THE KING’S BUSINESS
451
Saviour and physician, and the place for the physician is among the sick or suffer ing, among the lost. Where, then, is the church’s true place? Jesus came to call sinners. He has no invitation of grace for the righteous man. Before a man can get anything from Jesus’ hand, he must take his proper place, that of a sinner, at Jesus’ feet; then he gets all (Luke 18:9-14; 1 Tim. 1:15). Blessed is the sinner who hears the gracious call of Christ to repentance (Acts 2:38; 26:18; Luke 15:7, 10). If the sinner turns a deaf ear to this call, there is no more hope (Luke 13:3). Jesus’ disciples were a joyful company. While Her was with them fasting did not come natural to them. People were nat urally puzzled ; for not only the Pharisees, but John the Baptist’s disciples fasted. They wisely went to Jesus with their perplexity and He solved it. It was not the proper time to fast now: He was “the Bridegroom” and they “sons of the bridechamber,” and their joy in His present companionship for bade fasting, but the time was coming when He would be taken away for a season, then fasting would be in order. We are now “in that day” when fasting is in order. Jesus tells them further not to try to make a patch-work of the New Gospel and the old Law; it would bring harm to both. It is just such a patchwork that many are trying to foist upon the people as the real Gospel. Monday, May 31. Mark 2:18-22.
Sunday, May 30. Mark 2:15-17.
Levijnade a great feast at his house (Luke 5:29). Jesus attended this gay party. Levi’s purpose was evidently not to display his wealth, or even merely to honor his new found Master. ' Rather he sought to get hold of his old business associates and friends. He succeeded, for “many publicans and sinners sat down with Jesus.” The publi cans and sinners were welcome to the com panionship of Jesus here on earth a»d there will be a great multitude who were once publicans and sinners w.ho will sit down with Him in the glory. Jesus associated with publicans and sinners in order to, save them. We can never save them unless we imitate the Master’s example. But in as sociating with them, we must be careful to do it for the same purpose that He did, or they will drag us dowq rather than we lift- them up. Our Lord directed the conver sation quickly into Gospel channels. The scribes and Pharisees were around as usual to find fault; they did it, not to Himself, but to His disciples, but Jesus heard. He hears all the fault-finding. Bear that in mind. It did look odd at first sight that One who was so pure and holy and who taught such lofty ethics should make friend ship among the abandoned and the vile, but Jesus Himself gives the solution of this enigma, “They that are whole have no need of a physician, but they that are sick.” Jesus was not merely a holy Man and a Teacher of ethics, He was above all the
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