Mark 2:15-17 - Jesus, the Great Physician

Mark 2:15-17
15 And it happened that He was reclining at the table in his house, and many tax collectors and sinners were dining with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many of them, and they were following Him.16 When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that He was eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they said to His disciples, “Why is He eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners?” 17 And hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Message: Jesus, the Great Physician

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Yesterday, I read about the call of Levi or Matthew while Jesus was continuing to preach, it would seem in Capernaum. Jesus is now reclining at the table in his house. He has just called Levi and it sounds like the other tax collectors heard about this. Again, it sounds like the tax collectors are interested in what Jesus has to say. and many tax collectors and sinners were dining with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many of them, and they were following Him. He was preaching and teaching and people were most interested in what he had to say. He specifically had called some to follow him but it also seems like there are others that are just following him as well.

But, his eating with the tax collectors and other sinners, which must have meant people that were clearly thought of as differently or less than others in society, the scribes saw this and wondered why he was doing this. The scribes are continuing to follow him as well. They are interested as well in what he has to say, but possibly for a different reason. When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that He was eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they said to His disciples, “Why is He eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners?”

Jesus has a clever response to the scribes. And hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Obviously, the scribes seem to spend most of their time in the Synagogue. Jesus had gone there and shook things up a little. But whether it was the synagogue or the field, Jesus was there to preach to anyone. He welcomed all and didn't turn away any.

This passage is a good reminder that Jesus cares about everyone and in many ways is more concerned about the have not's and undesired people in society, the people that many just gloss over. 

Promise: Jesus ate with sinners (who may have recognized their sin) -- no cure is possible for those who are convinced that they are not sick, for they believe they have no need of a cure.

Prayer: Thank you Lord for your message to sinners everywhere and not classing people like we do in society. Thank you for loving each person as they are. You are our great physician meaning you call people and desire to cure them of their great disease - sin. Help us in society to not lose sight of this and direct me to those that are willing to hear your message and receive it.