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Daily Devotions

Mark

Mark 
Day 
Day 51

"Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious."

Text: 1 Peter 2:4

A FAREWELL FUNCTION

It would be perfectly normal for Levi to hold a farewell function for all his colleagues and friends. It would be a wonderful opportunity for him to explain why he was leaving a lucrative business to follow Jesus. That Jesus approved of such a function may be seen in the following text.

“Now it happened, as He was dining in Levi’s house,
that many tax collectors and sinners also sat together
with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many,
and they followed Him.”
MARK 2:15

1. The invited guests

It should come as no surprise that the guests were listed as:

a) Tax collectors

These would be colleagues. The tax collectors would naturally form a kind of a guild among themselves.

b) Sinners

Mark’s use of this word “sinners” reflect the common way in which certain people were “classified”. Society in the first century could be cruel and vindictive. The people who were called “sinners” would include tax collectors, prostitutes, thieves, and vagabonds.

2. The presence of Jesus in such company

Mark described Jesus as dining with “many tax collectors and sinners”.

a) What it does not mean

It does not mean that Jesus condoned their wrong-doings. Being in company with tax collectors and sinners does not mean that Jesus was tainted by them in any way.

b) What it does mean

A number of things may be brought up.

i) Jesus was consistent in practicing what He preached

He had called Levi to follow Him. As much as He wanted Levi to follow, He must also express a special sense of identification with this new disciple.

ii) The offer to follow Him was extended to others

Anyone could turn to Jesus in faith, and follow Him as Levi did.

iii) A vital lesson for the growing number of disciples of Jesus

They had to cultivate a large heart of compassion as their Master.