You were one of the lucky ones. You arrived early and are now sitting and listening to Jesus preach. Others, not so lucky, are standing outside or hanging in the windows. Suddenly dirt and grass and pebbles begin to fall from the ceiling. A bright light appears as the roof of the house is torn apart. You look up and see four men begin to lower a litter containing their paralyzed friend. (Read the story in Luke 5:17-26)
Luke tells us that the power to heal was present with Jesus. Initially, He forgives the paralyzed man’s sins but after a minor debate with the religious authorities present, Jesus also heals him physically. Then “everyone was gripped with great wonder and awe. And they praised God, saying over and over again, ‘We have seen amazing things today.’” [Luke 5:26 NLT]
They certainly had, but the day was not over. They were about to see something perhaps even more amazing. “Later, as Jesus left the town, he saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at his tax-collection booth. ‘Come, be my disciple!’ Jesus said to him. So Levi got up, left everything, and followed him.” [vs27-28]
A despised tax collector? In those days, tax collectors could gouge as much as they wanted from people over and above what they were required to collect. They were instruments of Rome, hated and shunned. Even though they were Jews, they were treated like the worst kinds of sinners and prostitutes.
And when Jesus saw Levi, He said, “Come, be my disciple!” No one, not even those considered by society to be among the worst kinds of sinners, is beyond the scope of God’s salvation. No one, not Levi, not me, not you. Thank you, Lord Jesus. Amen.
