Two words

How many words does it take to change a life? It sounds like at a setup for a joke. It isn’t.

Matthew 9 tells us about when the author met Jesus.

“9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.

10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’[a] For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”’

Jesus said two words and changed Matthew’s life forever. Matthew in turn has helped tell the world about Jesus.

Who can be included in this following of the teacher Jesus? It’s a special group of people. Who is Jesus looking for? Who is Jesus seeking? Who goes to a doctor? The sick. Who is Jesus seeking? The ones of us who admit we need his help.

The apostle John said in his first letter, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

When we are sick the first step to recovery is admitting that we need help.

I need help from Jesus. I need to be released from the burden off all my mistakes and blunders and disobedience. He is ready to help. He ready and waiting to forgive me yet again. His sacrifice, his bloody brutal death paid for all of it. And then he rose from the dead, victorious over sin and over death.

His mercy is inclusive. It is offered to all of us. Who needs a doctor today? A doctor who can wash away all of our sin? I do.

With two words Jesus changed Matthews life who in turned told the world about Jesus and by writing them down, has helped the world hear those words, follow me. Are you coming?

(Originally posted 2/9/2017)