Day 283, or October the 10th. Don't look down
your nose like that. Our thoughts today are from
Mark chapter 2, verse 17. On hearing this, Jesus
said to them, It is not the healthy who need
a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call
the righteous, but sinners. And now the big picture
surrounding this verse. Mark is by far the shortest
gospel in the Bible, traditionally thought to
have been written by Mark with considerable input
from Peter. It's been described as Peter's recollections
written by Mark. This is an interesting perspective
when you read of the vulnerable humanity of Peter.
Significantly, lots of people will tell you that
Peter is their favourite disciple because he
is so human. Mark takes no time to record anything
in Jesus' life until he is a man, and the first
chapter is filled with a record of his baptism,
his first words, the calling of the first disciples,
and several healings. The first four chapters
cover about a third of the earthly ministry of
Jesus. It is thought Mark, which is a Roman name,
was writing for his fellow Romans, who tended
to be instant people. wanting things done immediately,
not unlike us. And now, today's action step.
I recall seeing a wayside pulpit many years ago
that read, Only sinners are welcome here. How
would you feel if you walked past this declaration
each time you attended church? Am I sounding
very middle class? As someone who was born and
grew up on a council estate in the northeast
of England, the idea of being middle class never
entered my head, but I am convinced that the
values which should mark out all believers tend
to make many of us look middle class. That doesn't
give me problems as long as our mission field
is not restricted. I constantly need reminding
that Jesus died for those people who litter the
streets. drop chewing gum all over the place,
and dress for church as though they'd just finished
repairing the car after a full day in the garden.
Sorry. Jesus came for the respectable and unrespectable
alike, and we all need to remember that every
day.