1. Mark 2:13-17

2. 13 He went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them. 14 And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

3. 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. 16 And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 17 And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

4. Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Increasing conflict between Jesus and the religious leaders (scribes & Pharisees)
Jesus exposed the bankrupt state of religion. (It would cost Him His life)

5. 15  many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16 And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

6. The Call of Levi – a tax-collector & sinner
Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Increasing conflict between Jesus and the religious leaders (scribes & Pharisees)
Jesus exposed the bankrupt state of religion. (It would cost Him His life)
The Call of Levi – a tax-collector & sinner
Tax collectors were despised – the lowest of the low – traitors – sold out their countrymen for greed – collected for their oppressors
Who’s worth saving??? Who would we put our efforts into, to see them come to faith?
Jesus rubbed shoulders with ‘the-scum-of-the-earth’ to see them saved
Who we choose to eat with is important:
We bring them into our circle
They enter our home
They enter our family
They enter our lives
The person and teaching of Jesus appealed to tax-collectors and sinners
“Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Even the Pharisees were sinners in need of a saviour, but they didn’t recognise it
Not just a call to be saved, but a call to follow (to be disciples of Jesus)
The Challenge: To be disciples of Jesus who eat with Tax Collectors & Sinners