A Sinner's Redemption
Mark 2: 13-17
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For
Advent 1999 |
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You see - that work is actually the most important work that is and has been accomplished in the context of Dr Graham's life long ministry. To whom did the Apostles and early missionaries go to first when they came to a new area? Primarily to the Old Covenant congregations of God's elect Jews and their hangers-on. Usually, those who took an interest in Jesus Christ were driven out of those groups and the New Testament Churches would build on the old foundations and then pull in those hangers-on who, while admirers of the Old Covenant - were kept at arms length. With the advent of the New Testament congregations, these cultural approvers of Judaism became full and participating members on an equal basis much to their delight and the chagrin of the Old Covenant despisers of Christ.
In fact, we read in several places, where the Judaizers, either old or new covenant, cause no end of problems within the New Covenant Churches. Either they wanted to ban the religious competition of the Christians or having taken the gospel part way, wanted to impose the old system of thinking within the new structures. These competitions between a "new school" and an "old school" thinking has important echoes within the context of the whole of Church History. Time after time, in the history of the Church - discussions and arguments have taken place on how and to whom the gospel message is to be directed and shared.
In the immediate context of our passage today, the focal group of concern is the tax collectors and sinners associated with them and their position. Calvin has this to say about verse fourteen: "In the choice of Matthew out of that place, not only to be admitted into the family of Christ, but even to be called to the office of Apostle, we have a striking instance of the grace of God. It was the intention of Christ to choose simple and ignorant persons to that rank, in order to cast down the wisdom of the world, (1 Corinthians 2:6.) But this publican, who followed an occupation little esteemed and involved in many abuses, was selected for additional reasons, that he might be an example of Christ's undeserved goodness, and might show in his person that the calling of all of us depends, not on the merits of our own righteousness, but on his pure kindness."
With that introduction, let us take several lessons from the text before us today.
1st: Let us consider the spirit of the religious righteous & lefteous of every time and place.
2nd: Let us consider our calling within the Christian faith in this context.
3rd: Let us consider how we may imitate Christ in reaching out to the elect?
First, let us clarify the cultural distinctions of Jesus time, these tax-collectors were seen as collaborators with the Roman conquerors and administrators. Instead of seeking to win and turn their hearts towards God, these petty bureaucrats were despised and scorned as unsavable outlanders. I am reminded of an all too strict segment of Christianity where any government employee is disowned and considered beyond the pale even in our own time. A former close friend once castigated me for taking Caesar's coin while working within the Public Schools. Never mind the ultimate good that can be accomplished by any honest Christians within the public schools, according to that particular mindset - those who by circumstance or calling who find themselves so gainfully employed are religious rogues who have sold out the extremist brand of intolerant radical Christianity just in order to make a living. In such a way have all too many extreme Theonomists and their ilk pushed everyone but themselves into the same position where Matthew the tax collector found himself in Jesus' day.
The Messiah sees Levi/Matthew in passing by the tax office. He approaches him and invites him to "Follow Me." Once again within the space of two chapters, we see the Master selecting His disciples and just as the divine call was heard earlier by the four in chapter one, so does Matthew respond by rising and following Jesus immediately. Like the fisherman called earlier, Matthew is a man of some means. And even in leaving his profession behind, he has some moderate means to support any family not mentioned in the text and to allow himself the calling of a disciple.
Forgive me if my Middle Class values intrude here in my understanding of this and any other texts of scripture, but it has long been my experience that a minimal financial independence on the part of God's servants does protect them from being held financially captive to any bureaucracy or public disposition. When I was in Seminary, my main financial support came from the GI bill, for which I had served in the Regular Army for three years. This independent "wealth" meant, that unlike my friends whose support came from their home churches and liberal presbyteries - I was able to say what I believed without worrying about offending the source of my scholarship. Several of my buddies did admit that they were very sympathetic to the conservatism that sustained me, but were they as vocal and uncompromising as I, they would be out of school and without a professional calling within weeks!
In case you haven't noticed - we have moved in our examples from ultra-conservative to ultra-liberal. And just as Nazism and Communism have much in common, so do the extremists in both left and right theological camps in our day. Like the Jewish Sanhedrin who opposed taking the gospel to sinners like Matthew, so do both these radical christian groups have their chosen "opponents" who little deserve hearing what Jesus Christ really has to say. Unfortunately, we are all like that to some extent. I remember one person who I did not want to tell about the gospel - because I despised them for who and what they were. May the Lord forgive me for that all to human response even as He calls the sinful to His supper table within His true church.
Second, today let us read ourselves into the scene narrated by the Mark. I know that I would have trouble accepting an invitation to dinner with some social groups! And certain social groups might well return the favor. An acquaintance of mine was invited to a trendy social gathering in a rural county. Since she was the only outsider to the ordinary upity crowd, one of the dignified Matron's kept asking her how she got invited to "the" particular graduation reception. Think of all your relationships and your social standing, do you see how common the prejudices of mankind are from age to age? A few counties west of here, there is one area where if you belong to "old First Church", work for one or two specific corporations and make a certain amount of money - then your future and that of your children is automatically assured!
Have you ever been on an outside? I have been both in and out and unfortunately in the area of my birth - the Scot-Irish relationships counted for much more than they were really worth! When that whole social mileau was destroyed purposely in the sixties and seventies through corporate and social changes, I suddenly learned about being on the outs! It was a good lesson to help learn some essential humility. And without learning humility - who can come to Christ? Matthew could and did obey the Master. And in his enthusiasm, he gives a grand feast so that all of the other sinners may meet Jesus as well.
And look at the Pharisees, would this Jesus be a Rabbi - he was certainly going about it in all the wrong ways. Here he was enjoying Himself with a houseful of sinners! You know, I once met a man called to the pastorate. In his former profession he had been a Mafia gangster! That is the type of people in Palestine who would break bread with Tax Collectors! And there was Jesus in their midst. And I am certain that He would call them out of their sinful life if they would realize where they stood.
Look at the last portion of our text today: "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance." Oh the tragedy of so many religiously conscious people. They, like the Pharisees think too highly of themselves, Just as there is a social register in most communities, so too is there a less visible religious register as well. Calvin comments here "that the scribes erred in two ways: they did not take into account the office of Christ; and, while they spared their own vices, they proudly despised all others. This deserves our particular attention, for it is a disease which has been always very general. Hypocrites, being satisfied and intoxicated with a foolish confidence in their own righteousness, do not consider the purpose for which Christ was sent into the world, and do not acknowledge the depth of evils in which the human race is plunged, or the dreadful wrath and curse of God which lies on all, or the accumulated load of vices which weighs them down."
Thank goodness, Jesus Christ came to break through any and every barrier that stands between His elect and the salvation He died to give them. Jesus is showing us here in this text that He means to save those who are truly lost. And as we see in the example of Matthew, whose salvation was hopeless according to the Old Covenant Community, saving graces are always miraculous in that it is He who calls rather than those who hear, who is glorified in every such exchange.
Third, in light of what we have seen and heard, how shall we proclaim the Lord's death until He comes? I am reminded of an older mechanic who worked on several of my cars when they needed the talent of his calling. One evening, when I went in to have him take a look, he asked me to leave the vehicle for the morrow. So, I called home for a ride and while we were waiting the Lord gave me an opportunity to share the gospel. The man's thinking was that he was so low on the ladder of righteousness that no miracle was great enough to save him. My ride showed up and when I came back to get the car, I gave him a Bible and some essential tracts. He almost cried, because no one had ever thought to give him such things in all his life. I worked with him off and on over the next few months, but could never get an opportunity to sit down with him when he was sober after work. He moved on and I lost track of him, but I still pray that like Matthew, he may wake up one day to hear the call of salvation clearly and loudly enough to drown out his misery and his bottle!
Sometimes you have to go out of your way to press the gospel. Yet, like our Lord - we must always be uncompromising about the need for repentance. You know, even the wicked know their real condition. It is the self-righteous who are lost for all time.
I once had a Tom Cat that was exceptionally standoffish. He wouldn't let you close enough to pet him. Then one day, he got a splinter in his paw and could barely walk, let alone invite any rodents to dinner. He limped and whined for three days before he realized he needed help. Then finally, over a healthy serving of cat food with some real gravy poured on, he allowed me to grasp his paw and pull out the splinter. That was the only time he ever let me touch him, but he was more willing to share his barn with me after that! Sharing the gospel means getting up close and personal, but not every person can be helped.
There is one homeless veteran in the downtown area who refused to accept an invitation to dinner where three of us could sit and talk with him. He said he had no need for conversation - he just wanted a "bottle" - meal! But you never know until you try. Of course, here in the Columbus area - there are more than ample means for the homeless to find aid, assistance and a new life if they would have it. And those few are very probably no longer homeless. In the history of our church - at least two families found their way off the street into situations of one sort or another. One for certain worked their way out of poverty. But several more who took advantage of the Lord's money went on to lower levels of sustenance.
While the Lord meets with the poor at heart in this passage, He also warned us that the poor we would always have with us! So we have to be circumspect as we wait for the Lord to lead us to opportunities to share the Great News of the Gospel by which we have been saved. One PCA Mission on the East Coast advertised a seminar for the newly divorced. Their Church Planter was exceptionally gifted in counseling - so that method was no real test of the ability of the group until seventy people showed up form three small advertisements. Yes, you can build a church from those in emotional, spiritual and financial need, but you still need a few people like Matthew and the other disciples around to steady the course of the mission group.
And you have to be prepared to see very many of the weary unsuccessful slobs fall back into the mess from which they barely ascended. We do not read that many of Matthew's friends came into the faith as a result of dining with Christ. But, there may well have been a few elect among them. We don't know until we look, ask and pray for the Lord's miraculous work of salvation. Who knows where we should all be had someone not troubled with us - when we were lost in sin and without a hope in heaven? May the Lord lead you to the help of one He is calling into His Church this week! And may you be the mirror of Christ showing the love of God. Amen.
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Resources Used | |
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Keener, Craig S. |
The IVP Bible Background Commentary:
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Pringle, William. |
Calvin's New Testament Commentaries: |
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The
New Geneva Study Bible
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Mrk 02b |
02 January 00 |