Today we’ll explore the story of a time Jesus became friends with someone unexpected:

After this Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow me.” And leaving everything, he rose and followed him.

And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them. – Luke 5:27-29 ESV

Tax collectors were collaborators with the oppressive Roman government.  They were known for taking some off the top, or extorting and pocketing extra taxes from people.

People like that are usually careful about who they associate with.  They get to positions of power through taking advantage of others, by being crafty and independent, or using people for profit.

But there is something about Levi’s encounter with Jesus that changes all that.  After meeting Jesus, Levi has his coworkers over to dinner.  All the other collaborators and extortioners come to his place.  He knows what they’re like, maybe they will steal.  Or will they see some of his belongings, or family members, and use it against him in blackmail and extortion?

Why would he put himself at risk like that?

Because they suddenly matter to him more than just partners at work.

Because of Jesus, now they’re friends.  Not just obstacles or opportunities.  They are people he can feed and host.

The passage says Levi left everything and followed Jesus.  It clearly doesn’t refer to all his material possessions – he still has a house and means to throw a big feast.  This saying represents a spiritual about-face as he leaves behind his old way of life.

Research shows that vulnerability is key to friendships.  Levi does this, he leaves himself dangerously open to dangerous people.  He has them over and shares a meal with them.

This was even more significant in this culture – table fellowship indicated you were on the same page spiritually with others. You broke bread together, and legally became a religious fellowship.    Jews didn’t eat with non-Jews, for that reason.  Levi is Jewish, as is Jesus, but Levi is a Roman collaborator who would be dealing with non-Jews all the time, and regularly breaking the law by extorting fees from Jewish brothers.

We’ll learn more tomorrow about how people reacted.

Question: Why do you think Levi invites his co-workers over to supper with Jesus?  What’s he doing for them, for himself, and for Jesus?

Ryan Sim - May 22, 2013

Wednesday - Change It - Priorities

Sermon on the Mount

Jesus’ second illustration about priorities in life. Said it with a confusing saying that needs to be explained for people in our day: “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! (Matthew 6:22-23 ESV) When we ask what’s in someone’s heart, is the answer blood? No, the heart stands for something else – the core of their being. In Jesus’ culture, the eye was often used in the same way. Someone with a good eye was someone generous. Someone with a bad eye = miserly. Jesus is saying those who are generous are like those who can see where they are going, and those who are selfish are like the blind. That’s why he says the eye is a lamp, or window, into the body. It’s a small thing, but its functionality changes everything. For sighted people, eyes are the guide for just about every task. We don't do much by touch unless we have to. But blind people learn to do everything differently. I’m always fascinated by how blind people get around – it takes an entirely different skillset from the way I move. And the difference all comes down to that little eye. In this illustration, our “eye” or “heart” represents our priorities, ambitions, hopes and dreams. And like an eye, they affect everything. If our priorities are right, they affect how we handle everything else. If our priorities are wrong, then everything is in disarray, with competing priorities constantly battling each other. Sailing - aim the bow where you want to go. Aim it at Christ’s character – the one who was generous, sacrificial because he was resolute in his priorities, God’s kingdom breaking into our world. He was heavenly minded – but did a tremendous amount of worldly good. Investing in developing a Christlike character as our priority is the one safe investment, because is something we can take with us. As we accept him as saviour and submit to him as Lord, he transforms us through his Holy Spirit, into his likeness. Makes us acceptable to the Father. So we can join him, in his presence, heaven. Question: When you see someone who has what you desire how to do feel personally? What do you think of them? How does greed blind us to our true state? How does generosity free us from the grip of materialism and self-centeredness?

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