And he (Jesus) went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them. 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.
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. 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?"
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.” – Mark 2:13-17
There have been many beautiful and heartwarming stories told of love, romance, self-sacrifice, heroism, etc., yet they all pale and fade to insignificance alongside of the story of the gospel! Thousands of songs have been inspired by the gospel message. It has brought joy that years of trials can never fade. It brings peace that passes all understanding. It contains the sweetest name ever heard – Jesus.
The gospel is the one story I have read every day for more than 35 years and it only seems more lovely each time. In the Scripture above I see some of what makes the gospel so beautiful.
First, the reach that it has – Levi and his fellow publicans were considered among the lowest form of sinners in their society.
The Pharisee asked, “How is it that Jesus could eat with such as these?”
Publicans were those who collected taxes for the oppressive Roman Empire. What is worse is that they were typically crooked thieves. They overcharged the people and pocketed the excess. They were basically government-sanctioned thieves.
Jesus said, “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.”
The gospel is for those who recognize they are ill. Not a physical illness, but the spiritual and moral sickness of sin. Regardless of the amount of sin or the depth of your sin, Jesus can bring forgiveness and salvation.
Second, the change that it brings – many publicans, when they met Jesus, repented, stopped their wicked practices and became honest and respectable citizens. One of the most famous of these was Zacchaeus (see Luke 19).
Third, the receptions it gives – the publicans, driven by greed, became hated and rejected by all around them. It put them at odds with a holy God. But when they turned to Jesus in repentance and faith, they found forgiveness, and they found fellowship. They found acceptance, instead of the rejection they had always known.
The beauty of the gospel of Jesus Christ is that it takes sinful and broken lives and transforms them to wholesome, redeemed, children of God.
Tom Kline is the pastor of Castlegar Baptist Church.
