was not put off simply by a person s reputation or standing in the community. This incident also reminds is that the past cannot preclude a man or woman from salvation. We should not jump to a hasty conclusion about anyone. We see wonderful examples of this truth in the Bible. Rahab grew up in a pagan Gentile background in Jericho. To compound this, she entered into prostitution. Yet, God s grace reached her with the Gospel and placed her in the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11. Her son was the godly Boaz who married the wonderful Moabite Ruth, who also proved that grace could transform a woman from such a background. Who would have thought God s grace would touch the life of the proud monarch, Nebuchadnezzar or the inveterate enemy of Christianity, Saul of Tarsus. Never give up praying for a lost soul. God can touch the heart of the hardest of men or women. He is the God of the hopeless cases. JC Ryle rightly encourages, 3

We ought never to despair entirely of any one s salvation, when we read this passage of Scripture. He who called Levi, still lives and still works. The age of miracles is not yet past. The love of money is a powerful principle, but the call of Christ is more powerful. When Eve fell into sin she immediately yielded herself to be an instrument to lead Adam into sin. Conversely, when Levi was saved his heart was immediately moved to reach others for Christ. We read, And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and His disciples: for there were many, and they followed Him (v15). Likely, this was a farewell dinner to honour Christ and to introduce his perishing friends to the One who had transformed his life. Believers are not to be isolated from this world but neither are we to be assimilated. We are to have a life of mission for Christ! Now, we should never take this example set by Christ and go further than He did. Eating a meal is a perfectly legitimate and sanctified activity. Jesus never partook of these sinner s sins when talking and eating with them, For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens (Heb. 7:26). Yes, Christ witnessed to them by His example and words, but He never engaged in their thinking, conversation, or lifestyle. His example here is not a license to sit in places associated with ungodly activity such as pubs and clubs on the pretense of evangelism! Nor is Christ implying here that the church should substitute preaching for organised dinner parties to invite sinners in which we smuggle in the gospel. It should be noted that the attraction at the feast was not the food, but Christ. Mark tells us those who were invited for there were many, and they followed Him. Luke also tells us that Levi made the feast primarily for Christ, And Levi made Him a great feast in his own house (Luke 5:29). These publicans must have been keen to meet this famous Rabbi who was interested in the spiritual needs of outcasts like them. They knew they needed to be delivered from their sins. Remember, they were forbidden from entering the synagogue and no Bible teacher would talk with them. That said, I have no problem inviting others to your home to evangelise them. Have you noticed how many believers in the Bible used their homes to reach others? One of the first signs someone has been truly saved is that they desire to reach others with the gospel. The moment Saul of Tarsus was converted in Acts 9 we read, And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God (Acts 9:20). In Ephesus we testified that he was, And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house, Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 20:20-21) Even when under house arrest in Rome we read in Acts 28 that he was still preaching! And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him. (Acts 28:30-31) 4

(2) DEFENCE OF THE SEEKING The Scriptures record that in heaven the angels rejoice over a sinner that repenteth. The devil and his disciples do not rejoice. They are furious. Mark tells us here that immediately the enemies of the Gospel go on the attack, And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto His disciples, How is it that He eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners? (v16) These religious hypocrites were outraged about a notable Jewish Rabbi like Jesus of Nazareth was mixing with those they felt were the scum of the earth. Interestingly, the name Matthew means gift of the Lord. Probably, the Lord renamed him thus after his conversion. These religious leaders were so blinded in their prejudice that they could not discern that the man who had shamed his nation as a tax collector would become such a gift for his people. Levi became the apostle Matthew and subsequently penned Matthew s gospel, which was the gospel account particularly applicable for the Jews. Church tradition reveals that he then dedicated his life preaching the gospel to the Jews eventually dying as a martyr by being burnt at the stake. This gift kept on giving to the Jewish people till his last breath. Matthew is still is giving today through the Gospel of Matthew! Jesus Christ responds to this prejudicial complaint in a succinct and brilliant manner. He sets forth a biblical principle using a common sense medical analogy, When Jesus heard it, He saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance (v17). In effect, Christ is saying that sinners need a Saviour. Implied in these remarks is that salvation is only effective in the hearts of those who recognise their desperate need of help. For those who consider themselves righteous, the divine physician cannot provide relief from the disease of sin. You know there is always a danger in a church that we can become too comfortable with ourselves. There is a tendency that we look around and say this is a nice balance of people. Lets not rock the boat and reach out to others especially those who are in the depths of sin. What an ungodly attitude that would be! How unlike the Lord Jesus Christ! Another danger is that in our desire to live holy and separated lives that we seek out people that resemble ourselves. This prevents us in spending time reaching out to the lost. We could end up being practical Pharisees. I am not saying that unbelievers should be your closest companions, but you should have some contact with the unbelieving world. We are called to be salt and light so we must be in proximity to the world in order to flavour them and lighten them with the love of Christ! It was the Saviour who gave this principle in His petition, I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil (John 17:5). We need to constantly remember that all sinners are potential saints! The famous missionary, C.T. Studd was once preaching to a large number of people in North Wales. In the course of his talk he said, True religion is like the smallpox. If you get it, you give it to others and it spreads. His cousin, Mrs. Dollie Thomas, who was a non-believer at the time, came up to Studd afterward and complained, What an awful thing you said this afternoon, Charlie, comparing religion to smallpox. I thought it disgusting! In his biography, it is recorded: This led to a long talk. According to her promise, she went with him again to the evening meeting. She was obviously hit and very silent on the way home. She made him a cup of cocoa and handed it to him as he sat on the sofa in the drawing room. But he went on talking, while she stood there holding out the cup. She spoke to him, but he still ignored it. Then she naturally got annoyed. 5

Well, he said, that is exactly how you are treating God, Who is holding out Eternal Life to you. The arrow pierced right home. She went to her room and accepted Christ. Two days later when back in London, he received this telegram: Got the smallpox badly Dollie. It is a good job that the Apostle Paul did not fear to go to cities like Corinth and Ephesus to preach the gospel! He records the terrible past of some of the converts of Corinth, Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Cor 6:9-11) The only was that this passage could be true is Paul preaching and witnessing to such persons as he went from house to house in these cities. Many forget that they were sinners before Christ found them. They forget that others prayed for them and witnessed to them. Paul never forgot this, This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief (1 Tim. 1:15). Thankfully for us, John Sung did not decide to simply stay at home and enjoy the blessings of his local church in China instead of coming to Singapore to reach sinners here! CT Studd summed up his sense of the need to reach all men, Some like to dwell Within the sound Of church and chapel bell. But I want to run a rescue shop Within a yard of Hell. CONCLUSION (1) It would be a bizarre doctor s clinic that had a sign on it stating: no sick welcome. Likewise, it is equally strange for a church to have a sign at the entrance: no sinners welcome. Reaching sinners is not the only mission of a church, as teaching the saints, defending the faith etc. are all functions of a church. However, evangelizing the lost is an essential part of that mission, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. This is the heartbeat of the Master. He was not passive but went out actively seeking the lost. Evangelism is not optional for us. Our church building is not erected to create walls to keep the lost out. Are you reaching out to others? Or do you come to church as a passive consumer looking for what you can get out? May God help us all become more like Jesus! (2) You do not visit the doctor once you get well. You go to see a physician because you recognise you are sick. Likewise, sinners need to come to Christ because they recognise they are sick and need His cure. Denying a physical ailment does not remove it but only makes the condition worse. Likewise, denying the problem of sin will not deal with the root problem. The Great Physician has the perfect prescription for the disease of sin. However, this prescription of humbling oneself and repenting is a bitter pill for sinners to swallow. But it is the only cure that can work. This medicine is free to every sinner, 6

but it cost the Great Physician everything! Oh perfect redemption, the purchase of blood. To every believer, the promise of God. The vilest offender who truly believes That moment from Jesus a pardon receives. 7