Contemplative Bible Reading

Mark 2:17 (New Living Translation)

17 When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

Jesus makes this statement when asked why he associates with “scum.” Simple: they need Jesus. They need the cleaning powers of the blood of Jesus.

When a person comes to Jesus, there is a confession or admission of the past. I am a sinner. I am not fit to be in the presence of God. Please Jesus, please wash away my sins so I am clean and can be with God. That is just about my summary of the current situation and its description in the Bible. The rest are details that fill in the cracks in my life. Those are important details that help us move through each day. The big thing, however, is awareness.

Jesus came to call on those who knew they were sinners. Change those words to the present tense and they still hold true.

Jesus is here for those of us who know we are sinners.

I want to be with God. Sinners can’t be with God. Jesus changes us. Thanks be to God.