Tuesday - The Gospel According To Mark

Welcome to Daily Prayer. This week we are looking at five stories from Mark 2 through chapter 3 verse 6 and growing opposition to Jesus. We are looking at questions that get asked and what they reveal about Jesus and his mission. Today we look at Jesus calling Levi to follow him and the question, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

As we begin our time together, let’s quiet our hearts and minds before the LORD. 

Jesus, I belong to you. 

Shine on me Lord. 

I lift up my heart to you. I set my mind on you. I fix my eyes on you. I offer my body to you as a living sacrifice. I give everyone and everything to you. 

Open my lips and my mouth will declare you praise. 

A Scripture reading from Mark 2:13-17:

He went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them. And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

In this story, Jesus calls Levi, a despised tax collector to follow him. Levi immediately leaves everything and has a gathering at his house with Jesus, his disciples, and more tax collectors and sinners. This was scandalous to the religious leaders because table fellowship meant acceptance, friendship and shared identity. This tainted their view of Jesus’ righteousness. Levi was a man who was morally corrupt and ritually unclean. Jesus explains that he came as a physician for the sick, revealing that he came for sinners. For the other disciples, this was likely confusing, uncomfortable and probably embarrassing as following Jesus went from a respected group of guys from Galilee with a miracle working teacher to a tax collector being invited to join them. Now they and Jesus are being associated with people who are not respected and seen as unclean.

A Prayer of Adoration:

Lord, I love that you are the Good Teacher. You are not afraid about being associated with messed up and unfaithful people. This passage reveals that you came for sinners and free them to repent. You are like a doctor who came to make us whole. To fix what we cannot fix ourselves. Jesus, you are full of mercy that restores dignity to sinners. Restoration is possible and you love to make it happen! I praise you for the wideness of your mercy! You are good news for all who are lost. 

A Prayer of Confession

Lord, you call us to repent and believe the Gospel. To give our allegiance to you and to learn your ways. You only came for people who are sinners. If we can’t acknowledge our need, we can’t receive your medicine. I confess that I often forget how much I need you. This passage reveals that following you means ending up around people we may not like or trust. I confess that I often avoid people that you love and are calling to follow you. I confess that I prefer respectability over costly mercy. I acknowledge my discomfort with the people you welcome and my tendency to protect my reputation rather than reflect your grace. Almighty Father, let me never be ashamed of my belonging to you or your people. Renew a right spirit within me. 

Prayer of Trust

Lord, we trust you as the great Physician who knows our sickness and is not repelled by it. You came to restore us and make us whole. This passage reveals that following you means being misunderstood by others and sometimes not understanding you. Give me your eyes to see! I see in this passage that you call sinners, forgive their sins and freely associate yourself with sinners.

A Prayer of Intercession and petition:

Lord, when your ways unsettle us or challenge our categories of honor and holiness, help us to follow you anyway. Teach us to believe that where you lead, especially toward uncomfortable places, you are bringing life, not compromise. Lord, I notice in this passage that just like you called Simon to follow you and then pretty quickly end up in his house healing his mother in law, here you call Levi and pretty quickly end up reclining at his table with his friends. Do this among us Lord. Renew our minds to think like you. We don’t want to regard anyone from a worldly point of view. For those just beginning to follow you, bring healing and salvation to their friends and family. Give us eyes to see how you are at work. Keep us from a judgmental, pharisaical posture. We want to be like you! We continue to pray for Night to Shine. Let it be a place where you call people to follow you. Let it be a place where you restore dignity!

Read Again:

As we hear the Scripture again, let’s listen for a word or a phrase that the Lord may want to highlight from todays passage.

You may want to circle it or write it down in your Scripture journal. 

He went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them. And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. And the scribes of[a] the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat[b] with tax collectors and sinners?” And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

And now Our Weekly Passage to Memorize together:

Mark 2:17

“Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Let’s pray the The Lord’s Prayer together as we close:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

Hallowed be your name.

Your kingdom come

Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven

Give us this day our daily bread

Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us

Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil

For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever...amen