Jesus Calls The Unexpected
Photo by Free Walking Tour Salzburg on Unsplash
What kinds of people does Jesus call to follow him as his students? Who does Jesus choose to be his followers?
While many teachers wait for the very best and the most eager students to flock to them, to follow them, and to sit under their teaching, Rabbi Jesus goes out to unlikely places and chooses the most unexpected and the most unlikely candidates to follow him.
Rabbi Jesus chooses his followers from the most unexpected pool of people, and from the most unexpected places. Jesus chooses the most unlikely people to follow him—he chooses people like you and me.
Matthew tells us his personal testimony of Jesus calling the him—an unexpected tax collector—in his gospel account. Matthew writes, “As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he rose and followed him.” (Matthew 9:9, ESV).
Tax collectors were hated and despised by the Jews of the first century. For Jesus, a Jewish rabbi, calling a tax collector was unexpected and was an unorthodox choice. Jesus calls the unexpected to follow him.
When questioned about his choice of followers, the religious leaders questioned Jesus concerning his methodology and decision making.
Matthew tells us, “And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?’” (Matthew 9:10-11, ESV).
The calling of the unexpected and the unlikely by Jesus offended the religious leaders. The most expected and the most likely were the most offended and bothered by Jesus compassionate and loving calling of the unexpected tax collectors and sinners.
When Jesus saw the Jewish leaders’ reaction, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matthew 9:12-13, ESV).
No matter who we are, and no matter what we have done, we can be encouraged and have great hope in Jesus who calls the unexpected. We can find the healing we need, because Jesus calls the sick. We can be of great courage, because Jesus offers mercy. We can rest at ease and look for forgiveness, because Jesus calls sinners like us to follow him.
May we have hope in our hopelessness and may we be assured in the grace of Jesus, who calls the unexpected sinner, and may we “arise and follow Jesus.”
In Christ alone, Robbie
A Collect For The Presence Of Christ: “Lord Jesus, stay with us, for evening is at hand and the day is past; be our companion in the way, kindle our hearts, and awaken hope, that we may know you as you are revealed in Scripture and the breaking of bread. Grant this for the sake of your love. Amen.” (Book of Common Prayer, 2019).
Photo by Free Walking Tour Salzburg on Unsplash
