As Jesus was walking along, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office, and said to him " follow me." So he arose and followed him. When Jesus says, " Come to me," he doesn't say come to religion, come to a system or come to a certain doctrine. This is a very personal invitation to a God, an invitation from our Savior. In essence, Christianity, is nothing more, nothing less than a desire and an effort to see Jesus. That's all it is. we are trying to catch a glimpse of a man, not a program, not a plan, not a system,, not a doctrine. We are trying to see a man who called himself the Son of God. Our God is not aloof- he's not so far above us that He can't see and understand our problems. Jesus is not a God who stayed on a mountaintop-- he's a savior who came down and lived and worked with the people. Everywhere He went people followed, drawn together by the magnet that was-- and is-- the Savior. The life of Jesus Christ is a message of hope, a message of mercy, a message of life in a dark world.
Now it happened: As Jesus set at the table in the house, that behold many tax collectors and many sinners came and sat down with him and His disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to his disciples, " why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners? When Jesus heard that, He said to them, " Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means; ' I desire mercy and not sacrifice.' for I did not come for the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Although he was neither rude or arrogant, Jesus aggravated the teachers of the law when He exercised his privileges as the Son of God. When Jesus forgave sins, mingled with sinners, raised the dead, and healed the sick, the teachers thought his actions were inappropriate.
The kingdom of God had come. Jesus used his power over sickness and death to show his compassion for needy humanity. As a true friend, He meets the needs we bring him. He asks us to join his mission,and reach out to those around us.
Tell me, why are those stories in the Bible? Why are the gospels full of such people? Such hopeless people? Though their situations vary, their conditions don't. They are trapped. Estranged, Rejected. They have nowhere to turn. On their lips, a desperate prayer. In their hearts, desolate dreams, and in their hands a broken rope. But before their eyes a-never say-die- Galilean who majors in stepping in when everyone else steps out. The purpose of these stories is not to tell what Jesus did. No! Their purpose is to tell us what Jesus does! Why are these portraits, a weary hand on a shoulder, fingers on sightless eyes, words for sad hearts,... all to fulfilling the prophecy! " A bruised reed he will not break., and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out." Why are all these portraits in the Bible? Why did God leave us one tale after another of wounded lives being restored? Everything written in the past was written to teach us. Paul penned, " The scriptures give us patience and encouragement so that we have hope. (Rom.15:4)
These are not Sunday school stories. Not romantic fables? They are historic moments where God met real pain,
listen as Jesus speaks to Emmaus bound disciples. " Now behold two of them were traveling the same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem and they talked together of all the thing's which happened. So it was while they talked and reasoned Jesus drew near and went with them. But their eyes were restrained, so they didn't know him and he said too them, " what kind of conversation is this that you have with one another that makes you sad?" Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to him," are you the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have you not known the things which happened there in these days?" So they said to him, "The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and crucified him and we were hoping that it was he who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since all these things happened. yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early astonished us. When they did not find a body, they came saying that they had seen a vision of Angels who said he was alive, and certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but him they did not see." Then he said to them, " Foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all the prophets have spoken!" Ought not Christ have suffered thee things and to enter into his glory?" Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and he indicated that he would have gone further, but they constrained him, saying, abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent" and he went in to stay with them.
Now it came to pass, as he set at table with them, that he took bread , blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they knew him; and he vanished from their sight, and they said to one another, " Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened the scriptures to us ?" Bible stories goal is not to help us look back with amazement, but forward with faith. The God who spoke, still speaks, the God who forgave still forgives. The God who came still comes, and Jesus is still in our world. Jesus call to Matthew, is a call to all! When Jesus confronted the Pharisees it was not because they weren't devout enough about their relationship with God; it was their devotion to God that had separated them from the needs and suffering of others. they had distanced themselves from the suffering and needs of others who needed their mercy.
An African proverb puts it this way: " You cannot wipe another's tears away without getting wet yourself!
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