The Physician's Mission: Jesus Calls Sinners to Repentance

Jesus calls sinners, eats with sinners, and came to bring sinners to repentance.

The gospel is the good news that Jesus, who has authority to forgive sins, comes for sinners. He calls the spiritually sick to repentance, not by standing far away from them in contempt, but by drawing near with holy mercy, summoning them to leave old allegiances and follow him.

After demonstrating authority to forgive sins, Jesus now calls one publicly identified as a sinner. Levi, a tax collector, represents collaboration with Rome and moral compromise in Jewish eyes. Jesus simply says, 'Follow Me.' Levi leaves everything and hosts a great banquet for Jesus, inviting other tax collectors and sinners. Religious leaders object to table fellowship with the morally impure. Jesus responds with a mission statement: He has not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. The Messiah gathers the morally bankrupt and transforms them through calling and repentance.

Luke records Jesus calling Levi from the tax booth and defending table fellowship with tax collectors and sinners to reveal that his mission is not to affirm the self-righteous but to call sinners to repentance.

1. Who do I instinctively keep at a distance that Jesus may be calling near?
2. What tax booth, old identity, or sinful security must I leave to follow Christ?
3. How can my home, table, or relationships become a place where others encounter Jesus?
4. Do I ever sound more like the grumbling Pharisees than the rejoicing Levi?
5. Am I trying to be near sinners in a way that calls them to Christ, or in a way that quietly affirms sin?
6. Do I speak of repentance as clearly as Jesus does?
7. Where am I pretending to be healthy when I need the Physician?

Following the forgiveness of the paralytic, Luke shows the social implications of grace. Conflict with religious authorities intensifies.

After publicly declaring forgiveness and healing the paralyzed man, Jesus sees Levi sitting at a tax booth and calls him to follow. Levi leaves everything, follows Jesus, and hosts a great banquet where many tax collectors and others are present. Pharisees and teachers of the law complain to Jesus’ disciples about table fellowship with sinners.