THE CALL FROM THE FRIEND OF SINNERS

“And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, “How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?” When Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” (Mark 2:16, 17 NKJV)
One of the clearest elements of biblical invitations to salvation is the demand for repentance. Reading the New Testament at face value, one will not find it hard to conclude that repentance is an essential factor in a gospel presentation. There are many definitions of repentance by many leaders of faith and God’s children. One of such is that it is a discovery of the evil of sin, a mourning that we have committed it and a resolution to forsake it. In fact, it is a change of mind of a very deep and practical character, which makes the man love what once he hated, and hate what once he loved. Anytime the word repentance comes up, it gives a signal that an amend must be made. People today don’t acknowledge they sin at all. They might make some mistakes, some errors in judgment, or be overcome by something over which they have no control. Some even claim that their sin is merely a lifestyle choice. And they find it difficult to muster up repentance for their wicked sins in their hearts. Besides self gratification and self propagation the greatest activity of modern humans is self justification. We have excuses for all of our missteps. But  we tend to be sorry for our wickedness when we get caught and exposed for it.

In the above text, Jesus brings forgiveness and a new life to a man named Levi, who also came to be known as Matthew. In the time of Christ, the tax-collector was considered to be one of the greatest types of sinners. Jewish tax collectors were considered traitors against their own people, since they collected taxes for their enemy, the Roman Emperor. Also, they had a reputation for charging far more taxes than was actually required, and thus most were extortionists. For example, they would charge a tax on everything they could think of, bridge tax, road tax, harbour tax, tax on axles, pack-animals, etc. They would send to the government what was required of them, and then pocket the rest. Against this background of the man,Jesus, unexpectedly, shocked many people by taking a tax-collector known as Matthew and made him one of His disciples. He offered His friendship to the man whom all others would have scorned to call friend. This changed his life and transformed him from being a sinner to becoming a saint.
There are two clear lessons from Jesus’ action in our text. First, He continues to call all to repent and follow Him. He desires to bless all with His peace and joy.

Secondly, the called believers who are already enjoying God’s blessing of repentance were not to despise anyone, no matter how grievous their sins may be. This message is also a call for believers to repent from the attitude of self righteousness and strive to reach the unchurched. Jesus reached out to the “unchurched” of His day. He reached out to those whom most Jews called “sinners,” including those who were openly immoral. As we begin this year’s Lent, let us repent and become God’s oracle to many in our generation as we surrender ourselves to work only to glorify Him.
Have a week of penitence as you allow the Friend of sinners, remove all your sins and set you free.

Your brother, Vicar & Archdeacon
Igein Isemede