March 12, 2012

Luke 5:29-32

“Levi gave a large dinner at his home for Jesus. Everybody was there, tax men and other disreputable characters as guests at the dinner. The Pharisees and their religion scholars came to his disciples greatly offended. "What is he doing eating and drinking with crooks and 'sinners'?" Jesus heard about it and spoke up, "Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? I'm here inviting outsiders, not insiders—an invitation to a changed life, changed inside and out."”

People always question the behavior of others when it doesn’t match up with their own. In this case, most people thought that Jesus wouldn’t want to associate with people that have been stigmatized in society and was talking about him behind his back. Jesus, who heard them speaking in the background asked a very good question: who needs a doctor? The healthy or the sick?

Oftentimes, we look down upon others rather than sharing the word with those who need it most. But as Christians, we need to learn to get out of our Christian bubble and help those who need it most. One song sums it up nicely:

“It's crowded in worship today, as she slips in trying to fade into the faces.

The girl's teasing laughter is carrying farther than they know, farther than they know.

A traveler is far away from home. He sheds his coat and quietly sinks into the back row. The weight of their judgmental glances tells him that his chances are better out on the road.

Jesus paid much too high a price for us to pick and choose who should come.

And we are the body of Christ…

If we are the body, why aren't His arms reaching? Why aren't His hands healing? Why aren't His words teaching? And if we are the body, why aren't His feet going? Why is His love not showing them there is a way? There is a way. Jesus is the way.”

Meditate on these words. :-)