Surprise

One day Jesus was passing through the gate. When he arrived where Matthew was sitting, he turned to him and said, “Follow Me!”

What a surprise! Matthew already must have heard about Jesus – about His kindness and love, about the wonderful miracles Jesus had done. Why would such a good man want to be with Matthew? I wonder if Matthew had already realised that Jesus was the Son of God. This means that He’s never done anything wrong and never committed any sin. Never, not even as a little boy. And He did not think badly of others. Not even of Matthew.

We read in the Bible that Matthew “arose and followed Him”. He was excited that Jesus wanted to be with him. Maybe they could become friends. Jesus knew what Matthew had been doing and what he was like. Jesus knows this about everybody. And yet, He wanted Matthew to follow Him. He wanted them to be together, to talk together, to eat together and become friends.

New Friendship

Matthew wanted to be friends with Jesus too. That is why he invited Jesus into his house. He prepared a lovely feast with food and drinks. He invited his friends as well. He wanted Jesus to like it at his place. Jesus came to the feast, had a meal and a drink with Matthew and his friends and talked to them.

But some important religious leaders did not like it.

“Does Jesus not realise these people are sinful?”

“Why is He having a meal with tax collectors and sinners?”

They were so shocked that they reproached Jesus’s disciples who were following Him, “How come Jesus is having meal with sinners?”

When Jesus heard what they were saying, He answered, “Those who are well have no need of a physician (doctor), but those who are sick.”

Jesus was comparing Himself to a doctor who heals those who are sick. He came to save those who feel bad, humiliated, guilty or hurt. Jesus knew what Matthew and his friends were like but that was why he came to them. He came to save them like a doctor who saves the sick and makes them healthy again.