MARK 2:13-17 MEDITATION - Part 1
Introduction
This is one of those passages of Scripture that require a little knowledge of the religious, social, political and historical context of the time to appreciate its full impact.
At the time of Jesus Israel was under Roman occupation which began in 63 BC. There are several reminders of this occupation in the Gospel for example when Jesus said, looking at a Roman coin, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” It is also seen in the healing of the centurion’s servant (Luke 7:1-10). Jesus before Pilate, the fifth governor of the Roman province of Judaea, provides us with yet another reminder of Roman occupation.
Taxes were normally collected by Roman officials but toll taxes for the transportation of goods were entrusted to the publicans or Jewish tax collectors. Capernaum was a frontier area and an important commercial, trading and fishing centre and so customs taxes were collected there. It was the custom among tax collectors (publicans), such as Levi, to collect the taxes due and overcharge, pocketing the difference. They were notorious, not only for betraying their nation by collaborating with the occupier, the Roman civil authorities, but also for their dishonest practices. These tax collectors were hated and were social and religious outcasts. They were banned from worship in the synagogue because considered unclean. They were considered traitors and were the object of widespread contempt.
Jesus went out again
The crowd followed Jesus but Jesus moved on in Mark 1:37. He returned to Capernaum and healed the paralytic and the crowd was there (Mark 2:4). Now, still in Capernaum, he goes out “he went out again beside the sea” (v. 13), the Sea of Galilee. The crowd quickly gathers (v. 13). He was already something of a celebrity due to the many miracles worked on previous occasions. His miracles create the occasion for teaching announcing the coming of the Kingdom, which was why he came (Mark 1:38).
The crowd gathered for what they could get, either healing or to satisfy their desire to witness further miracles, a form of entertainment. They were not seeking Jesus for himself. This prompts John to tell us he did not entrust himself to the crowd (John 2:24).
We might ask ourselves why we seek Jesus. For what we can get? For his gifts? Or to enjoy his presence and to learn how to become true disciples? In our religious practices are we God-centred or self-centred? We need to ask ourselves that vital question because sometimes even our religious practices and prayers can be self-centred. They were ‘coming to him’ did not Jesus say “come to me all you who are overburdened”? Yes, he did, but to get rest and healing for spirit, soul and body, not for entertainment. Whatever the reason, Jesus never misses a chance to teach, although he speaks to the crowds in parables “This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand” (Matthew 13:13, 15).
The call: “The voice of the Lord is powerful” (Psalm 29:4)
The crowd sought Jesus, but Jesus sought one particular individual who was not part of the crowd, the publican Levi, the hated tax collector, the social outcast. Jesus not only dedicates time to the crowd but also to the individual. No one can say ‘Jesus is not interested in me’. Each one of us can identify with Levi, he represents each one of us and yet each one of us is precious in the eyes of the Father. Sometimes we forget it is the Father that dwells in Jesus that calls Levi and each one of us to discipleship. It is that Father who speaks and acts through Jesus:
“Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works” (John 14:10).
“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him” (John 6:44).
Jesus wants to establish a long term relationship with Levi and also with each one of us. Let us note how things develop. Jesus is with the crowd teaching; he could well have enjoyed the popularity but he moves on: “as he passed by”. Levi is sitting there, comfortably settled down and going about his business of collecting taxes in his office, his ‘booth’. He was focusing on his job, just as we would expect, when Jesus draws near to him and singles him out from all those he had met that day. Jesus ‘saw’ Levi, apparently by chance but Jesus was no stranger to this town; he knew of the tax booth and also of Levi whom no one could stomach. On a daily basis, Levi could only relate to those who disliked him. Not a happy relational situation to be in! Many times he must have felt the full weight of isolation and anxiety bearing down upon him. He must have felt very constrained in his 'booth', symbolic of the social constraints imposed upon him. A hated man, banned from the synagogue and respectable society because considered unclean. He has friends only among his fellow tax collectors and other ‘sinners’ (v. 15).
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Mark 2:13-17 Text and Questions
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