Yesterday Levi decided to follow Jesus, invited his colleagues for supper with Jesus.  We saw all that meant for Levi, and today we see what it meant for his culture.

And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” – Luke 5:30-32 ESV

What Jesus says makes so much sense in theory. Of course Jesus came to heal broken people, including these kinds of extortioners who’ve sold out their nation.

But it’s so easy to forget that in practice.

The Pharisees don’t seem to think Jesus should be friends with those he intends to heal.  They act like he should keep a safe distance, perhaps as an aloof example of how good he is and how bad they are.   Perhaps if they change their ways, then they can be seen with him.

Christians can do the same.  Sometimes we’d rather give to a distant charity than help a neighbour.  We’d rather keep a safe distance from people’s issues, perhaps we worry about what people will think if they see us with certain kind person.

This is a problem since we see Jesus doing the opposite.  He goes right to people who don’t know him, and don’t act like him.  He goes right to the sick, and heals them.  The problem is Pharisees don’t see themselves as sick.

This is part of why we don’t advertise this as a Christian resource.  We’re not looking to be a resource just for those who already go to church, know Jesus, and like that kind of thing.

If that’s you, it’s okay, you can support and join our team in this work – get in touch with me.  What we’ll work on together is building a community of people that includes those who’d never show up at church to learn about Jesus.

It’s such people as that we exist for.  Now that’s a pretty familiar group.  It gets much more interesting when you consider what it’s like to serve prostitutes, drug addicts, and so on.  What does it look like for Jesus’ followers to sit down and have supper with them in a way that introduces them to Jesus?  We’ve included one fascinating example for you to watch here. 

Question: Why do you think the religious authorities, the Pharisees and scribes, react the way they do?  Have you ever reacted similarly?

Ryan Sim - October 10, 2013

Thursday - Act On It - Partners To Friends

Won\'t You Be My Neighbour?

This week we’ve been exploring the story of Levi meeting Jesus, and having a big party with his former partners in crime, now his friends. Jesus’s transformative effect brings Levi’s colleagues into a new friendship with Levi first, then that friendship brings his friends into contact with Jesus. It’s no different today, this is very reason we held an outdoor movie night. We brought a bunch of people together over a great feast of popcorn. Our online users met one another, and made some new friends. This app and web site is meant to be more than a transaction, more than something to watch/listen to. It’s meant to bring us into community. It’s meant to be made up of real people, in real community with one another. Obviously movie nights and apps are large scale. But it depends on the small scale. It depends on people like you. You can be a Levi. At parties, people mingle and meet, and often discover things in common. So, have some people over to dinner, see what happens. It doesn’t have to be fancy. Or maybe have a hockey watching party, a playdate, a block party, whatever your scene is. Through that kind of party, I hope you and some people you know and work with, or have helped, will become friends, and friends can talk about what really matters. When followers of Jesus are present in the room and real deep things of life come up, I think that’s when Jesus enters the conversation, just like at Levi’s table. When he throws a great feast, his partners in crime learn the money grubbing tax collector actually isn’t driven by money anymore, but now he’s driven by love for Jesus, which makes him love them. Imagine the transformative effect on their lives. More than that, they just met a Jewish rabbi who will actually eat and drink with them, get to know them, love them, despite the risks, rather than standing outside and shaking his head. So, go and show your neighbours the same! Learn their names, stories, needs, and then become friends. Challenge: Plan a party, big or small! Please tell me the story, I’d love to hear how it goes.

From Series: "Won't You Be My Neighbour?"

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