The life of Jesus – 10
August 21, 2014
Today we continue looking at Jesus and His life. We find Him interacting with a Publican called Levi. Let’s read it first.
Luke 5:27-32 And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me. And he left all, rose up, and followed him. And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them. But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners? And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
There are a few things in this story that stands out. Levi was a publican. In essence he was collecting taxes from the people. He was not someone that was considered to be popular. He was the opposite of what a good religious person would look like. He represented everything that was opposite the norm of accepted and respected. The Pharisees were different. They represented everything that was good and respected. They represented God. Levi represented the Roman government. Levi would be the guy you wanted to avoid hanging out with if you wanted the religious folk to like you. Who does Jesus pick to hang out with?
Jesus goes to the one that has no significance in the eyes of society. He picks the outcast and unsociable. The ones that are looked down upon and pushed out. Jesus finds the ones that needed some affirmation. The Pharisees were looking for the approval of men. Jesus comes and gives Levi the approval of God. What are we looking at when we need approval? We love when people gives us compliments and encourages us. Are we finding our identity in what people say? That might be the greatest risk you will ever take. God sees the heart of men. God knows where you are and what you are struggling with.
The next thing I see is that Levi left all that was familiar to him to follow Jesus. There is no reference that he knew Jesus before this. This is amazing if you think that only afterwards does he sit down with Jesus at his house. What makes a man do this? What makes you desert what is familiar to follow someone you have not met before. The truth is that we all got the same invitation from Jesus when we got saved. We left our old familiar life for a life with Him. The religious folk criticized Jesus because he was at Levi’ house. Jesus is not scared to come where you are if you heed to His call to follow Him. Where were you when you heard His voice? Don’t allow the voice of criticism to intimidate you because you obeyed.
I love that Jesus said that he came to call the sinners to repentance. We can all relate to that. I want to add that repentance is not a once off experience. We are committed to a life of repentance. Repent means to change your mind. We don’t fully have the mind of Christ yet. We renew our minds daily. As we get convicted we repent and move on.
Five kinds of minds in scripture:
The natural mind – IQ
Genesis 2:7 – And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.
- Thoughts that can be good or bad.
- Can be developed in skills and education.
3. Can be the opposition to spiritual things.
The soul-ish mind
2 Corinthians 10:5 – Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
- It is a mind that produces self-motivated ideas. (Sarah and Ismael)
Sarai means “ruler”. When she ruled Abram she acted from the soul wanting Abram to have Hagar and figured a plan that was not from God. When her name was changed to Sarah, (He – fifth letter in Hebrew alphabet that means “grace”), grace was added to her to be able to conceive. We have to be able to hear Jesus. Grace is required to be able to hear from God.
- It tries to understand Biblical truth without the spiritual understanding. John 6:63
The tree of the knowledge of good and evil. It is a mixture of spirit and soul. Not the Tree of Life.
- Likes to manipulate for self gain. (Simon the sorcerer – Acts 8:9-24)
The carnal mind
Romans 8:6-8 – For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
- Is self-centered and against God. (1 Cor. 3:1-4)
- It prefers doing the work of the flesh. (Gal. 5:19-21)
- Is what defiles a man. (Mk. 7:20-23)
The reprobate mind
2 Thessalonians 2:10-11 – And with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie.
1. Hates truth and allows deception.
- Rejects God. (Rom. 1:28)
- Live under a false pretense. (Titus 1:16)
- Resist the truth. (2 Tim. 3:8)
The mind of Christ
The mind every believer has, a mind that is captivated by love for God and love for his fellow man. He does not have the desire to sin but to live in accordance with the Word and to please God.
1 Corinthians 2:16 – We have the mind of Christ.
- This is thoughts that are transformed by renewing through the Word. (Rom 12:2)
- Thoughts coming from your spirit man in agreement with the Word. (Phil. 4:8)
- Mind that is controlled by the Spirit and produces the fruit of the Spirit. (Gal. 5:22-23)
What are you looking for? Jesus is here and he is calling us to follow. Set you mind on the things above and follow His voice. He is bringing God’s approval to your life.
