Feasting on God's Wordਨਮੂਨਾ

Day 7 - Empathy, Not Judgment

In Jesus’ first-century world, being a tax collector was an extremely shameful profession. Tax collectors were collaborators with the oppressor, the Roman Empire. They were middlemen, like a corrupt IRS. They were often wealthy, gaining their resources through dishonest means. One of the original twelve disciples was Matthew the tax collector. We pick up his story in Luke 5.

It’s important to understand that Matthew’s shame was fourfold. It was societal, cultural, familial, and personal. Shame times four, shame to the fourth power. In Luke 5, Matthew, also known as Levi, is at the tax collector’s booth doing the shameful thing when Jesus comes to him. We pick up the storyline there: “Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. ‘Follow me,’ Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.” Jesus approaches Matthew while he is engaged in the shameful profession of collecting taxes. Rather than judge him, Jesus extends an invitation to come follow Him. That kind of empathy no doubt changed Matthew over time. It’s part of the ongoing story of Jesus meeting people where they are but not leaving them there.

As the story continues, what does Matthew do in response? “Then Levi [Matthew] held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them.” Matthew experiences the fire of Jesus, the empathy that lifts him out of his shame. He responds by hosting a banquet in Jesus’ honor and inviting his tax collector friends and other “disreputable characters." Jesus shares a meal with the riffraff and marginalized!

In Jesus’ world, table fellowship was of high importance. Who you ate with, welcomed, embraced, and accepted was a demonstration of affiliation. In the Gospel of Luke, we see Jesus headed to a meal, at a meal, leaving a meal, thinking about a meal…Jesus loves table fellowship! Heaven is portrayed as the wedding supper of the Lamb. Eating with people is where Jesus did some of His best ministry. I believe with all my heart that if Jesus were to be physically present with you right now, He would pull a chair up to a table and eat with you. He would welcome you, embrace you, and accept you in the fullness of your story.

Jesus meets you where you are, yet He doesn’t leave you there. Transformation comes in His presence.

In Luke 5:31-32, Jesus says, “‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.’” As we make our way through the Gospels, we notice that when Jesus comes close to us, He may seek to come near to the places in which we are sick, rather than coming close to us in our areas of strength. Jesus comes for the parts of our stories that are deeply anchored in shame.

As your sister in the Lord who has been through multiple seasons of deep therapy, I encourage you with this: When Jesus comes close to you with His fire, trust Him. Don’t back away; lean into Him. What would it look like for you to talk with Jesus about the chapter in your life you avoid speaking of? The Gospel stories are inviting us to round up. Whatever healing you have already experienced from the right hand of God, He is not done with you yet. There is more available to you.

Is this a season for you to allow the living God to come closer than you’ve ever allowed Him to come? How is the living God lowering mountains, raising valleys, straightening crooked paths, and smoothing out rough places for you (Isaiah 58:8)? These are some great questions to yeshiva (Jesus) as you move forward with your family, friends, and community.

You weren’t made merely for the warmth of Jesus; you were made for the fire. Let Him do a deeper work in you. Remember, Jesus wants to take you somewhere. The question is, Will you let Him?

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We hope this plan was helpful to you. You can read more from Kristi McLelland in her book, Feasting on God’s Word, available here.