In 1908 an archaeologist discovered, in a Chinese cave on the Silk Road, an image of Christ with Asian features, because every culture, and each of us, tries to fit Jesus into its own imagination. This sermon from the Gospel of Mark (Mark 2) shows a Jesus who escapes every mold: he calls a tax collector, sits at table with sinners, and places the human being above religious rules. It turns out the real Jesus is greater than our expectations and religious habits. Listen and let him introduce himself to you as he really is.
Discussion questions
For your small group or for personal reflection after the sermon.
- Why were the people of Capernaum scandalized that Jesus ate with Levi and other tax collectors, and what does his answer about the doctor and the sick reveal about why he came (Mark 2:13-17)?
- When the Pharisees ask about his disciples not fasting, what is Jesus trying to say through the images of a new patch on an old garment and new wine in old wineskins (Mark 2:18-22)?
- The speaker suggests Jesus' words about the doctor have a hidden layer: maybe the religious are not as healthy as they think. In what areas do you easily see yourself as healthier than others?
- The Pharisees kept looking for faults, yet stayed silent when Jesus asked whether it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath. What do you think lies behind that attitude, and how does it show up among believers today?
- What personal expectations or religious patterns tempt you to put Jesus in your own box, and how do they differ from the Jesus we meet in Mark's Gospel?
- Who around you do you treat like a tax collector you would rather not share a table with, and what concrete step of grace can you take toward that person this week?
