Sermon Series Blog: Encounter Pt.2

Encounter Pt. 2: When Jesus Calls the Unlikely

Last Sunday, we talked about the power of an encounter with Jesus—how one moment in His presence can change everything. We saw it through the healing of the paralyzed man, carried by friends who believed that getting close to Jesus was worth any cost.

In this next moment of Mark’s Gospel, the encounter continues—but this time, it looks very different.

Crowds, Curiosity, and a Calling

As Jesus continued teaching beside the lake, the crowds followed Him closely. Word had spread. People had seen miracles. They had heard hope spoken with authority. Wherever Jesus went, people wanted to be near Him.

And then, in the middle of the crowd, Jesus noticed someone everyone else had written off.

“As He walked along, He saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. ‘Follow Me,’ Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed Him.” (Mark 2:14)

It’s easy to read past this quickly, but this moment is loaded with meaning.

Why Levi Matters

Levi wasn’t just another guy in the crowd—he was a tax collector. In that culture, tax collectors were despised. They worked for the Roman government, overcharged their own people, and kept the profit. They were seen as traitors, extortioners, and outcasts.

Yet Jesus didn’t avoid Levi. He didn’t lecture him. He didn’t demand he clean himself up first.

Jesus simply said, “Follow Me.”

And Levi did something extraordinary—he got up and left everything behind. Later, we know him by a new name: Matthew, the Gospel writer. This encounter wasn’t just a call; it was a transformation.

A Table That Offended the Religious

Levi’s response to Jesus was immediate and public. He hosted a meal at his house, inviting other tax collectors and sinners to meet the One who had changed his life. Jesus sat at the table with them.

The religious leaders were scandalized.

“Why does He eat with tax collectors and sinners?” they asked.

Jesus’ response cut straight to the heart of the Gospel:

“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

This wasn’t compromise—it was compassion. Jesus didn’t join sin; He entered brokenness with healing purpose.

The Heart Check We All Need

It’s easy to criticize the Pharisees, but the truth is, we all wrestle with self-focus. We’re tempted to build our lives around success, comfort, and approval—often missing the better way Jesus offers.

Jesus still says, “Follow Me.”

Not after you fix everything.
Not once you feel worthy.
But right where you are.

Becoming People of Encounter

God calls His Church to reflect His heart—to love the marginalized, the overlooked, and the hurting. You may be the only glimpse of Jesus someone ever sees. Your kindness, your patience, your faithfulness might lead someone into a life-changing encounter with Christ.

The question remains for all of us:

Is Jesus the greatest treasure of your life?

Because when we encounter Him—and truly follow Him—everything changes.