A Hard Saying of Jesus

On Wednesday nights, I have been taking students through The Hard Sayings of Jesus by F. F. Bruce.

Last night, we focused upon Christ's words in Mark 2:17, "Those who are well do not need a doctor, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous but sinners."

I introduced the topic by showing the video "Skin (Sarah Beth)" by Rascal Flatts.  This video tells of a fear or an experience that we have all had, that of sickness. 

As a minister, and I suppose just as a result of growing older, I have come to despise cancer.  I have watched persons struggle with the disease.  And I have watched them die.  If I could do anything to cure cancer, I would.  I am sure that all of us would.

Now, what of the disease of sin?  The result of sin for us all is death (Rom. 6:23), but there are those of us who have been raised with Jesus who have no fear of the first or second death, hell (Rev. 2:11, 20:14).

We do not fear, because we have been to the doctor.  He has both healed us and given us a prescription to take before we will be healed fully.  We are saved and are being saved.

Now, will we not offer the cure to others?

Imagine if Jesus had simply sat in the synagogue, waiting for sinners to come inside?  It is interesting that this is often our plan, but when God was incarnate it was not his.

When Jesus associated with sinners, he did so in a very real way.  He sat down and ate with them.  He talked with them, shared food, laughed, and enjoyed their company.  It was only those who were religious who criticized him.  Matthew adds to Mark's saying by giving us Jesus' quote from Hosea 6:6.  "Go and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.'".

Now not all of the religious persons were evil men.  Pharisees and their followers get a bad wrap.  Some of them no doubt truly had a heart for God and desired to please him.  But they had no heart for sinners.

I believe these words tell us today, "If you attend church every Sunday, if you lead in worship, if you are on a committee, if you are a deacon, or a minister, and you lose you heart for those in sin, then all of your other efforts are trivial."

I was glad at the end of our time together when our youth decided to break into their own groups and repent of their selfishness. Only the Holy Spirit could lead them to take that action.

Do you want to grow the body of Christ for the sake of Christ?  Then tell others about your favorite doctor.  The only One who brings true healing.

"Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither."- C. S. Lewis