Mark 2:15-17

Mark 2:15-17 

English Standard Version 

  Them and us.  Democrats and Republicans.  Red states and blue states.  Urban and rural.  Those seem to be the strongest dividing mechanisms in our country today, but we come up with plenty of others.  Some are innocuous, while others are deeper divisions.  It feels like the pandemic, in combination with recent elections, have amplified the ways we are divided.  The rhetoric is intense.

  So maybe it's comforting to read that two thousand years ago, some people looked at Jesus and wondered why he would associate with a certain group of people.  They assumed Jesus, as a religious figure, had come to see them, and they had little time or interest in people such as tax collectors and sinners.

  But Jesus came for those far from God, those willing to be corrected, those willing to listen.  Jesus came and spent time with the broken.

  Who in society would you write off, and what would be your reaction if that group of people was the first group Jesus went to see?  

  The breadth and freedom of God's grace is astounding to us.  It doesn't always make sense to our worldly way of thinking.  May we be very cautious in drawing lines between groups of people, and may we be wise in recognizing God's radical love for all people.

  And if God loves and serves all people, then we ought to be prepared to do the very same...

Mark 2:13-14

Mark 2:13-14 

English Standard Version 

  In the modern church era of everyone being welcome and being able to hide anonymously in a big crowd, this one doesn't jump off the page as radically inclusive. 

  But in the 1st century, when tax collectors were absolutely reviled, it's a pretty big scandal for Jesus to call one as a disciple.  Tax collectors were typically Jews who opted to work for Rome, which meant they were seen as traitors working for the invading superpower.  Not only that, but they also had the backing of the Roman army which meant they could collect as much as they wanted, even if it was far above what was actually owed -- as long as Rome got paid the proper amount, they turned a blind eye to corruption, so most tax collectors took a little (or a lot) extra for themselves.  

  But Jesus loved Levi, so he invited him to come and follow.  

  He loves each of us, no matter what, with a love so pure and so intense that it will stop at nothing to reach you.

  Let yourself be loved by the author and creator of the universe.  

Mark 2:5-12

Mark 2:5-12 

English Standard Version 

  In Chattanooga, there is a tow truck hall of fame.  I never went when we lived there, but I probably should have.  Nobody appreciates tow trucks when their car is working well, but when it breaks down, you're very, very glad they exist.  

  Every time I read this, I think of the people who have carried me when I am weak.  There are times when I've been literally broken, and when my body hasn't worked properly, others have come alongside to help me make it through daily life.  Other times, I've been emotionally broken, and others have patiently come near to support me through those difficult chapters.  

  I will always love the way verse 5 is worded.  The friends of the paralytic lower him down through the roof in front of Jesus, and Jesus looks up at the friends and sees their faith, and then he forgives the sins of the paralytic.  

  There's a lot of different ways that we could go with the interpretation of this, but mostly, I like to stop and appreciate that the faith of the friends matters.  

  Surround yourself with people who will carry you when you are weak.  Be the type of friend who carries others when they are weak.  This is what a community of faith does -- we're the type of people who aren't perfect but have faith in Jesus' ability to heal, and so despite our own limitations, we can lift people before Jesus and let him do the miracles he can do.  Trust in Jesus, but let's continue to be a community where people aren't abandoned or left on their own or forgotten when they're ailing.

Mark 2:1-4

Mark 2:1-4 

English Standard Version 

  How many hours would you stand in line to get free tickets to the Super Bowl?  Or how long would you wait on hold to buy tickets to Taylor Swift?  I remember waiting in the pouring rain once to watch the Olympic torch pass by -- it was a cool moment, although probably more enjoyable in the sunshine.  

  The church is very different now -- we don't struggle for lack of access to a church.  Most of us don't have to work very hard to find a church nearby.  I can look out the front window of my house and see one.  

  In Jesus' time, the people flocked to him, and they were willing to overcome great obstacles to be in front of him.  They had such faith in his power to perform miracles that these friends were willing to climb onto a roof and lower their friend through a newly-cut hole so that he could encounter Jesus.  They did serious work so that they could meet Jesus in person.

  I heard a pastor say the greatest sin in most of our lives was a lack of enough love for God.  I think there's something to that.  The degree of our love isn't what saves us -- that's what Christ's work on the cross does, and we can't add to that.  But it's easy in America to have such a comfortable faith that we stop pursuing growth in God.  I think that's dangerous, for individuals as well as the community of faith.  I'm certainly guilty of getting comfortable and lazy at times.  So I need to repent for a lack of love for Jesus, and I have much to learn from these friends for their dedication and devotion and belief that the struggle to come before Jesus is entirely worth it.