Follow, but why? | Levi

Bible: Matthew 9 and Luke 5

You are at work. You earn good money. You have a beautiful house, a nice car. Occasionally, you fudge a little with your taxes, but well, doesn’t everyone? Your colleagues are your friends. No, not everyone gets along with you, but so what. The whole world can’t be your friend, right? Unexpectedly, you meet someone. Someone you know always follows the rules. And doesn’t care about money or possessions. This person stops, looks at you, and says: ‘Follow me.’ What do you do?

LEVI FOLLOWS.

He is a tax collector. We would say: a tax official in the service of the occupier. He lives in a beautiful house in the land of Israel and works for the enemy. At that time, that was the Romans. But Levi didn’t care. As long as he could make money. He often asked for more tax money than necessary, pocketing the extra for himself. Money is the most important thing to him. People spat on the ground in front of him. Among the tax collectors, he had his friends. Until suddenly a Man comes by, a Jewish Rabbi. He does not spit on the ground. He does not walk around him with a wide berth and a disapproving look on his face. No, He stops and looks intently at Levi. His voice sounds clear: ‘Follow Me.’

These two words penetrate deeply. Levi cannot and does not want to do anything but get up and follow this Man. But Who is this Man? And why does He call people to follow Him? It is the thirty-year-old Jesus. Not long ago, He was baptized in the Jordan by John the Baptist. John had said to the people: ‘Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.’ (John 1:29). And after Jesus was baptized, a voice sounded from heaven, saying: ‘This is My Son, My Beloved, in whom I am well pleased!’ (Matthew 3:17). Everywhere Jesus goes, He calls people to follow Him. To leave their old—sinful—life behind and come after Him. What does Levi do when he follows Jesus?

LEVI INVITES JESUS.

He prepares an elaborate meal for Jesus and also invites his colleagues and other people. It is a large group. They were not exactly the most beloved people of that time. They were known as prostitutes, thieves, troublemakers, and criminals. In the Bible, they are called ‘sinners.’ They decide for themselves what is good and evil; God’s law means little to them. What is Jesus looking for among these people? That’s what the Pharisees and scribes also wonder. Outwardly, they live very neatly and precisely. There was nothing to criticize about their lives. They gave money to the poor, did their work carefully, and were knowledgeable about all kinds of matters. They were the religious leaders of that time. And they considered themselves much better than the company Jesus was now with. They don’t understand it at all. Why does Jesus eat with them? You only eat together with your friends, right? Not with such bad people!

The Pharisees and scribes want to know all the details. No, they don’t approach Jesus directly; behind His back, they try to find out. But Jesus unmasks them. He knows them. He knows their thoughts and deliberations, and His answer is clear: ‘Those who are healthy do not need a physician (doctor), but those who are sick do.’ (Matthew 9:12). Jesus reveals Himself as the great Doctor. No, not only to heal sick people (He did that too), but He has especially come to deliver people from their sinful nature. What is that? You see it in lies, deceit, selfishness, greed, pride, jealousy, enmity, hatred, adultery, etc. All things that are not what God wants. That is sin. And sin creates a separation between God and people. That was also the message for Levi.

LEVI, LEAVE YOUR WICKEDNESS AND LIVE!

Do not continue to live in selfishness and greed. Break with it. Repent of it. It does not make you happy. Levi was obsessed with money. He always wanted more and more, at the expense of others. It was never enough. An insatiable hunger. He walked in the darkness of money and corruption and thus sinned against God. Until Jesus came. He said: ‘I am the Light of the world; whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’ (John 8:12). At the moment Jesus called Levi, Levi was drawn out of the power of darkness and transferred into the Kingdom of the Son of His love (Colossians 1:13). Levi had not earned this himself, nor had he asked for it. He received it freely, by grace, as a gift from God. But how is that possible?

LEVI LEARNS THAT JESUS GAVE HIS LIFE FOR THIS.

Following Jesus does not go without struggle. For things go very differently with Jesus than expected. At first, it seems to be going well. Levi sees that Jesus is getting more and more followers, especially because of the miracles He performs. But as Jesus makes it increasingly clear Who He is and why He has come, the feeling of hatred towards Jesus increases. Levi notices that many people do not want to believe that Jesus is the Son of God. And His message of righteousness provokes annoyance rather than obedience. And His exposing words are especially ill-received.

Levi discovers that Jesus puts a line through people’s own will. His message is crystal clear: ‘Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away, and its lust; but whoever does the will of God abides forever.’ (1 John 2:15-17). Jesus makes God’s will clear: Whoever believes in Me has eternal life. You can only be saved through Me. I am the only Way, the only Truth.

Levi witnesses that many people who first followed Him later turn against Jesus. They say: these words are harsh, difficult, not tolerant. When that happens, Jesus looks at Levi and the other followers who are still with Him. He says: ‘Do you also want to leave Me?’ But their answer is clear: ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. And we have believed and come to know that You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.’ (John 7:68-69).

LEVI ALSO REMAINS WITH JESUS.

God holds him fast. His love is to the end. What God begins, He also finishes. God does not do half work. He wants to make Levi a new person, a new creature. Someone who no longer walks in ‘sexual immorality (adultery), impurity, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry. Also in anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language’ (Colossians 3:5 and 8). All these things do not belong to God. They belong to Satan, the great adversary of God. He wants Levi to become like Him again. That Levi walks in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience; bearing with and forgiving one another, just as Christ has forgiven him. (Colossians 3:13)

God has forgiven all Levi’s sins, for Jesus’ sake. For Jesus came as the Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world. For this, Jesus died on the cross. After three years, Jesus voluntarily allowed Himself to be captured. He was killed on the cross. But it is precisely the death of Jesus on the cross that has opened the way for total cleansing, forgiveness, and renewal. For Jesus did not remain in death, but He rose again. That is why there is hope. Life with God, as a new person, forever. That is why the message also comes to you:

John 17:3
And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.