The Whole Do Not Need the Physician - Mark 2:17

Mark wrote concerning Jesus, “as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him. And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him. And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eats and drinks with publicans and sinners?”, and in chapter two and verse seventeen of his book, Mark shares how Jesus said, “they that are whole have no need of the physician” where we read:

When Jesus heard it, he said unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

The verse reads, “When Jesus heard it, he said unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick:” Mark began with the words, “when Jesus” which means “at the time and moment Jesus who is the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate whose name means Jehovah is Salvation” “heard it” or “was endowed with the capacity for hearing, aware and attentive to what the scribes and Pharisees asked His disciples”, “he said unto them” which means “Jesus uttered, declared and proclaimed to the scribes and Pharisees”, “they that are whole” or “the people who are not sick, strong in body and avail” “have no need of the physician” which means “do not have occasion for, demand or require the physician or doctor”, “but they that are sick” or “nevertheless, moreover and the people who are ill, miserable, wronged and reviled”. Mark shared how Jesus knew what the “scribes and Pharisees” asked His disciples and responded by letting them know people who are “not ill” do not require the services of a “doctor or physician”, but people who are “miserable and physically ill” do.

The verse goes on to say, “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Mark continued with the words, “I came not to call” which means “Jesus did not arise, appear and show himself to invite, receive and bid forth ” “the righteous” or “people who observe divine laws, are innocent, faultless and guiltless”, “but sinners” which means “nevertheless, notwithstanding and moreover people who were devoted to sin, especially wicked who practiced certain vices or crimes and were heathen” “to repentance” or “to a change of mind, reversal of decisions and compunction for guilt including reformation”. Mark shared how Jesus said His purpose was not to call people who were “innocent and without fault” to Himself, but He “came” to “invite” people who were wicked, practiced evil and violated God's laws to change their ways.

When we think through Mark's words in this verse, we see how Jesus not only knew the “religious leaders” questions about Him, but He also knew how to answer them. Jesus did not come to “save” people who did not need “saving”, but He came to “turn people who were sinners” from their “sins”. Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead so people might have their “sins” forgiven and live “eternally” with God. Jesus knew the “spiritual condition” of these “tax collectors” and “sinners”, and without Him, they would never be “saved” from their sinful condition. He knows “there is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10), and everyone is “guilty” of violating God's law. Jesus “saves”, and those who are wise shall realize their “sinful state” and submit their lives to Him as their personal “Savior and Lord”.

Next time Mark shares how Jesus is asked, “why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples fast not?”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".