He came for the hurting ones
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
Jesus was after the hurting and lost people of the world. Those were the ones that came to Him for help. They were the same people that were rejected by the priest and religious leaders of the day. He did go into their synagogues to teach, but it was to reach hurting people, not because He wanted something from them.
In today’s reading, Jesus calls to Levi (Matthew), a tax collector. On the surface, it doesn’t look like Matthew is hurting so much. Tax collectors were very rich because they were paid well by the Romans to collect the tax money from their people. The Hebrew people did not like them because they were working for Rome. But Jesus saw something different. He saw the need Levi had on the inside to be loved. He saw the pain he felt for doing his job well. He saw the emptiness of living life alone.
Jesus was confronted by the Pharisees for going to Matthew’s home and eating with him and others who needed His love. Jesus simply tells them that He came into the world for sinners, not those who think they got it all figured out.
This is good news for us today. The same reason Jesus came to the world 2000 years ago still exists today. He came to reach sinners. He came to save the lost and He came to help the hurting. Maybe you are in a place that you need the great physician, sick, tired alone? Turn to Him today and He will rescue you right where you are. He will pick you up out of your mess and He will turn your life around to make it count for all eternity.
Today I want to encourage you to answer the call He is giving you. He sees your life and He knows your heart. Turn it all over to Him today and start living your best life walking in the plans He created you for. It is the best life, and it will produce the best version of you. Come to Him today and leave your old ways behind.
Today’s scripture reading: Mark 2:13-17
13 Then He went out again by the sea; and all the multitude came to Him, and He taught them.
14 As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him.
15 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.
16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, “How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?”
17 When Jesus heard it, He said to them, “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.”
The Daily Dose 