The Jesus Bible Reading Plan / TAX COLLECTORS AND SINNERS

The Jesus Bible Reading Plan

Day 287 of 365 TAX COLLECTORS AND SINNERS Religion that leaves Jesus out of the equation teaches that people can do enough good to earn God's love and acceptance. This kind of religion manipulates the system by putting God in your debt. Religious people have difficulty with Jesus because he challenges their understanding of God and salvation. Too often people believe they can earn their way to heaven, but Jesus came to save people who will never be good enough to save themselves. For people who think too highly of themselves, the free gift of salvation that Jesus offers is offensive. Tragically, people who think they are good enough don't see any need for a Savior. During Jesus' ministry, the people who knew they had problems flocked to him: tax collectors, women of questionable character and others who saw their own desperate need. The religious leaders of his day didn't understand how or why a good, moral religious teacher like Jesus could spend time with such bad people. But Jesus knew that all people, without exception, need saving. As a Good Shepherd, Jesus came to seek and to save the lost (Lk 19:10). Jesus, thank you for rescuing me from the hopeless track of trying to earn salvation. Thank you for the free gift of grace, which I know I could never earn. Amen. Mark 2:13-17 NASB 13 And He went out again by the seashore; and all the people were coming to Him, and He was teaching them. Levi (Matthew) Called 14 As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting in the tax booth, and He said to him, "Follow Me!" And he got up and followed Him. 15 And it happened that He was reclining at the table in his house, and many tax collectors and sinners were dining with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many of them, and they were following Him. 16 When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that He was eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they said to His disciples, "Why is He eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners?" 17 And hearing this, Jesus said to them, " It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners."