Two questions: –Why eat with sinners? –Why His disciples did not fast like others? Answers were linked to - Christ’s intentional, progressive revelation of His identity to His disciples and followers. What is MY Identity in Christ? Mark 2: 13-22

Mark 2:13-22 God-given Identity AUTHOR – John-Mark – His identity: Cousin to Barnabas. Helper to Barnabas and Paul on 1 st missionary journey ~ 46 A.D. Deserted them in Perga - Acts 13:13 Paul deeply hurt and refused to take him on next trip II Tim 4:11 (~20 years later!) Paul saw Mark as useful and had confidence in him.

So, is my identity limited by my failure?

Asked a question of identity: What were you known for in school? I said: “I was Section leader in the Band” They said they heard : “I was sexually in demand”

Is my identity found in Christ? As designed and given by God? Do I let others define me? Am I defined by past accomplishments? –Or failures? –Or family? –Or tribe? –Or diet? –Or…? What is MY Identity?

Identity influenced by parents?

Mark 2: “Once again Jesus went out beside the lake…began to teach them.” –Cf 1:45 – due to popularity, could no longer enter a town openly –And He began to teach them – it seems, that if you follow Christ, He is teaching. So, can I ask; “If you are following Him, what is He teaching YOU these days?”

Calls Matthew (Levi) 14 – As He walked, He saw Levi (Matthew) –Near the end of Jesus’ 1 st year of ministry –Crowds follow – He sees Levi –Jesus sees the crowd and teaches them –He CALLS the individual –Invited to follow – and he did

15,16 Had dinner at Levi’s house ! Common people despised tax gatherers as agents of the Romans The average Jewish person had several reasons to dislike tax gatherers. –The Empire sometimes had to take precautions to keep tax gatherers from overcharging people –Some also beat people to get their money –Taxes were exorbitant even without overcharges To accept an invitation to a meal was the most emphatic way of declaring unity with someone

16 - Pharisees saw him eating… Some people will track your behavior. You will be watched. Some will try to question your freedom in Christ. Be mature about your freedoms in Christ. Jewish (OT) law clear about association with non-believers The Navigators acceptance at UNZA – –Do YOU have any non-believer friends?

The 1 st Question: Why does He eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’ ?

Vs 17 – Jesus’ ANSWER “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.” “I have not come to call the (self) righteous, but sinners.” The self-righteous do not see the need for a Savior. It’s working. I AM on my way in that direction… Jesus was not saying that some people had already attained the rank of “righteous” and were not in need of His work. Sinners realize, “I’m lost!”

Is association “allowed” ? I Cor 5:9-13 “I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people - not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world.”

Is my identity defined by Culture? Romans 12:1-2 (The Message) So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

So, why DID Jesus eat with tax collectors and sinners? Next question…

Vs 18 – 22 SECOND QUESTION How is it that John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are NOT? –In Jesus’ day, the Pharisees fasted twice a week (in addition to 4 other yearly fasts at that time)

Jesus Answered… No one sews a new patch on an old garment No one pours new wine into an old wine skin No one does what is so obviously inappropriate Jesus brings a newness that cannot be contained in old forms.

Is my identity found in Christ? As designed and given by God? Do I let others define me? Am I defined by past accomplishments? –Or failures? –Or family? –Or tribe? –Or diet? –Or…? “When we receive GOD’S identity for us – and believe it – we receive FREEDOM! ” Michelle Anthony What is MY Identity?

My response? Phil 3:12 Like Paul: Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but… I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.