Make The Invitation

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF MARK

MAKE THE INVITATION

Mark 2:15-17

15 While Jesus was having dinner at Levi's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16 When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the "sinners" and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: "Why does he eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?" 17 On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." 

NIV

Page two, and now the rest of the story. We just saw the invitation by Jesus to Levi to follow him, and now we are at the house of Levi having dinner, not only with just Levi but some of his fellow tax collectors and even some, oh my gosh, sinners! How could Jesus, such a perfect person even associate with “sinners”? In this narrative we not only see how but also the why. Here we have believers eating and having a conversation with a bunch of unbelieving “sinners”. It is amazing when we stop and think how those who thought themselves spiritual, but were merely religious, were taken back that Jesus should associate with those kinds of people. Have we become like those Pharisees in the least little bit? Do we only hang out with other believers, casting a slightly judgmental attitude toward those who are not Christian, or those who claim to be Christian, but are not really Christians like us? Are we afraid what other Christians would say if they saw us having dinner and a conversation with some unbelievers, some “sinners”? Gosh, when we stop and think about it, all at that table would be “sinners”, even us who call ourselves Christians. But it does seem a little odd that in some way we do tend to separate ourselves from those who do not believe like we do. It seems the general attitude among us believers is that they are sinners, lost in their sin, and we are saved. But do we invite them over for dinner at our house? Do we invite them to follow Jesus? Do we make our invitation so appealing, so friendly, so genuine and sincere they actually feel welcomed in our presence? Do we understand that if Jesus came and hung out with “sinners” instead of all the Pharisees and that as we have decided to follow Jesus, we should be doing what he did? Sure we should go to church on Sunday to gather together and worship our Lord, but we should be hanging out with the “sinners” having dinner, conversations, and bringing them the opportunity to be healed. There really is no need for us to hang out all the time with each other and exclude those who still need Jesus. So it appears we need to find some “sinners” to invite over. Since they might not invite us, we need to make the invitation.