Luke 5:27-32 (ESV)- After this he 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. 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.”Repentance is not a negative word.
I. Repentance is..
A. Necessary because of sin.
1.The world is not as it should be. Repent from something but also unto something. It’s necessary because we have all sinned, we are flawed.
2. Its good news that we are not as should be.. (GKC quote about would not as it should be and jumped for joy.)
3. Repentance in light of Christ is what the world needs to be made right! 4. Why are we so shocked that people have sinned and need to repent!
B. A Journey.
1. Not just an event.
2. A process, which implies, different places and paces (steps and move at different speeds) on the journey.
3. Martin Luther said, “All of life is repentance.”
C. Is Healing.
1. Because we are not just bad we are broken. Not just flawed but wounded, not just wrong but sick.
2. Repentance is restorative and not punitive. Repentance has at its aim reconciliation not propitiation.. Repentance seeks to restore and not destroy.
D. Ultimately a gift.
1. Jesus offers us an invitation to follow him which is an invitation to a journey of repentance.
2. It is only by grace we come to see the truth of our lives in light of God.
The Table is a place where repentance is made possible.
II. Jesus makes a space for repentance around the table by
A. Jesus puts people over propriety. (Dining with those who are outcast!)
1. Pharisee’s and Jesus agree that the tax collectors behavior is not good. Hospitality it not the same thing as affirming another’s choices or behaviors.
2. Pharisee’s allow this judgement to take them to the place of condemnation, that is excluding them, making them as outcast. To the pharisees, the tax collectors behavior justified the condemnation they gave to them.
3. Pharisee’s saw “tax collectors” and “outcasts” Jesus saw “Levi”, the person.
4. We can discern or even judge behaviors as good or bad, profitable or unprofitable, healthy or unhealthy, etc.. but never make a final evaluation of someone’s character or worth. Who are we to condemn who Christ has come to save?
5. The table is the place we welcome people as they are who for who they will become. The same way Jesus welcomes Levi, as he is, for who he will become.
B. This means we put people over what over others might think about us.
1. Or about the cleanliness of our house, or the cost of our house, or the kind of food we prepare, etc.
2. How do we do this?
-Make room with our lives for other’s by pausing and making room within our souls for God.
-Seeing people (Individuals) not just behaviors and labels.
-Let perfection go; seek to love the other rather than impress them.
3. Jesus was more convinced of God’s power to heal and transform Levi, then he was concerned about Levi’s unrighteousness rubbing off on him.
4. This is the difference between the Pharisee’s perspective and Jesus’. To the Pharisee’s the mission was to keep the law as perfectly as possible; to be righteous, therefore avoid what is unrighteous. Jesus’ mission was to redeem. To seek and to save that which is lost. (Dr/Citizen in pandemic)
C. Ultimately, it is God’s Presence that changes people and not ours.
1. Pharisee’s question was “why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” and Jesus’ response was that it was those who are sick who need a physician.
2. Eating and drinking with Levi and his ‘outcasts’ was one of the ways that Jesus intended on healing them.
3. The table creates space for God’s presence to heal us.
4. This includes spiritual hospitality and dialogue.
III. We are all Levi’s and Pharisee’s
A. We all have been and have parts of us like Levi.
1. Feel as an outcast, shameful, and as if we do not belong.
2. Jesus invites to come to the table and let relationship with Him heal us.
3. Cannot out-perform inward shame. It must be loved out.
B. We all have been and have parts of us like the Pharisee’s.
1. Feel there are those we cannot be at the table with.
2. Our passion for holiness overtakes our love for the lost and hurting.
C. Christ calls both to come to the table and be healed.
1. Continue to show up in conversation with Jesus through prayer, reading of scripture, worship, obedience, etc. He will meet you there!
2. Ask Him your questions, but listen to His responses.
GP2RL: Ask Jesus to give you His perspective for the lost, hurting, and broken.