Test lwcf_crd_mgz_essentialconnectionsample_pdf | Page 24

5
Personal Space
has
“For the Son of Man
save
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ek
come to se
:10
19
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uk
—L
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the
4
Jesus came for you. Trust that.
Thursday > 7/16
It’s not a popularity contest.
w
hen was the last time you visited a hospital? How would you describe
your emotions in light of what you saw? What do you think would lead
someone to work in such an environment?
When Jesus heard this, He told the
m, “Those who are
well don’t need a doctor, but
the
sick
come to call the righteous, but sin do need one. I didn’t
ners.” —Mark 2:17
o
y
r
o
f
e
Jesus cam
24  |  jul 2009  ec  magazine
Jesus did it
on purpose.
H
ow would you answer if
someone asked you about your
purpose on earth? What about Jesus—
what was His purpose on earth? Does
it affect yours? How so?
“Jesus is God
spelling
in language Himself out
that men can
understand.”
—S.d. Gordon
?
rstand
e
nd
u
u
Don’t yo
u!
Friday > 7/17
Read Mark 2:13-17 and contemplate what Jesus said in verse 17.
�  Who were the people Jesus spent time with in these verses? Why is that
important? What does it say about His attitude toward us?
� Who are the “sick” ones Jesus referred to in verse 17?
� Why was it surprising that Jesus called on Levi to follow Him?
� Do you see yourself as sick or well? Why is it better to admit our sickness?
�  Do you regularly confess your sins to God, asking for His mercy and
forgiveness and admitting your need for Him?
Those who are privileged to grow up with Christian parents in Christian
churches often forget the truth taught in today’s lesson. If we have received
salvation through Jesus Christ, we need to remember that we have done nothing
to deserve it. In fact, Jesus came to us because we were sick and sinful. He came
because we needed healing and forgiveness.
Every person on earth needs one thing from Jesus—mercy. Remembering
this should keep Christians humble and grateful. We should see non-Christians
with compassion, since we are dependent on the same mercy. Jesus did not only
come for people who are moral, popular, athletic, or smart, for there is no one
who is righteous (Rom. 3:10). He came to show His love and His mercy to sinners
like us, no matter what our background. He reaches out to the least deserving—
to the people like us, like you. He loves you. It doesn’t matter who you are or
what you’ve done.
Read Luke 19:1-10, stopping to think
about verse 10.
�  Why was it a big deal that Jesus
spent time with Zacchaeus,
a tax collector?
�  Do you know people who seem
unlikely to be saved? How would
you use this passage to counsel a
friend who feels too sinful to
follow Jesus?
�  What was Jesus’ purpose in coming
to earth?
�  Why is it important that Jesus
stayed focused on His purpose?
Jesus never ceases to amaze us in the
way He interacted with people. He
refused to let the world influence the
way He acted. In today’s passage, the
crowd complained when Jesus went
to stay with a sinful tax collector.
After all, why would Jesus associate
with someone who got his money by
cheating others?
The fact of the matter is that we
are just like Zacchaeus. While we
may not be rich or cheat people out
of money, we too have sin that needs
to be forgiven. As sinners, all of us
need the salvation that only Jesus
gives. He knows the particular sins in
our own lives, yet He extends grace.
After we receive this grace, we should
feel compelled to extend it to others.
The good news is that no matter how
sinful and lost a person may be, Jesus
came “to seek and to save the lost”
(Luke 19:10). And His purpose is now
our purpose.
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