Mark 2:13-17 Jesus Calls Sinners

Jesus Calls Sinners

Mark 2:13–17

Introduction: Who Is the Gospel For?

Have you ever thought about who the gospel is really for? Maybe you picture someone kind, someone hurting, or even someone who seems lost. The truth is, the gospel is for sinners—plain and simple. Jesus didn’t come for people who think they have everything figured out. He came for those who know they need help. In this account from Mark 2:13–17, we see Jesus calling Levi, a tax collector, to follow Him. It’s a powerful reminder that no one is too far gone for Jesus’ love and grace.

Background & Context

Jesus made His mission clear when He said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mark 2:17). He wasn’t excusing sin—He was exposing the pride of those who thought they didn’t need saving.

This theme runs throughout Scripture. God called unlikely people in the Old Testament: Abraham was called from a foreign land (Genesis 12:1), Rahab was a prostitute who became part of God’s people (Joshua 2:1), and the city of Nineveh was known for its wickedness, yet God called them to repentance (Jonah 3:4–5). God has always been in the business of redeeming sinners.

Jesus Calls Sinners

As Jesus taught by the sea, He saw Levi, a tax collector, and called him to follow (Mark 2:13–14). Tax collectors were seen as traitors. They worked for the Roman government and often took more than they were owed. Yet Jesus didn’t wait for Levi to clean up his life—He called him in the middle of his work.

This shows us something essential: Jesus calls people as they are, not as they think they should be. He doesn’t wait for us to fix ourselves. He invites us to follow Him first—and then He transforms us.

Later, Jesus sat down to eat with Levi and other tax collectors and sinners (Mark 2:15–16). The religious leaders were outraged. In their minds, a righteous person should avoid people like that. But Jesus did the opposite. He wasn’t afraid of being around sinners—He came to rescue them.

Jesus wasn’t suggesting there are truly righteous people who don’t need saving. Rather, He was revealing that those who think they are righteous will miss their need for Him entirely. The scribes and Pharisees didn’t understand their spiritual sickness. But the tax collectors and sinners did. They knew they were broken. They knew they needed mercy.

This same pattern appears throughout the Bible. God saved Paul, a persecutor of the church (1 Timothy 1:15–16). He forgave David after deep moral failure (2 Samuel 12:13). And even after Adam sinned, God pursued him with a promise of redemption (Genesis 3:6–7). God does not reject sinners—He redeems them.

Conclusion: Responding to the Call

Jesus calls sinners to Himself. That means no matter your past—no matter what you’ve done—Jesus invites you to follow Him.

But here’s the truth: we must come broken. That doesn’t mean emotionally crushed or outwardly falling apart. It means coming with an honest awareness of our guilt before a holy God, and a humble recognition that we are helpless to fix ourselves. We are not mostly fine, needing a spiritual boost—we are sick and in need of a Savior.

This kind of brokenness glorifies Jesus, because it displays His power to restore what no one else can. If we come to Him already “put together,” where is the need for healing? What does He restore? What strength does He show? The beauty of the gospel is that Christ’s greatness is most clearly seen when He takes what is lost and makes it whole—not when we pretend we never needed saving.

So don’t let self-righteousness blind you to your need. Don’t let guilt convince you that you’re too far gone. And don’t let anything distract you from the truth of the gospel: Jesus came for sinners—because He loves them, and because saving the lost reveals the glory of His grace.

He came for people like Levi. He came for people like you and me.

Scripture References

  • Genesis 12:1 – God called Abram from his homeland to follow Him.
  • Joshua 2:1 – Rahab, a prostitute, welcomed Israelite spies and was included in God’s plan.
  • Jonah 3:4–5 – The people of Nineveh repented when Jonah preached to them.
  • Mark 1:14 – Jesus began His ministry by proclaiming the gospel of God.
  • Mark 2:1 – Crowds gathered to hear Jesus preach the Word.
  • Mark 12:38–40 – The scribes loved appearances but were warned of judgment.
  • Acts 23:7–10 – Scribes argued about Paul, revealing their role in religious conflict.
  • 1 Timothy 1:15–16 – Paul, once a persecutor, was saved by Jesus’ mercy.
  • 2 Samuel 12:13 – David confessed his sin and was forgiven by God.
  • Genesis 3:6–7 – Adam and Eve sinned, but God pursued them with a promise of redemption.

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