Hungry for God: In Need of the Doctor

“And when Jesus heard it, He said to them, ‘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

If we ever feel that we are too sinful to be near Jesus, we need only remember His mission—that He came to help those who are sick and those who are sinners. When we first come to know Jesus, we are so grateful that He came to save us. Delightfully, we see ourselves in His words, knowing that we are sinful and sick, in desperate need of grace and forgiveness.

But time and experience has a way of changing us, and we find ourselves transitioning from patient in need of grace to Pharisee, saying who is in and out of God’s kingdom. And I believe our desire to do so is rooted in honoring God and obeying His Word. We want to follow the Scripture and honor God, after all, as the Bible says, “Abstain from every form of evil”—1 Thessalonians 5:22. And as Paul said, “Do not be deceived: "Bad company ruins good morals"—1 Corinthians 15:33. How are we to understand such parallels?

Here Jesus is eating with sinners, interacting with them and showing them love. It’s hard and we must be careful with whom we interact. Here is where discernment and maturity are required. If you find yourself in an environment where there are a great deal of sinners, then that’s fantastic! I enjoy being in environments like that! God has allowed you to be like His Son. He wants you to not engage in any sinful behavior, but tell them about the love of Jesus. However, if you find your behavior being affected by theirs, that that is not the environment for you and you need to step away. Let God lead someone else to reach them; if their behavior is causing you to sin, then don’t go into that environment. God doesn’t want you to sin in order to reach people for His name. He is perfectly capable, if you find yourself in temptation, to send someone else to help them.

I think one of the most encouraging thoughts that comes from this passage is that Jesus was willing to interact with someone like me. I’m a sinner, this much is true. I know in my heart of hearts that I am guilty of much sin. I am one of the sick and I am in desperate need of the great Physician!

How wonderful it is that He knows our state! He knows what’s in us—He knows our hearts are desperately sick, and He knows how rebellious we are. Nevertheless, He chooses to love us. He chose to take our sins upon Himself, He chose to die in our place, and He chose to give His life as a ransom for many. Praise His name!

Have you thanked God for Jesus Christ? Have you thanked Him for sending His Son to die in your place? If not, do so now. And then ask pray the words of the Psalmist, “Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will return to You”—Psalm 51:13. God heals us to send us. He transforms us to tell others about who He is and what He has done on behalf of sinful man on the cross. May we, by His grace, and empowered by His Spirit, be filled with love for our fellow sinners, to tell them of the healing mercy and grace that God gave us through the shed blood of His Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.