The Mission of the King

INTRO

Brief Recap

MISSION STATEMENTS:

Etsy: “To reimagine commerce in ways that build a more fulfilling and lasting world. We are building a human, authentic and community-centric global and local marketplace.”

Uber: “Uber is evolving the way the world moves. By seamlessly connecting riders to drivers through our apps, we make cities more accessible, opening up more possibilities for riders and more business for drivers.”

Google: “To organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.”

Facebook: “To give people the power to share and make the world more open and connected.”

Walmart: “We save people money so they can live better.”

Kick Starter: “To help bring creative projects to life.”

Why a Mission Statement?

If you don’t know what your purpose is, how do you know if you are fulfilling it?

Jesus was not confused about his mission. — He made it very clear. — End of our Passage today…

BODY

Mark 2:13–17 (ESV)

He went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them. And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

PRAY

The Call of Christ, 2. The Life of a Follower of Christ, 3. The Mission of Christ

CONTEXT

Mark is intentionally showing us some things at the beginning of his Gospel Narrative.

Ancient biography, or bios, as distinct from modern biography, was a genre of Greek and Roman literature interested in describing the goals, achievements, failures, and character of ancient historical persons and whether or not they should be imitated.

Jesus’ Power & Authority over: SICKNESS | DEMONS | LEPROSY | Now —> Religious leaders (Religion)

This is also the beginning of a series of “Controversy Narratives” - Jesus intentionally showing his power & authority over the religious leaders.

The passage before this - Jesus heals a paralytic —> “Son, your sins are forgiven.” (vs. 5)

“Who can forgive sins but God alone?” —> Beginning of Jesus revealing just who He is.

At the end of Chapter 1 we saw Jesus heal an outcast - A Leper - Outside of society - not able to be a part of community life, or religious life.

Tax Collectors in the 1st Century (Jewish life) — Were considered traitors

Worked for the government - bought the rights from the Romans - would be responsible for paying that, but anything beyond that they would keep.

Almost all tax collectors were corrupt and would extort the people in order to increase their own wealth.

They too were excluded from religious life.

Some would have even considered tax collectors to be even more of an outcast than a leper…

Now Jesus isn’t just going to heal him - but invite him into his inner circle…

1. The Call of Christ (13-14)

Slide

Mark 2:13–14 “He went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them. And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.”

Levi/Matthew - One of the “Twelve”

Parallel Passages in Luke & Matthew…

(Levi) Matthew (Could be Greek name, Levi - Hebrew name; Jesus may have given him the name like [Simon - Peter]).

Similarities to earlier call of Simon/Andrew & James/John

“Follow Me” - ‘Leave your profession (identity) behind and follow me’

2. The Life of a Follower of Christ (15 -16)

Slide

Mark 2:15–16 “And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?””

“Reclined at table” - not just eating together - more like a banquet (think a dinner party) you would throw for guests.

Levi (Matthew) brought his co-workers and friends to Jesus!

Disciples/Followers of Jesus - We know about the 12 - there were many who followed Jesus.

Meals were very important in the first century — Not just utilitarian — Would sometimes be a seal of an agreement or contact.

Sinners = those that had no thought for religious life

Not literally murderers and thieves - not like a biker bar - outcasts from religious life

Jesus was a Rabbi - teacher of the Law - the scribes & Pharisees — (but with AUTHORITY) They expected Him to conduct himself as such.

Scribes of the Pharisees = academic scholars of the law = seminary professors of Jewish law.

They are offended that this Teacher of the Law would keep company with these religious “outcasts”

Jesus did not ‘condone’ the behavior of the company he kept — but when Jesus becomes a friend of someone they “cease” to be a sinner —> They are changed!

3. The Mission of Christ (17)

Slide

Mark 2:17 “And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.””

First, notice that the scribes do not directly question Jesus, they ask His disciples - but Jesus overhears their objection & responds.

In Chapter 1 (and the first part of Chapter 2) Jesus has proven to have power over sickness - as the Great Physician - Now he relates people’s greatest need to a sickness.

Second, Jesus speaks directly to the Religious Leaders and their perceptions.

When Jesus says he came not to “call the righteous” — He doesn’t mean those without sin - “no one is righteous, no not one” — but those that believe themselves to be righteous.

By sinners — Jesus means those that know they are NOT righteous (outside religious life).

ILLUSTRATION —> Luke 19:1-9 Story of Zacchaeous…

Vs. 10 “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

APPLICATION

Have you answered the Call?

When Jesus calls someone —> They are compelled to forsake everything else for Him.

Quote: “When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die. It may be a death like that of the first disciples who had to leave home and work to follow Him, or it may be a death like Luther’s, who had to leave the monastery and go out into the world. But it is the same death every time—death in Jesus Christ, the death of the old man at his call.” - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Does your life reflect the Mission of Jesus?

Belong Before Believe

Scripture = Belong —> Believe—> Behave

The Church = Behave —> Belong —> Believe

Misses the Holy Spirit

Following Jesus is NOT about behavior modification.

Zacchaeous (Luke 19:10 “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”” ) - Mission Statement

If we are going to follow in the footsteps of Jesus — Levi in this passage —

Quote: Charles Spurgeon - “Every Christian is either a missionary or an imposter.”

Opportunities:

“The Nations”

Neighbors

Co-workers

Family ->

RESPONSE

CHALLENGE: Share a meal with someone you know does not have a relationship with Christ.

Conviction for me — Challenging & preaching to myself!

Quote “When you combine a passion for Jesus with shared meals, you create potent gospel opportunities.” - Tim Chester (A Meal with Jesus)

THE CHURCH COMMUNITY - DON’T DO IT ALONE

Not a ‘Project’

Be interested in them & their lives.

Share what Jesus means to you…

What has God been teaching you?

What have you been amazed by lately?

“In The Light of your Grace” - Citizens

This is how I know I am Yours That if my heart should condemn me Your truth is so much more This is how I know I’m secure That even though I keep falling Your love for me endures In the light of Your grace You end my darkness In the light of Your grace My burdens lose their weight In the light of Your grace You lift my head up In the light of Your grace My sin is washed away

CONCLUSION

I believe the greatest apologetic for Christianity in the future will be our Community (maybe always has been) — that is oriented not around, age, social status, ethnicity, politics, or interests —> but cuts across all of those things.

Our community is centered around a person - Jesus & A Mission - “to seek and save the lost” - to call not the righteous, but sinners - to repentance.

Most people just want a place to BELONG - The main reason for the Identity Confusion we see today —> They are searching for Identity — the only answer is Jesus.

Are we ready to bring people to him?

Do our lives look more like Levi’s (Matthew) or like the Scribes?

Are We bringing people to Jesus? Or are WE avoiding the very people Jesus came to call?