Dave's Diary

Daily Readings: Mark 2 and Psalm 53

We saw yesterday how the Gospel of Mark emphasizes that Jesus is the Son of Man who came to give His life to liberate people from the murderous power of sin. He came to minister the power of God to forgive us, cleanse us and liberate us from the life-destroying power of sin!

In Mark 2, we see how Jesus claims to exercise His authority to forgive the sins of a paralysed man (v.5). And then, when challenged, He demonstrates the truth of his claim by commanding the man’s irrefutably miraculous healing, as a proof of His power and authority to proclaim the man’s sins forgiven (v.9-11). Jesus has the authority to liberate us from the life-destroying power of sin – through forgiveness.

In the incident that follows, Jesus encounters Levi, a tax collector who is no doubt guilty of sins like greed, injustice and extortion. But when Levi responds to Jesus’ call, leaves his tax collection booth, and abandons his past way of life to follow Him, Jesus clearly considers him to have been completely forgiven for his past and accepts him as a disciple. To demonstrate Levi’s acceptance, Jesus immediately receives his hospitality and enters his home to fellowship with him (v.13-15).

Sin’s power to separate Levi from Jesus (God in the flesh) was shattered when he turned to Jesus and received His ministry. And Jesus made it clear that this is exactly what He came to do: “¹⁷ … Jesus said to them, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but those who are ill. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.’“

As a repentant and graciously-saved sinner myself, I’m so deeply grateful for this ministry of our Saviour.

Life Application: Could you extend this Christlike grace to someone today? Has someone sinned against you recently? Will you imitate your Saviour Jesus, Who has so kindly forgiven you, and extend that forgiveness to them today?