WEBVTT 00:00:00.560 --> 00:00:09.720 Good morning. My name is Matthew Capone and I'm the pastor here at Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church and it's my joy to bring God's Word to you today. 00:00:10.380 --> 00:00:17.839 A special welcome if you're new or visiting with us. We're glad that you're here and we're glad that you're here not because we're trying to fill seats, 00:00:18.179 --> 00:00:24.080 but because we're following Jesus together as one community and as we follow Jesus together, 00:00:24.079 --> 00:00:30.379 we've become convinced that there's no one so good, they don't need God's grace, and no one so bad that they can't have it, 00:00:30.459 --> 00:00:37.619 which means that God has something to say to everyone in His Word, which is why we come back week after week, Sunday after Sunday, 00:00:38.099 --> 00:00:41.439 open up God's Word and hear what He has to say to us. 00:00:42.280 --> 00:00:44.560 We're continuing our series in the Gospel of Mark. 00:00:45.140 --> 00:00:50.879 You'll remember that the Gospels tell the story of Jesus and His life and His death and His resurrection, 00:00:51.019 --> 00:00:54.019 and we're asking two questions as we go through the Gospel of Mark. 00:00:54.539 --> 00:00:59.500 Question one, who is Jesus? And question two, how do we respond to Him? 00:01:00.500 --> 00:01:04.219 You'll remember from last week, we looked at Jesus' healing of the paralytic, 00:01:04.280 --> 00:01:08.780 and we saw that there's something better and greater and more important than physical healing. 00:01:09.379 --> 00:01:15.280 And so we come to Jesus with our need, but we also make sure we never forget our greatest need, 00:01:15.340 --> 00:01:18.019 which is our need for God's forgiveness. 00:01:19.379 --> 00:01:23.739 This week, we're going to see Jesus call someone else and have another confrontation. 00:01:24.079 --> 00:01:33.179 We're going to see Jesus' healing of the Pharisees, and we're going to look at the question of why you should be deeply offended by Jesus in the Gospel. 00:01:34.239 --> 00:01:34.340 Okay? 00:01:34.859 --> 00:01:36.840 Why you should be deeply offended. 00:01:37.000 --> 00:01:39.359 It's with that, we're going to turn to God's Word now. 00:01:39.780 --> 00:01:42.799 We're in Mark chapter 2, starting at verse 13. 00:01:42.920 --> 00:01:46.060 You can find it in your worship guide or on your phone or in your Bible. 00:01:46.060 --> 00:01:53.400 No matter where you find it, remember that this is God's Word, and God tells us that His Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path, 00:01:53.519 --> 00:02:00.939 which means that God has not left us to stumble alone in the dark, but instead He's given us His Word to show us the way to go. 00:02:01.340 --> 00:02:04.079 And so that's why we read now, starting at verse 13. 00:02:04.079 --> 00:02:10.439 He went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to Him, and He was teaching them. 00:02:11.159 --> 00:02:15.340 And as He passed by, He saw Levi, the son of Alphaeus, sitting at the tax booth. 00:02:15.740 --> 00:02:17.919 And He said to him, Follow me. 00:02:18.599 --> 00:02:20.719 And He rose and followed Him. 00:02:21.659 --> 00:02:28.000 And as He reclined at table in His house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and His disciples, 00:02:28.240 --> 00:02:30.379 for there were many who followed Him. 00:02:30.379 --> 00:02:35.939 And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that He was eating with sinners and tax collectors, 00:02:36.259 --> 00:02:40.919 said to His disciples, Why does He eat with tax collectors and sinners? 00:02:41.579 --> 00:02:43.560 And when Jesus heard it, He said to them, 00:02:44.139 --> 00:02:48.099 Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 00:02:48.819 --> 00:02:51.359 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners. 00:02:52.519 --> 00:02:55.859 I invite you to pray with me as we come to this portion of God's Word. 00:02:55.860 --> 00:03:01.160 Our Father in Heaven, we thank You that on this cold day, 00:03:01.480 --> 00:03:04.340 You've given us the warmth of this building and one another, 00:03:04.480 --> 00:03:07.600 and even more, the warmth and heat of Your Word. 00:03:08.200 --> 00:03:11.640 We ask that You would use Your Word in a powerful way this morning, 00:03:11.720 --> 00:03:17.620 that You would speak clearly to us in words, in ways that we can understand, 00:03:18.340 --> 00:03:21.580 that You would use Your Word to encourage us and to challenge us. 00:03:21.580 --> 00:03:24.960 And most of all, You would use it to show us Jesus Christ, 00:03:25.060 --> 00:03:28.380 that we would see Him as more and more glorious and beautiful. 00:03:28.920 --> 00:03:33.040 We thank You that You help us, not because we are impressive to You, 00:03:33.320 --> 00:03:36.220 but because Jesus has earned these things for us. 00:03:36.240 --> 00:03:39.100 And so we ask these things in His mighty name. Amen. 00:03:41.480 --> 00:03:44.680 As we've been tracking along together in the Gospel of Mark, 00:03:44.740 --> 00:03:46.660 we've basically been in two locations. 00:03:46.659 --> 00:03:51.240 We began in the desert where Jesus was baptized and He had His temptation, 00:03:51.400 --> 00:03:55.659 and then we've shifted to this area of Galilee where Jesus has been doing ministry. 00:03:56.159 --> 00:03:59.099 He's been in the region of Galilee next to the Sea of Galilee, 00:03:59.240 --> 00:04:02.259 and you'll know that we've been in the city of Capernaum, 00:04:02.319 --> 00:04:04.740 which is Jesus' base of operations in this area. 00:04:04.859 --> 00:04:06.620 It's a city of around 10,000 people, 00:04:06.719 --> 00:04:09.680 and it's the place where He has a house that He's able to stay, 00:04:09.780 --> 00:04:11.199 most likely Simon's house. 00:04:11.579 --> 00:04:14.180 Remember, this is where He healed Simon's mother-in-law. 00:04:14.180 --> 00:04:18.639 And now we're beginning to come full circle in that section. 00:04:19.199 --> 00:04:22.280 You'll remember in chapter 1, we started in verses 14 and 15 00:04:22.280 --> 00:04:25.459 with Jesus beginning His earthly ministry by preaching repentance, 00:04:25.780 --> 00:04:28.240 and then immediately He went by the sea. 00:04:28.900 --> 00:04:31.840 And it was at the sea that He called His first disciples, 00:04:31.980 --> 00:04:33.460 Simon and Andrew, James and John. 00:04:33.899 --> 00:04:37.060 And so now we return to where we began. 00:04:37.199 --> 00:04:41.740 Chapter 2, verse 13, we're told Jesus went out again beside the sea. 00:04:41.740 --> 00:04:44.660 This going out, He's going out from Galilee. 00:04:44.819 --> 00:04:47.660 He's just healed this paralytic, which we saw in the previous section. 00:04:47.780 --> 00:04:50.500 So He's going out of the city of Capernaum by the sea, 00:04:51.259 --> 00:04:54.340 and it's continuing this pattern of ministry that we've seen from Jesus. 00:04:54.460 --> 00:04:57.860 He ministers, He retreats, He ministers, He retreats. 00:04:57.879 --> 00:05:00.259 His retreat earlier was when He went out to pray. 00:05:00.439 --> 00:05:03.160 You'll remember the disciples were frantically searching for Him. 00:05:03.560 --> 00:05:05.460 Now He goes out again by the sea, 00:05:06.519 --> 00:05:08.860 reminding us that Capernaum is right on the water. 00:05:08.860 --> 00:05:12.000 It's a seaside town next to the Sea of Galilee. 00:05:12.280 --> 00:05:15.139 And we have this word here in verse 13 again, 00:05:15.960 --> 00:05:19.780 which reminds us that Jesus has not been to the sea 00:05:19.780 --> 00:05:22.080 since chapter 1, verse 16, 00:05:22.080 --> 00:05:25.280 when He was passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, we're told, 00:05:25.699 --> 00:05:27.860 and that's where He calls His first disciples. 00:05:29.580 --> 00:05:31.580 James and John, Simon and Andrew. 00:05:31.840 --> 00:05:34.780 And so it shouldn't surprise us what happens next. 00:05:34.779 --> 00:05:38.779 We haven't seen Him here since He's called the first disciples, 00:05:39.000 --> 00:05:42.939 and what He's going to do next is going to call them again. 00:05:43.099 --> 00:05:46.819 So in verse 14, He repeats this pattern of going by the sea. 00:05:47.000 --> 00:05:50.039 As He passed by, He saw Levi, the son of Alphaeus, 00:05:50.079 --> 00:05:51.859 sitting at the tax booth, and He said to him, 00:05:52.259 --> 00:05:52.759 Follow me. 00:05:53.419 --> 00:05:55.119 And He rose and followed Him. 00:05:56.059 --> 00:05:59.739 Now we might think at this point that we're just getting another repeat 00:05:59.739 --> 00:06:01.439 of what we saw before in chapter 1. 00:06:01.519 --> 00:06:02.319 Here we go again. 00:06:02.319 --> 00:06:03.860 Jesus does the same thing. 00:06:04.159 --> 00:06:05.120 He heals people. 00:06:05.319 --> 00:06:06.379 Then He calls people. 00:06:06.480 --> 00:06:08.019 We'll probably see Him heal some more people 00:06:08.019 --> 00:06:09.099 and call some more people, right? 00:06:10.659 --> 00:06:13.899 Well, in the eternal words of Cookie Monster, 00:06:15.420 --> 00:06:17.620 one of these things is not like the others. 00:06:18.600 --> 00:06:20.459 One of these things doesn't belong. 00:06:21.480 --> 00:06:23.699 Can you tell which thing is not like the other 00:06:23.699 --> 00:06:27.000 by the time I finish this song? 00:06:28.060 --> 00:06:29.779 And if you want to hear that song, 00:06:29.959 --> 00:06:32.240 rather than spoken by me, of course, not right now. 00:06:32.319 --> 00:06:34.660 You can go onto YouTube and Cookie Monster is there for you. 00:06:35.819 --> 00:06:39.040 The calling of this disciple is not like the others. 00:06:39.139 --> 00:06:40.980 There is something radically different here. 00:06:41.079 --> 00:06:42.460 James and John, Simon and Andrew, 00:06:42.540 --> 00:06:43.540 remember, we're fishermen. 00:06:43.840 --> 00:06:44.960 What do we think about fishermen? 00:06:45.079 --> 00:06:45.819 Well, we love them. 00:06:45.879 --> 00:06:47.220 We think fishermen are great. 00:06:47.560 --> 00:06:49.120 They help with the local economy. 00:06:49.240 --> 00:06:50.480 They're out there working hard. 00:06:50.579 --> 00:06:51.759 They're great businessmen. 00:06:52.019 --> 00:06:54.519 They've built these boats, and they're sailing them. 00:06:54.519 --> 00:06:59.719 And suddenly, while we're used to this whole crowd of fishermen, 00:06:59.959 --> 00:07:02.299 Jesus has to throw us a loop and call a tax collector. 00:07:03.479 --> 00:07:07.759 Now, you probably already know that tax collectors were hated in the ancient world, 00:07:07.819 --> 00:07:11.719 and they were hated because tax collection was contracted out. 00:07:11.720 --> 00:07:15.200 So you would say, as the Roman government, we need X amount of money. 00:07:15.580 --> 00:07:18.520 Whoever bids us the highest amount will give them that contract. 00:07:18.740 --> 00:07:20.880 They're going to bring us back X amount of money, 00:07:20.940 --> 00:07:23.040 and whatever is left over, they get to keep. 00:07:23.960 --> 00:07:27.460 And so there was this incentive for tax collectors to be incredibly dishonest. 00:07:27.879 --> 00:07:28.860 They had a lot of power. 00:07:29.220 --> 00:07:31.960 They would use it to get more money than they were supposed to, 00:07:32.000 --> 00:07:34.080 and the more they could get, the more they piled up. 00:07:34.080 --> 00:07:36.000 The richer and richer they became. 00:07:37.120 --> 00:07:40.140 And unfortunately, if they came to you to collect your taxes, 00:07:40.680 --> 00:07:43.900 you would not be able to get on your phone and open up your browser 00:07:43.900 --> 00:07:45.600 and look up what the tax rate was. 00:07:46.340 --> 00:07:48.320 Surprisingly, that wasn't an option back then. 00:07:48.800 --> 00:07:52.060 And so it was much harder to know whether the taxes were fair or not. 00:07:52.060 --> 00:07:56.420 There was a lot of areas and ways for these tax collectors to exploit people, 00:07:56.500 --> 00:07:59.759 and so they were considered the worst of the worst. 00:08:02.259 --> 00:08:05.340 And so Jesus here, it's been all fun and games up until this point. 00:08:05.639 --> 00:08:08.500 He's healing lepers, letting paralytics walk. 00:08:08.500 --> 00:08:15.100 He's calling these good fishermen until he decides he's going to call a tax collector. 00:08:16.439 --> 00:08:18.340 Mercy for lepers and paralytics. 00:08:18.459 --> 00:08:19.720 Wow, isn't that great? 00:08:20.040 --> 00:08:21.720 Isn't that heartwarming, you know? 00:08:21.720 --> 00:08:23.620 Jesus is going to heal these lepers. 00:08:23.800 --> 00:08:25.120 Paralytics are going to be able to walk. 00:08:25.220 --> 00:08:26.740 He's fulfilling the Old Testament. 00:08:27.240 --> 00:08:28.940 Justice is going to be brought to the nations. 00:08:29.340 --> 00:08:30.220 This is great. 00:08:31.980 --> 00:08:35.340 Healing for tax collectors, the calling of tax collectors, 00:08:35.340 --> 00:08:36.980 that is repulsive. 00:08:38.340 --> 00:08:39.279 That's offensive. 00:08:40.540 --> 00:08:43.300 Jesus is going to the people he shouldn't be going to. 00:08:43.420 --> 00:08:45.759 He's going to the people we actually need him to judge, 00:08:45.759 --> 00:08:48.419 and he's bringing them in and calling them to follow him. 00:08:49.279 --> 00:08:53.840 Jesus saves people that you and I wouldn't. 00:08:56.960 --> 00:08:59.220 Jesus saves people that you and I wouldn't. 00:08:59.220 --> 00:09:05.080 And Jesus doesn't save people that you and I would. 00:09:06.680 --> 00:09:08.899 Jesus doesn't save people that you and I would. 00:09:09.720 --> 00:09:14.060 God's grace is all fun and games until it goes to the wrong people. 00:09:14.700 --> 00:09:16.620 Until it goes to people who oppress us. 00:09:16.680 --> 00:09:18.320 Until it goes to people we don't like. 00:09:18.440 --> 00:09:21.960 Until it goes to people who are known for their betrayals. 00:09:21.960 --> 00:09:26.560 God extends his grace to people that you and I would cancel. 00:09:28.639 --> 00:09:31.259 God extends his grace to people who are beyond the pale. 00:09:32.879 --> 00:09:37.280 God extends his grace to people whose behavior we would find unacceptable. 00:09:38.840 --> 00:09:42.139 And so this tax collector is not like the others. 00:09:42.259 --> 00:09:44.139 He's not like the paralytic and the leper. 00:09:44.220 --> 00:09:45.780 The leper, physically repulsive. 00:09:47.019 --> 00:09:49.060 Tax collector, morally repulsive. 00:09:49.059 --> 00:09:52.500 Lepers, paralytics are oppressed. 00:09:53.539 --> 00:09:55.759 Tax collectors are the oppressor. 00:09:56.199 --> 00:09:57.419 They're the ones doing the oppression. 00:09:58.159 --> 00:09:59.839 Lepers are on the outside physically. 00:10:00.799 --> 00:10:03.019 Tax collectors, on the outside morally. 00:10:04.179 --> 00:10:07.500 It's easy to have mercy for someone physically repulsive, right? 00:10:07.819 --> 00:10:09.079 Probably not their fault. 00:10:10.279 --> 00:10:14.419 Very challenging to have mercy for someone who's morally repulsive. 00:10:15.059 --> 00:10:17.619 Of course we know it's all their fault, right? 00:10:17.620 --> 00:10:20.919 And Levi, he's not just a tax collector. 00:10:21.039 --> 00:10:22.679 It actually gets even worse than this. 00:10:23.299 --> 00:10:26.440 Levi's later known as Matthew, the author of the Gospel of Matthew. 00:10:26.539 --> 00:10:27.580 That's a whole other discussion. 00:10:28.080 --> 00:10:31.460 But we know by Levi's name and his history that Levi is Jewish. 00:10:32.100 --> 00:10:38.639 And so he's not just your regular run-of-the-mill shill for the Roman Empire who's oppressing people. 00:10:38.820 --> 00:10:41.539 Levi is someone who has sold out his own people. 00:10:42.039 --> 00:10:44.500 He's a Jew who has sold out Jews. 00:10:44.820 --> 00:10:46.360 He is exploiting them. 00:10:46.360 --> 00:10:49.180 He's sided with the oppressor over the oppressed. 00:10:49.340 --> 00:10:50.800 He has given up his own people. 00:10:50.899 --> 00:10:56.060 We're told by ancient records that Jews who became tax collectors were often excommunicated. 00:10:56.180 --> 00:11:00.919 They were cut off from the Jewish community because they were seen as so repulsive 00:11:00.919 --> 00:11:04.779 and as betraying their people to such a great degree. 00:11:04.779 --> 00:11:12.980 And so the test for us in this is whether we really understand God's grace. 00:11:14.000 --> 00:11:17.159 There are good people who are going to hell. 00:11:18.419 --> 00:11:21.839 There are people in this world who clean up litter off of the street. 00:11:22.839 --> 00:11:27.220 They drive their friends and maybe even strangers to doctor's appointments. 00:11:27.220 --> 00:11:29.480 They tip well at restaurants. 00:11:29.700 --> 00:11:31.740 They really care about people in the service industry. 00:11:31.940 --> 00:11:33.519 They want them to thrive and flourish. 00:11:34.120 --> 00:11:35.740 These people work hard at their jobs. 00:11:35.920 --> 00:11:37.220 They are an asset. 00:11:37.420 --> 00:11:38.259 They're not a liability. 00:11:39.139 --> 00:11:41.120 And they help people who are weaker than them. 00:11:41.480 --> 00:11:42.620 They're great people like this. 00:11:42.620 --> 00:11:46.820 And they are still in rebellion against God. 00:11:48.080 --> 00:11:52.259 They still refuse to listen to God, to worship him and obey them. 00:11:53.019 --> 00:11:55.240 They are headed straight to hell. 00:11:55.419 --> 00:11:57.539 God is going to pass over them. 00:11:58.860 --> 00:11:58.960 Okay? 00:11:59.539 --> 00:12:04.440 God in his grace chooses to pass over many good people. 00:12:04.440 --> 00:12:10.800 God in his grace also chooses to save people who are terrible. 00:12:12.100 --> 00:12:14.180 Jesus saves people like tax collectors. 00:12:14.340 --> 00:12:17.820 Jesus saves the kind of people who spit out their gum on the street 00:12:17.820 --> 00:12:19.160 rather than putting it in the trash. 00:12:20.740 --> 00:12:24.100 Jesus saves people you'd never want to play pickup basketball with 00:12:24.100 --> 00:12:25.880 because they're so incredibly rude. 00:12:27.300 --> 00:12:29.860 Even worse than that, Jesus saves drug dealers. 00:12:31.260 --> 00:12:32.600 Jesus saves dirty cops. 00:12:32.600 --> 00:12:35.340 Jesus saves child traffickers. 00:12:36.320 --> 00:12:38.180 Jesus saves narcissists. 00:12:39.180 --> 00:12:42.740 By God's grace, they are going to heaven. 00:12:44.580 --> 00:12:45.980 And so God's grace is offensive. 00:12:47.100 --> 00:12:49.620 And this tests us whether we really understand it or not. 00:12:49.720 --> 00:12:52.519 He gives grace to people we wouldn't. 00:12:53.139 --> 00:12:55.879 And he doesn't give grace to people that we would. 00:12:56.240 --> 00:12:57.879 God saves people that we don't like. 00:12:57.960 --> 00:13:00.420 He saves people far outside of our traditions and our tribes. 00:13:00.419 --> 00:13:03.679 God saves the kind of people who move from California 00:13:03.679 --> 00:13:05.019 and take up residence in Colorado. 00:13:08.199 --> 00:13:11.019 God saves people like me, people from the East Coast. 00:13:12.259 --> 00:13:12.519 Okay? 00:13:13.199 --> 00:13:17.620 If you're a Democrat, God saves people who voted for Donald Trump. 00:13:18.139 --> 00:13:20.519 And they didn't just hold their nose and vote for him. 00:13:20.579 --> 00:13:22.039 They loved voting for him. 00:13:22.099 --> 00:13:23.959 They were proud to vote for him. 00:13:24.039 --> 00:13:25.480 They were excited about it. 00:13:26.019 --> 00:13:28.719 God saves people who watch Newsmax and Fox News. 00:13:28.720 --> 00:13:34.000 If you're a Republican, God saves people who voted for Joe Biden. 00:13:34.060 --> 00:13:36.060 And they didn't just hold their nose and vote for him. 00:13:36.139 --> 00:13:37.500 They loved voting for him. 00:13:37.560 --> 00:13:38.980 They were proud to vote for him. 00:13:39.180 --> 00:13:41.160 They were excited they got to vote for him. 00:13:41.480 --> 00:13:44.000 God saves people who can't get enough of Rachel Maddow. 00:13:44.060 --> 00:13:45.940 And they love reading the New York Times. 00:13:46.160 --> 00:13:46.300 Okay? 00:13:47.639 --> 00:13:51.220 God saves people who are far outside of your tribe and your tradition. 00:13:51.440 --> 00:13:53.379 God saves people you would not. 00:13:53.379 --> 00:14:00.580 God shows his grace to tax collectors and sinners. 00:14:00.580 --> 00:14:05.460 Why is this the way the world works? 00:14:05.600 --> 00:14:08.600 Why is this how God's grace operates? 00:14:08.700 --> 00:14:13.160 Because God's dividing line is not between the good and the bad. 00:14:14.220 --> 00:14:14.480 Okay? 00:14:14.560 --> 00:14:17.639 In God's eyes, everyone is bad. 00:14:18.759 --> 00:14:25.100 God's dividing line is between those who recognize their sickness and those who don't. 00:14:25.100 --> 00:14:31.879 God's dividing line is between those who recognize their sickness and those who don't. 00:14:31.960 --> 00:14:36.700 In God's eyes, everyone is sick, even those who are convinced they're well. 00:14:37.820 --> 00:14:39.740 You can do many good things. 00:14:40.460 --> 00:14:44.519 But if you refuse to listen to God, to worship him, and to obey him, 00:14:44.580 --> 00:14:48.220 those are good only in a surface, superficial sense. 00:14:48.220 --> 00:14:53.639 Outside of God, you can do many superficially good things. 00:14:53.759 --> 00:14:57.820 You cannot do anything good truly or fully or ultimately. 00:14:59.779 --> 00:15:02.860 And so that's what Jesus is telling us here 00:15:02.860 --> 00:15:07.240 when the scribes of the Pharisees are scandalized. 00:15:07.500 --> 00:15:08.120 Verse 16, 00:15:08.620 --> 00:15:11.080 They saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors. 00:15:11.460 --> 00:15:15.019 And in this situation, they're believing that Jesus is made unclean in some way. 00:15:15.460 --> 00:15:16.440 Maybe Jesus is ignorant. 00:15:16.440 --> 00:15:17.980 Maybe he doesn't realize what he's doing. 00:15:18.220 --> 00:15:22.200 But he is putting himself in the place of losing, perhaps, his righteous status. 00:15:22.360 --> 00:15:24.279 Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners? 00:15:24.759 --> 00:15:26.940 And Jesus comes home here with this ringer. 00:15:27.080 --> 00:15:30.540 Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 00:15:31.259 --> 00:15:34.300 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners. 00:15:35.580 --> 00:15:38.040 And of course, underneath that, what Jesus is saying is, 00:15:38.700 --> 00:15:40.139 everyone is a sinner. 00:15:41.100 --> 00:15:43.920 There's just some who recognize it and some who don't. 00:15:43.919 --> 00:15:48.279 And so we're reminded here of God's grace. 00:15:48.379 --> 00:15:51.659 No matter who we are, God still saves sinners. 00:15:53.279 --> 00:15:57.779 And he even saves sinners we wish he wouldn't. 00:15:59.899 --> 00:16:02.879 Also reminds us that we have nothing to bring to God. 00:16:03.879 --> 00:16:05.399 God is not impressed with you. 00:16:05.399 --> 00:16:12.480 God has not made a resume for you of all your accomplishments. 00:16:13.379 --> 00:16:17.879 He doesn't pull it out to examine it and then give you his grace. 00:16:18.840 --> 00:16:20.740 No, Romans chapter 5, verse 8 says, 00:16:20.919 --> 00:16:23.179 While we were sinners, Christ died for us. 00:16:23.179 --> 00:16:28.000 And so what I'm not saying this morning is that good people can't be saved, 00:16:28.139 --> 00:16:32.859 but good people are only saved if they know and admit and confess that they're not good. 00:16:34.379 --> 00:16:39.299 Good people are only saved if they know and confess and admit that they are not good. 00:16:39.919 --> 00:16:43.159 What do the people that God saves have in common? 00:16:44.039 --> 00:16:47.779 Upstanding citizens, small business owners, drug dealers and jerks, 00:16:47.839 --> 00:16:50.240 all of them know that they are sinners. 00:16:50.240 --> 00:16:53.560 They all know and admit that they need a Savior. 00:16:53.860 --> 00:16:57.320 And they come to Jesus for healing and forgiveness. 00:16:58.799 --> 00:17:00.460 That is the dividing line. 00:17:01.180 --> 00:17:04.420 The dividing line is not between the good and the bad. 00:17:04.539 --> 00:17:07.940 It's between those who recognize their sickness and those who don't. 00:17:10.480 --> 00:17:11.859 And so there's a test here. 00:17:12.640 --> 00:17:15.559 Just like there is for the scribes of the Pharisees and their hearts, 00:17:15.620 --> 00:17:17.960 there's a test for our hearts as well. 00:17:17.960 --> 00:17:21.799 So the more scandalized we are by this, 00:17:22.440 --> 00:17:26.160 the less we understand God's grace. 00:17:27.200 --> 00:17:29.860 The more scandalized we are by this, 00:17:29.920 --> 00:17:32.559 the more we think we have something to offer to God. 00:17:33.940 --> 00:17:36.600 The less we believe we have to offer to God, 00:17:36.680 --> 00:17:38.759 the more we understand how sick we are, 00:17:38.819 --> 00:17:44.519 the less surprised we will be by who God saves and who he does not. 00:17:44.519 --> 00:17:47.079 The bad news is this, 00:17:47.139 --> 00:17:48.539 you are worse than you think. 00:17:50.539 --> 00:17:53.960 You are in the same category as Levi, the tax collector. 00:17:55.879 --> 00:17:59.639 The good news is God's mercy and the hope that he provides 00:17:59.639 --> 00:18:02.500 is greater and more powerful than you realize. 00:18:03.759 --> 00:18:06.500 The bad news is that you are worse than you think. 00:18:06.639 --> 00:18:09.559 You are in the same category as this terrible tax collector. 00:18:09.559 --> 00:18:15.419 The good news is that God's mercy and grace and the hope that he offers 00:18:15.419 --> 00:18:18.679 is even more powerful and wonderful than you realized. 00:18:19.740 --> 00:18:21.740 That is what the Pharisees missed. 00:18:21.859 --> 00:18:26.740 The Pharisees believed they can avoid sin by staying away from the sinners. 00:18:26.740 --> 00:18:30.039 And Jesus says, 00:18:30.160 --> 00:18:32.160 No, it's not the righteous I came for. 00:18:32.680 --> 00:18:33.660 It's the sick. 00:18:34.660 --> 00:18:38.420 Those who are well have no need of a physician. 00:18:40.019 --> 00:18:42.359 Now, in my life, 00:18:42.420 --> 00:18:46.620 I have an organizational system that I refer to as organized chaos. 00:18:47.980 --> 00:18:51.460 And organized chaos means that I mostly know what pile something is in. 00:18:52.579 --> 00:18:53.559 If you don't believe me, 00:18:53.579 --> 00:18:55.160 you can take a look in my office in the back. 00:18:55.160 --> 00:18:57.800 In my previous life, 00:18:58.019 --> 00:18:58.680 at some point, 00:18:58.779 --> 00:19:00.920 I had a new roommate that I moved in with. 00:19:01.540 --> 00:19:03.160 And when I moved in with this man, 00:19:03.300 --> 00:19:06.500 I immediately noticed how clean and neat that he was. 00:19:07.160 --> 00:19:08.960 In fact, I was a little taken aback. 00:19:09.040 --> 00:19:10.820 There was almost nothing in his room. 00:19:11.320 --> 00:19:12.580 He had almost no possessions in there. 00:19:12.620 --> 00:19:13.940 There was like a bed and a nightstand, 00:19:14.019 --> 00:19:14.820 and that was almost it. 00:19:15.240 --> 00:19:17.660 There was almost nothing in the kitchen. 00:19:18.420 --> 00:19:19.300 And so I thought to myself, 00:19:19.400 --> 00:19:20.580 Well, is this man a minimalist? 00:19:21.540 --> 00:19:22.660 Does he own anything? 00:19:22.660 --> 00:19:26.160 Of course, if you've lived in a house before, 00:19:26.240 --> 00:19:27.240 which I think most of you have, 00:19:27.300 --> 00:19:29.279 you know there's a range of philosophies 00:19:29.279 --> 00:19:30.660 about the use of the kitchen counter. 00:19:31.400 --> 00:19:32.380 For some people, 00:19:32.480 --> 00:19:34.320 the kitchen counter is a storage area. 00:19:35.779 --> 00:19:36.840 And for other people, 00:19:36.900 --> 00:19:39.340 the kitchen counter is meant to always be kept clean. 00:19:39.500 --> 00:19:41.779 Maybe there's a few well-placed items on it. 00:19:41.800 --> 00:19:43.140 Now, I'm probably kind of a moderate 00:19:43.140 --> 00:19:44.600 when it comes to the counter space. 00:19:45.279 --> 00:19:47.259 This guy was far on the side of the counter 00:19:47.259 --> 00:19:48.759 always being clean at all times. 00:19:48.759 --> 00:19:49.119 Okay. 00:19:49.960 --> 00:19:52.379 So I kind of adapted to his philosophy, right? 00:19:53.180 --> 00:19:54.599 But I pondered these things for a while. 00:19:54.660 --> 00:19:55.119 I was amazed. 00:19:56.200 --> 00:19:59.000 How is it that this man is able to live his life like this? 00:19:59.700 --> 00:20:01.799 Has he gotten rid of all his possessions? 00:20:01.900 --> 00:20:03.019 Does he just never buy anything? 00:20:04.700 --> 00:20:05.579 Then one day, 00:20:05.960 --> 00:20:09.039 I went down into the basement of the house, 00:20:09.059 --> 00:20:10.240 which I'd never been in before, 00:20:10.940 --> 00:20:13.200 and I discovered the answer. 00:20:13.200 --> 00:20:16.940 Why was this man so clean? 00:20:17.039 --> 00:20:19.420 Because everything was stashed in the basement. 00:20:19.539 --> 00:20:20.240 There were boxes. 00:20:20.779 --> 00:20:20.940 Okay. 00:20:21.200 --> 00:20:22.819 There were random odds and ends. 00:20:22.920 --> 00:20:24.700 There were things that weren't being used. 00:20:25.039 --> 00:20:26.580 You name it, sports equipment. 00:20:26.840 --> 00:20:28.620 It was all down there in the basement. 00:20:28.759 --> 00:20:31.160 And so I understood finally what was going on, right? 00:20:32.059 --> 00:20:34.440 It's not that this man didn't have junk. 00:20:35.259 --> 00:20:37.500 It's that he knew where to hide it. 00:20:38.880 --> 00:20:39.400 Okay. 00:20:39.400 --> 00:20:39.500 Okay. 00:20:41.259 --> 00:20:43.820 Jesus is telling us here in this passage, 00:20:44.060 --> 00:20:45.780 everyone has junk. 00:20:48.019 --> 00:20:50.420 It's just some people have figured out 00:20:50.420 --> 00:20:53.060 how and where to hide it. 00:20:55.860 --> 00:20:57.580 Everyone is a sinner. 00:20:58.960 --> 00:21:00.240 Some people know they are. 00:21:00.420 --> 00:21:01.060 Others don't. 00:21:02.140 --> 00:21:04.180 The Pharisees are convinced, right? 00:21:04.220 --> 00:21:06.580 The Pharisees are convinced that they're good and righteous 00:21:06.579 --> 00:21:10.039 because they have figured out where and how to hide things. 00:21:10.579 --> 00:21:13.000 They make sure they don't associate with the wrong people. 00:21:13.000 --> 00:21:16.619 They make sure things that people can see are done well and precisely. 00:21:17.079 --> 00:21:18.500 They're tithing not just on their money. 00:21:18.599 --> 00:21:20.579 They're tithing on their spices, 00:21:21.359 --> 00:21:23.579 as we see at one point in the gospel. 00:21:25.119 --> 00:21:27.159 And so some people find religion, 00:21:27.299 --> 00:21:29.279 and there's no repentance. 00:21:29.500 --> 00:21:30.639 There's no heart change. 00:21:30.720 --> 00:21:33.199 They just know how to rearrange the furniture. 00:21:33.200 --> 00:21:36.799 They just know what to move where 00:21:36.799 --> 00:21:39.860 so things are more acceptable than before. 00:21:40.019 --> 00:21:42.319 They've figured out what to hide and how to hide it. 00:21:42.380 --> 00:21:45.140 They have mastered certain external behaviors, 00:21:45.299 --> 00:21:47.100 but the heart has not changed. 00:21:48.519 --> 00:21:50.840 This is the sort of person who's figured out 00:21:50.840 --> 00:21:53.440 that if they never use profanity, 00:21:53.519 --> 00:21:54.799 no one will question their words, 00:21:55.240 --> 00:21:57.340 but they continue to gossip around 00:21:57.340 --> 00:21:58.860 about people behind their backs 00:21:58.860 --> 00:22:00.380 and stab them with their words. 00:22:00.380 --> 00:22:03.380 They've mastered something easy and external, 00:22:03.740 --> 00:22:05.680 but their heart has not changed in any way. 00:22:06.440 --> 00:22:09.040 The yard is perfect and the car is waxed, 00:22:09.040 --> 00:22:13.100 and there's all kinds of strife and abuse in the house. 00:22:15.100 --> 00:22:18.440 Self-righteousness can rearrange the furniture 00:22:18.440 --> 00:22:19.680 so things look better. 00:22:20.820 --> 00:22:23.600 Self-righteousness can put certain things in the basement 00:22:23.600 --> 00:22:25.280 so that no one can see it. 00:22:26.080 --> 00:22:29.740 Self-righteousness cannot change or transform the heart. 00:22:29.740 --> 00:22:32.019 That is something that only comes 00:22:32.019 --> 00:22:33.839 with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 00:22:34.019 --> 00:22:36.079 That is something that he offers to those 00:22:36.079 --> 00:22:38.579 and only to those who know and admit and confess 00:22:38.579 --> 00:22:41.200 that they are sick in need of a Savior. 00:22:42.380 --> 00:22:46.700 Those are the ones that Jesus comes to help and clean up. 00:22:48.539 --> 00:22:50.099 Those are the ones he's come for 00:22:50.099 --> 00:22:52.420 because those who are well have no need of a physician, 00:22:53.019 --> 00:22:53.880 but those who are sick. 00:22:53.880 --> 00:22:56.980 And so the self-righteous make sure 00:22:56.980 --> 00:23:00.240 the junk and the sin in their lives is basement junk. 00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:04.160 It's junk that no one gets to see. 00:23:05.520 --> 00:23:06.940 But when Jesus comes, 00:23:07.100 --> 00:23:09.400 he comes to take a look in the closet 00:23:09.400 --> 00:23:11.100 and to take a look in the basement. 00:23:13.020 --> 00:23:15.860 Jesus comes to see not just what's in the entryway 00:23:15.860 --> 00:23:17.300 in the family room and the living room. 00:23:17.800 --> 00:23:19.660 Jesus comes to see what's in the bathroom 00:23:19.660 --> 00:23:20.800 and the bedroom and the closet. 00:23:22.440 --> 00:23:25.800 And when the final accounts are made, 00:23:26.279 --> 00:23:28.540 what Jesus knows is that in every house, 00:23:29.060 --> 00:23:30.620 there's a pile of junk. 00:23:33.820 --> 00:23:36.720 And so do we understand God's grace or not? 00:23:36.820 --> 00:23:38.360 Are we offended by it? 00:23:38.940 --> 00:23:42.259 Then we believe we don't have anything to hide. 00:23:42.259 --> 00:23:44.960 If we're honest, 00:23:45.079 --> 00:23:47.900 we know we have all sorts of things to hide. 00:23:48.740 --> 00:23:51.539 And we invite Jesus to come and see it 00:23:51.539 --> 00:23:53.539 and to help us begin to clean up. 00:23:55.259 --> 00:23:58.039 Jesus comes to save sinners. 00:24:00.019 --> 00:24:03.839 Jesus has come for the sick, not the well. 00:24:05.059 --> 00:24:08.400 He's come not for righteous, but for sinners. 00:24:08.400 --> 00:24:12.280 Will you show him your basement? 00:24:14.340 --> 00:24:15.800 Will you let him into the closet? 00:24:18.280 --> 00:24:19.259 Who is Jesus? 00:24:20.080 --> 00:24:22.480 Jesus is the one who picks people we wouldn't. 00:24:23.960 --> 00:24:26.480 Jesus overlooks the good and he seeks out sinners. 00:24:28.060 --> 00:24:29.440 How do we respond to him? 00:24:29.540 --> 00:24:31.500 We know that we are not the righteous, 00:24:31.740 --> 00:24:32.840 but the unrighteous. 00:24:34.280 --> 00:24:36.220 There are no good people. 00:24:36.220 --> 00:24:39.279 Some people are just better at hiding it than others. 00:24:40.279 --> 00:24:43.819 Jesus has come for people that know they need his help 00:24:43.819 --> 00:24:46.259 and they're willing to show him the basements 00:24:46.259 --> 00:24:47.819 and closets of their lives, 00:24:47.960 --> 00:24:49.480 no matter how bad they are. 00:24:50.819 --> 00:24:53.880 Are you willing to take Jesus there? 00:24:55.839 --> 00:24:58.079 Are you willing to show him the dark places 00:24:58.079 --> 00:24:59.920 and the hidden places? 00:25:01.299 --> 00:25:04.259 I ask you that because Jesus says this, 00:25:04.259 --> 00:25:06.920 those who are well have no need of a physician, 00:25:07.440 --> 00:25:08.480 but those who are sick. 00:25:09.240 --> 00:25:11.859 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners. 00:25:12.339 --> 00:25:12.920 Let's pray. 00:25:14.500 --> 00:25:16.720 Our Father in heaven, we praise you 00:25:16.720 --> 00:25:19.379 and thank you that you have come to save sinners, 00:25:19.500 --> 00:25:20.339 sinners like us. 00:25:21.019 --> 00:25:24.019 We ask that you would show us our need, 00:25:24.259 --> 00:25:26.539 that you'd give us the grace to be willing to admit it, 00:25:26.960 --> 00:25:28.759 and you would show us how you meet us 00:25:28.759 --> 00:25:30.240 at that very same point of need, 00:25:30.480 --> 00:25:32.700 that you have come to save us. 00:25:32.700 --> 00:25:34.779 We ask that you'd grow us in our humility 00:25:34.779 --> 00:25:36.559 and our joy in understanding your grace, 00:25:36.640 --> 00:25:37.940 that we would know more and more 00:25:37.940 --> 00:25:39.940 that we have nothing to offer you, 00:25:40.059 --> 00:25:41.299 and we would know more and more 00:25:41.299 --> 00:25:43.700 that you offer everything to us. 00:25:44.180 --> 00:25:45.600 We thank you for that reason, 00:25:45.680 --> 00:25:47.100 that we can ask these things, 00:25:47.539 --> 00:25:48.580 not on our own power, 00:25:48.680 --> 00:25:50.259 but in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. 00:25:50.559 --> 00:25:50.779 Amen. 00:25:50.779 --> 00:25:50.920 Amen. 00:25:50.920 --> 00:25:50.980 Amen. 00:25:50.980 --> 00:25:51.000 Amen. 00:25:51.000 --> 00:25:51.019 Amen.