The Cooling Stream

Mark 2:13-17

The Lord Jesus Christ was walking by the Sea of Galilee when the people of Capernaum flocked around Him.

The common men were excited.

But the Jewish leaders were offended.

They were looking for His fault.

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Jesus And The Publican (14)

Levi The Man

The Lord Jesus Christ passed a man named Levi who was working at the booth collecting taxes.

Levi was a tax collector for Rome.

He was among the most despised people in Israel.

He was viewed as a traitor to his people and to his nation.

He was isolated in the community and not allowed to go to the Temple or the synagogues.

He could only socialize with other tax collectors and sinners.

Levi And The Master

As Jesus passed by, He issued a simple command to Levi, “Follow Me!”

It was a call for Levi to leave his old life behind and to begin a new life of following Jesus.

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Jesus And The Party (15)

The Lord Jesus Christ was invited to Levi’s house for dinner.

Some of those present were other tax collectors, prostitutes and others who did not observe the strict religious rules of the scribes and Pharisees.

The Purpose For The Party

Levi hosted this party as an opportunity to say farewell to his old life and as an opportunity to introduce his friends and associates to Jesus.

His life had changed and he wanted everyone else to know it.

He wanted his friends to meet the Lord Jesus Christ.

He wanted them to experience the same change of life that he himself had experienced.

The Picture In The Party

The Lord Jesus Christ came.

He goes where the sinners are.

He does not partake of their wicked ways.

But He spends time with them in an effort to win them.

He wants to win their confidence and to change their lives.

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Jesus And The Problem (16)

The Critics

The religious leaders used this party as an opportunity to attack the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Criticism

The scribes and Pharisees attacked the Lord Jesus Christ for spending time with sinners.

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Jesus And The Pronouncement (17)

When the Lord Jesus Christ heard their criticism, He did not allow it to go unchallenged.

Jesus And His Mission

He told His critics that He is like a doctor.

He is treating the sick and trying to help them get well.

Jesus And His Message

When the Lord Jesus Christ answered their criticism, He also leveled a criticism against them.

He told them that His mission, His ministry and His message are not for good people, but for those who are bad.

He told them that He did not come for those who are well, but for those who are sick.

The plan of salvation is only for all who can see and admit their need of a Savior.

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The Lord Jesus Christ wants His Gospel taken out of the church into the places where the lost live.

We are to reach out to sinners.

It is time we repent of our own hypocrisy and asked the Lord to give us a heart like His.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the Friend of sinners.

We are to follow His example and seek them.