Why He Came

Men read many books. Novels, biographies, poetry, history, and even comic books. Too few read the great gift and treasure that we have been given, the Bible. What a great treasure men have had for over two thousand years! What is this treasure? The actual life stories of Immanuel, which means "God with us."

In Mark 2:13-17 we are invited to see God the Son, Jesus Christ, as He lives among man. The writer of this gospel tells us that Jesus "went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him, and He was teaching them." Jesus was at the sea. All the crowd was at the sea. But while Jesus and the crowd were at the sea, Levi the tax collector was at the tax booth. Levi was not seeking Jesus. Levi was not on His journey to seek God. Levi was at the tax booth.

"And as he passed by He saw Levi." Jesus saw Levi. There were many whom Jesus saw that day, but He saw Levi differently. He did not merely see Levi as we see the many people which pass by our eyes. I see people on my way to work. I see people at Wawa. I see people at my workplace, but Jesus saw Levi differently. Jesus saw Levi, the tax collector, as one to "call" for Himself. Jesus said "Follow me." "Levi rose and followed Him."

Levi had not gone out beside the sea. Jesus went to Levi’s booth. Now the writer does not tell us that Levi went to Jesus' house, rather that Jesus went to Levi's house. Immanuel, God Incarnate, the Holy and Righteous, goes to Levi the tax collector's house, and He surrounds Himself with "tax collectors and sinners."

The writer tells us that they were "reclining with Jesus." What a picture! What a story! What a hope for sinners! Jesus is a friend of sinners. The writer tells us that Jesus "was eating with tax collectors and sinners." Jesus was eating with Levi and His friends.

No! This can not be! This does not sit right with some who look on, the "righteous" in their own eyes. They ask a most important question, and we are privileged to hear the response of God. "Why does He eat with sinners and tax collectors?" And we have the words of the Savior! "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."

Jesus sought out Levi. Jesus called Levi to follow Him. Jesus ate at Levi's home. Jesus reclined with tax collectors and sinners. Jesus came to call sinners! There is no hope for those who are righteous in their own eyes, but full and sure hope for "sinners." 1 Timothy 1:15 states "This saying is trustworthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." Hallelujah!

Tom Coughlin