Has Jesus Spotted Me?
Once again He went out beside the lake and a large crowd came to Him and He began to teach them. And as He walked further He saw Levi the son of Alpheus sitting at the tax collector’s booth and He said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed Him. And while He was sitted eating at his table, many tax collectors and sinners were sitting with Jesus and His disciples ... (Mark 2:13-15)
Many people come to hear Jesus. They go out to see Him but they seem interested in Him only as a teacher. They listen to Him, ask for advice, and are eager to hear His revelations. And then there is Levi. He does not look for Jesus. Jesus is the one who spots him: as He walked further, He saw Levi. Only if Jesus sees me, only this can bring change in my life. The crowd, eager for His teaching, changes perhaps only from an intellectual point of view, but Levi is different. Jesus’ glance moves him, causes him to follow Jesus. He simply cannot resist it in spite of himself. One of Caravaggio's paintings depicts this scene: everybody else has noticed Jesus, except for Levi who is too busy counting his money.
Jesus goes to Levi’s house, an important event, since not everybody is honoured by such a visit. And Levi follows Jesus into his own house, shy and scared like a puppy. Jesus goes in first and Levi is simply following Him, even though this is his own house. Jesus sits down at the table, but Levi does not dare to. Jesus has to invite him to sit down, to sit at his own table. And why? Because from now on nothing in that house belongs to Levi; it all belongs to Jesus!
Following Jesus means I follow no matter where He goes. The crowd can choose what parts of His teachings to keep and what to ignore, but being mature in faith means I am just like a child who follows obediently.
[GEN, (c)2004]
Many people come to hear Jesus. They go out to see Him but they seem interested in Him only as a teacher. They listen to Him, ask for advice, and are eager to hear His revelations. And then there is Levi. He does not look for Jesus. Jesus is the one who spots him: as He walked further, He saw Levi. Only if Jesus sees me, only this can bring change in my life. The crowd, eager for His teaching, changes perhaps only from an intellectual point of view, but Levi is different. Jesus’ glance moves him, causes him to follow Jesus. He simply cannot resist it in spite of himself. One of Caravaggio's paintings depicts this scene: everybody else has noticed Jesus, except for Levi who is too busy counting his money.
Jesus goes to Levi’s house, an important event, since not everybody is honoured by such a visit. And Levi follows Jesus into his own house, shy and scared like a puppy. Jesus goes in first and Levi is simply following Him, even though this is his own house. Jesus sits down at the table, but Levi does not dare to. Jesus has to invite him to sit down, to sit at his own table. And why? Because from now on nothing in that house belongs to Levi; it all belongs to Jesus!
Following Jesus means I follow no matter where He goes. The crowd can choose what parts of His teachings to keep and what to ignore, but being mature in faith means I am just like a child who follows obediently.
[GEN, (c)2004]
posted by CS at 5:12 PM
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