"A New Opportunity" (Mark 2:18-28)

Introduction

What a wonderful opportunity the Gospel gives us! New life in Christ … forgiven, saved, refocussed. But, of course, this is NOT just a personal thing. The Gospel of Jesus also brings with it the potential for the best experience of community imaginable. We now call that community … “the church”. Let’s look at this text at Mark chapter 2 verses 18-28. Clearly Jesus is distinguishing between old and new … old ways and new opportunities. Now this was very in-your-face, direct, and confrontative teaching, which just can’t be watered down or treated trivially.

Overview

Some people were wondering why Jesus didn’t have his disciples fasting when other religious people were fasting. Interestingly, it was general observers of certain religious behaviour that were asking the question! What is this all about, and why the difference? Why do you do what you do, or indeed don’t do certain things? “Why”? A good question deserving of an answer! Why do we do what we do … in preference to other things? Do we think about that? Jesus gave an answer that suggested that he, and therefore the Gospel, was not bound to rituals, especially if those rituals lacked meaning or relevance or the proper timing.

Nothing wrong with “fasting” – in the right time and for the right purpose, connected with repentance or discernment … fasting can be helpful. Yet not at this moment in time when Jesus was very personally launching a new kingdom. Fasting should not be a ritual that is blindly applied, but rather be a response to circumstances as led by the Holy Spirit. This was clearly the time to hang on Jesus’ every word, and reflect on his every action. Generally speaking, what Jesus is dealing with here, are forms and rituals that have been set in concrete and lost all relevance. They are being done for their own sakes (and maybe for selfish reasons) … devoid of real purpose and unconnected to mission. Jesus confronted this, for often adherence to ritual is connected to avoidance of change. You may have met people … who can have something reasonably explained, but will still never change their views. The point being made, is that while there are open doors of ministry (in the company of Jesus) … where there is a window of opportunity … get on with it!

So first … certain rituals can get in the way. Then (from verses 21-22), we think we can tack a bit of the new onto the old, and that will be good enough. We think we can keep what we like of the old and have the best of the new, and sort of hold that all together. This doesn’t work … not for long … not with any real growth … eventually it all falls apart. We wonder why some people have come to faith, seemed strong for a while, and then faded away. Here is the answer … there were new patches being sown on old cloaks, or new wine being poured into old wineskins. Implosion awaits! There is a complete lack of discipleship. This is tragic. We don’t judge those like this, we pray for them – that they will gain a new vision of Jesus … such that they leave the ‘old’ behind completely. Jesus is far too extraordinary (and revolutionary) to be restricted to “old wineskins”.

And then (from verses 23-28), Jesus would oppose any practices that blocked people’s access to God. There are certain rules we want to apply, that tend to quench life and block ministry and restrict neighbourliness. The Pharisees took that glorious idea of ‘Sabbath’ rest, and put rules around it, so that the people of the time couldn’t even pluck some grain. Even King David, many centuries before, had to break rules like this when starvation was a possible outcome. The ‘Sabbath’ was never meant to have a negative threat attached to it, rather it was designed to help facilitate healthy life – it was to give time to rest from normal responsibilities to celebrate and worship God. Jesus came to refocus us on what is central in responding to God in the world. Not rules, not empty ritual, but … spiritual freedom, inner healing and a new community. A few heads of grain … really!! Such a small issue compared with Jesus being in town!

Two Applications – personal and collective

We need to open ourselves totally to God. When we accept that great gift of Jesus from the cross … of grace and forgiveness … we need to give God’s Spirit access to everything. There will be guilt, and maybe some shame, to be dealt with … and Jesus is certainly up for that. There will be past hurts, the need to forgive others, and forgive ourselves … we can give all this to Jesus. We might carry all sorts of baggage about the church, God’s people here and there, and even God himself … but there is nothing that Jesus can’t apply grace and love to.

We can tinker with our lives (in our own strength), but still never really get anywhere; or, much better, we go for a total rebuild through God’s Spirit. This might still take a while … happen progressively over time, but we need to decide to go to the starting line. We can lay it out there … what needs to change, confess our sins to one another, and draw much needed community support. Band-aids just won’t cut it – they get wet, wear out, lose their adhesiveness, and fall off. To use yet another analogy … we wouldn’t pour beautiful clean water into dirty bottles. We would not want to cause this level of waste.

A bit of a patch-up job will not be enough. The new patch shrinks and breaks away from the old coat; and as the gases of the new fermenting wine expand, the old wineskin that lacks elasticity … it bursts. If we want to thrive, we can’t contain Jesus to old outmoded “wineskins”, or try to use him as a patch here and there on the problem areas of our lives. We might want to choose what we are still comfortable with, and what we will give Jesus access to; but Jesus doesn’t want to be our occasional ‘Mr Fix-it’, but rather our Saviour and Lord – thoroughly transforming us from the inside-out.

I was a little shocked listening to our friend Michael McCoy talk on “Dream Gardens” last Thursday night, when he agreed with the wisdom of levelling a seemingly decent cottage garden to make way for a very expensive contemporary garden with elaborate pool. On the spot, Michael felt that the old garden was tired and had reached its use-by-date; and that a grander vision which opened the house to a much larger view of the surrounding scenery, was very worthy. Rather than trying to remodel what is broken down or out-of-date, which probably never worked too well for us anyway, we need something entirely new. Jesus cannot be squeezed into old ways – rather he asks new questions and invites new faith.

Churches over the years have got stuck too … stuck in the past. Things that once worked have become deeply entrenched, and still abide even though they don’t work anymore. Things that are peripheral have worked their way to the centre. Just like in Jesus’ time, we can wrap ourselves up in non-essentials, and thus miss where the Spirit is really leading. We might call certain patterns of church ‘old forms’ or ‘old school’, but perhaps certain patterns should never have been there in the first place. What is really worldly and has no place in Christian community? From the fourth century, when the Christian church became politically acceptable and then nationally endorsed, all sorts of things crept in. The church, rather than being the missional movement it was meant to be, has sometimes looked more like an exclusive club – a place where we might push for superiority or fight for our personal preferences.

An exciting movement of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, has been often reduced to an institution that exists simply for its own survival. Rather than building the church on the foundation of Jesus, there is a shuffling of the deckchairs on the “Titanic”. We miss the point that the church is something we become, something together we are, not something we go to (whether regularly or occasionally). Christine Caine puts this most bluntly: Don’t turn church into an institution that competes for your time. It’s not something you go to. The church is who you are. You can’t have a relationship with God outside of His church, because you are born again into His church. That nails things very well.

Do we take this too lightly? Even with the demands of life, as they are, is this the most pertinent challenge we face?? How can we totally reorientate our thinking? What is at stake? Just the integrity of our whole sharing of the ‘good news’. [And this is what our elders and board of deacons have been turning their mind to.] New community, based on the ‘Gospel’ of Jesus, has to be well-modelled. It can’t be a sort of patch-up job, hoping that nobody notices. What we say is ‘good news’, has to actually be ‘good news’. The church, any church, needs to have the Holy Spirit sweep through it. Yet, as we are the church, Christ’s body, all being significant component parts … each of us needs that filling of the Holy Spirit that Jesus offers. The health of the church depends on our openness to a work of God in our lives. This would deal with any suggestion or possibility of just doing our own independent thing.

This is not to say that we are confined to church only – far from it. Most of our mission and ministry as Jesus-followers happens when we are dispersed through the activities of our daily lives. Yet, as part of the ‘body of Christ’, when dispersed throughout most of our lives, we represent not only Jesus, but also his bride … the church. It’s easy to run down certain churches at certain times, but it is much better to be part of setting a higher watermark. Just like that old song (based on good scripture), “We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord; and they will know we are Christians by our love”. And of course this relates to how we view other local churches: “And we pray that our unity will one day be restored”.

A New Opportunity

The great thing is, and we can see this as a great thing, rather than spend all our energy resisting it … that in a very different cultural climate than generations past, we can now present Jesus as one who people are likely to be meeting for the first time (just like in the early church). As Jesus was new then, he is new now! People we encounter, or seek to befriend, may have some negative baggage about the church, but are likely coming to Jesus fresh. It is up to us to present Jesus in an unencumbered way, free of all the ‘tack-ons’.

Jesus seeks to simply draw alongside people, love them, bring them forgiveness, call them to discipleship, bring them into his church, and give them the Holy Spirit. They don’t have to believe what we believe until God prepares them and they are ready. They only need to know that God loves them, and we love them. The practice of love is our only ritual; not criticism, not fault-finding; only encouragement. If we expect others to come and join, we better have our modelling right.

As has been said often, we live in challenging, and sometimes confusing, times. We need the Holy Spirit’s guidance in discerning the difference between engaging the world (which is good) and adopting the world (which has always been problematical). What is healthy, and what might need to be critiqued? We don’t need the government’s help – they are more likely to get in the way of authentic mission (just like it worked out in the fourth century). We only need Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and each other.

The wholly “new creation” … which is us in community … will be experienced by seeing the fruit of the Spirit, concern for the well-being of others, love for God and neighbour, and a commitment to worshipping and serving God together. A new opportunity!

"Expressing Community" (Mark 2:13-17)

1. A Return to Community (2:13-14)

Early in his ministry, Jesus was walking along, by the sea, and noticed a tax-collector named Levi sitting at his tax office. Levi would have been contracted by the Roman government to collect transport tolls or sales taxes on goods passing through this trade route. Tax collectors, like Levi, were generally hated, because they collaborated with the Romans, who were brutal in extracting tax from the poor. Also, these tax collectors would often charge more than they needed to, and pocketed the extra.

Jesus had previously called four fisherman to follow him as disciples, somewhat unexpected choices, due to their less than spectacular occupation. Jesus looked beyond any pre-conceived notions or appearances, and more deeply into character and potential. However, here, Jesus is calling one who may be considered completely unsuitable, the complete opposite of what might be considered an appropriate disciple. Levi would also have been regarded as spiritually ‘unclean’, because of his constant contact with gentiles, and failure to keep to the purity laws.

However, this was NO problem for Jesus! This should be of great assurance to us; for anytime we feel unworthy of grace, we can know that Jesus loves us and has called us into his service anyway (and trusts us with his mission in the world)! “God’s love does not depend upon the object of its love being worthy or deserving, but wholly upon what God is in Himself” i.e. love (Art Katz). If we think of ourselves as one piece of a jigsaw puzzle – let’s do that – Jesus always sees how this jigsaw piece will fit … and help complete the picture that he sees. God knows that the puzzle will be incomplete without our piece; this is why we are so actively sought. Jesus sees positive things in people beyond their current lifestyle and how others may judge them. Jesus was vitally interested in Levi’s life, and what he could bring to the mix! So whereas most would have responded to Levi with a, ‘no’, Jesus starts with a ‘yes’! Jesus sees beyond a lot of rubbish and baggage … to an actual ‘image-bearer’ of God.

And Jesus didn’t just ask this tax-collector Levi to follow him privately – this was right in front of a large crowd. We read in verse 13, that Jesus had been teaching the crowd by the sea. One wonders what particularly Jesus was teaching the crowd that day! Perhaps more about the forgiveness of God that had been on display in the previous passage (in response to the faith of the four guys who lowered a paralysed man through the roof of the house where Jesus was). In any case, Jesus was going to teach in action, by going up to Levi, and cast aside all thought of his past and present sin – and invite Levi to follow him!! It’s just as if Jesus, to underline his authority to forgive sins, picks out the biggest outcast he could find!

This was not an anonymous insignificant event. Levi was not only a notorious tax-collector, but also an identifiable person – the son of Alphaeus. Word would spread about this! One wonders whether Jesus had noticed Levi previously, and had discerned that this was a person who would respond instantly and thoroughly when called. We could understand that God had been preparing for this encounter ahead of time, by speaking into Levi’s life. We could also consider that Levi may well have become very uncomfortable with his way of life, and any habit he had of unjustly treating people. Even though he likely hadn’t talked about it, Levi may well have desired something different. Here was Levi’s opportunity to change his entire life orientation!

The good news of Jesus is for all people. And potential leadership in the Kingdom of God is also open to all those who will leave their past behind as a new creation (led by the Holy Spirit). This is exciting stuff … Levi got up from his “tax booth”, left his old life behind, and began following Jesus. Out of this, was NOT only a new personal relationship with Jesus, but a whole lot more!?! What would this include?? The only friends Levi was likely to have had … were other tax-collectors, and how much could they ever be trusted or confided in! What sometimes pretends to be community, is not really community at all. Levi had been rejected from his natural community due to his collaboration with the Romans. He could not enter any place of worship because he was regarded ‘ceremonially impure’ – an ‘unacceptable sinner’.

Levi was NOT wanted among his own people; and thus he has lost his sense of community. And this is a large problem! We have all been made in God’s image. And as God is community (of three persons), we have therefore all been designed to live relationally in community. Without community we are not really alive. “Community is deeply grounded in the nature of God” (Bilezikian). Those who try to live privately, are pushing against their very design. And, when our community is fractured, we suffer for it. Social commentator, Hugh Mackay, recently wrote, in a brilliant article on this theme: “… when we lose sight of our role as neighbours, the health of the neighbourhood suffers; and when the health of the neighbourhood suffers, we all suffer”. Lack of social connection and a sense of belonging, produces anxiety.

There are many, through the centuries since Levi, who have found themselves, for a variety of reasons, excluded from community. And, they have NOT been able to find a pathway back. Often this has been because of their brokenness, and society’s inability to deal with that level of brokenness. In New Testament times, there was leprosy, various problems described as demon-possession, and disabilities (like blindness) that led to poverty. This led to the absence of community in these sufferers lives. Now we have a mental health epidemic, drug-addiction, homelessness, family breakdown, many struggling with cancer, and an aging demographic where there can often be isolation and loneliness. There are also many people trying to deal with past abuse or neglect, which often results in pushing the people away who can never quite understand.

So, when Jesus said, “follow me” to Levi, this wasn’t just an invitation to personal salvation, but also an invitation back into community. Accepting this invitation, gave Levi a new sense of acceptance and value, and ushered him back towards community – the most exciting part of this being … the new community of those following Jesus. Jesus, as he shared the good news of the Kingdom, sought to provide a new sense of community. For those who have responded positively to the good news today, there should be a new sense of community available to them … amongst other disciples of Jesus … in the church.

How so?? What should the church be able to offer??? Love, acceptance, support, sharing burdens, concerted prayer, counsel, encouragement, forgiveness, healing, reconciliation, renewal, company, friendship, shared experiences, generosity, common purpose, a general appreciation of diversity. As Levi closed the door of his tax office, never to return, he not only gained new life, but also a new community … within the band of Jesus-followers. Here, among God’s people, Levi not only gained the benefits of community and fellowship, but also the knowledge that he was important, valued, and irreplaceable as one of God’s unique ‘jigsaw pieces’. Our worship of God is made authentic through nurturing meaningful relationships that build community.

2. An Expression of Community (2:15-17)

I guess, after such a momentous change of direction, like Levi experienced, there would be some sort of gathering at Levi’s house … that would involve his new best friend Jesus. Probably a big celebration dinner, that was likely to get a bit noisy with newfound excitement. Levi was lost, but now he was found! From Jesus’ point of view, we know that he had the intention of meeting with as many lost and broken people as he could. Thus Jesus was most happy to receive some hospitality there that day! And of course, in that culture, sharing a meal was the most intimate of activity. This was a sign of trust, and offer of peace. Because of this relational intimacy, dinner guests were normally chosen very carefully, and this was what upset “the scribes of the Pharisees” that day.  

As mentioned earlier, those regarded as “sinners”, especially by the Pharisee types, were thought of this way, not just because of any immorality, but because they were unable, for various reasons, to fulfil their religious obligations. Yet, these were exactly the people that Jesus wanted to meet with and share the good news of the Kingdom. For they were lost in life, and missing community! They knew they were sick, and they wanted to see a ‘doctor’! They were open for change, not arrogantly resistant. They knew they needed new friends, and new hope, and they congregated around where Jesus (and his disciples) were eating dinner (at Levi’s house).

This would have rendered Jesus ‘ritually impure’ as well, but Jesus didn’t care about such classifications. Jesus actually stands AGAINST those that negate God’s offer of grace to “sinners” … blocking their path to freedom. God hasn’t given up on anyone! Jesus may have thought to himself that day, ‘How am I going to connect with the lost and lonely of Capernaum’? ‘I know’, he said, ‘I’ll go and present myself to that hardened tax-collector Levi … and if he responds, this could mean … being given the opportunity to connect with so many more like him’! Brilliant!! An entry point had been created! Jesus unreservedly attended the dinner at Levi’s house, and began building relationships with all the others who turned up. Of course he did!!

This had become a natural place of connection, and Jesus enthusiastically walked through the door. Jesus’ disciples were with him too – Peter, Andrew, James, John – now joined by Levi, and many unnamed others … and they may have been a bit uncomfortable or intimidated by this gathering, and with what the ‘Pharisee types’ were saying. But they were being trained on the job by Jesus. For these disciples, this may have required slowing down to look beyond labels and stereo-types to recognise the image of God in the other guests. These disciples were part of modelling a new style of community to the gathered guests. This was a type of community that brings healing from past hurts and exclusions. This was a community that was based, not around minute points of religious law, but rather around the dynamics of love, grace and forgiveness.

So, in being with our neighbours, and sometimes being able to share the good news of Jesus with them, we also get to share a new vision of community. This new and different community … is NOT about getting the best for ourselves, or just about self-help, but rather about changing the world to the way God wants it to be – there is a big vision attached! In time we might get to invite and welcome them into this very alternative expression of community. We might do strange things in their eyes, like sing worship songs, and pray, but the integrity, sincerity and effectiveness of this, should shine out with an intense light (into the darkness that often pervades people’s lives).

To best express community outside the walls of the church, we need to grow in our expression of community … with those that we already gather and fellowship with. Then as we take this inspired view of community out, it has more integrity and is more relationally mature. As we learn to love and support each other through all our uniqueness, eccentricities and various ways of dealing with many past experiences, we are becoming the diverse yet unified church that Jesus prayed for. The church can be the most complimentary team imaginable – bringing together so much varied life experience, with the Holy Spirit dispersing all the effective ministry gifts … for the common good!! As our collective faith is allowed to shape us, people will notice. As we live out credible community, this will be respected. As we are known for depth and wisdom (that comes from Jesus), the church will be relevant. Questions will be asked. The Holy Spirit can guide the answers.

We cannot bemoan society the way it is, unless we (collectively) are prepared to model an alternative. If we sense that the world is dying around us, then this behoves us to maximise the power of God’s love amongst us, and take it out into the streets. We are called to have a “faithful presence” in our neighbourhood (David Fitch). As Jesus is present with us, and we are present with him, we exercise a “faithful presence” with others. As we know, this means a lot of listening, to others and to God. We need to detect where Jesus has already been (in preparation), and the seat he may be occupying now (which also includes the seat that we are in).

This will always involve a degree of vulnerability and honesty, along with courage and faith. There may be behaviour patterns, as a result of extreme brokenness, that go so far as to repel us. So, this continues to be a matter for ongoing prayer and discernment. Where should we spend our energies and resources?

In my last church, that “faithful presence” community was able to host a dinner for the local CFA brigade. And then having moved our worship service from the CFA to the new community centre, we were able to share the facilities with the local Muslim gathering, creatively navigating our way through all the complexities of this – providing a “faithful presence” for Jesus. There are many efforts of “faithful presence” being exercised here in Bright as well (whether we recognise them as such or not) – in small relational ways, and in formal arrangements e.g. sports chaplaincy; yet we can still be thinking about this even more.