Mark 2:18-22¹⁸ Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and asked Jesus, "How is it that John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not?" ¹⁹ Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them. ²⁰ But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast. ²¹ No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse. ²² And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, he pours new wine into new wineskins."

[caption id="attachment_5120" align="alignleft" width="300"] Print can be found at https://www.etsy.com/listing/61993888/jesus-eats-with-friends[/caption]Read Mark 2:13-17

This story reflects one of many disagreements between Jesus and the religious establishment. Try to put yourself on both sides of the debate.

From the Pharisees point of view, why would it be bad for a rabbi (like Jesus) to eat with people of bad reputation?

From Jesus’ point of view, why was it necessary that he eat with people of bad reputation?

We must trust Jesus that we all are tax-collectors, sinners and bottom-feeders at heart. Why is it so necessary that we have this perception of ourselves for discipleship? If we have not committed enormous sins does that mean we must do so in order to follow Jesus?

Read Luke 15:1-7What was the emotional reaction of the Pharisees at Jesus’ fraternizing with tax-collectors?

What does Jesus’ parable reveal ought to be the Pharisee’s (and our) emotional reaction to Jesus fraternizing with tax-collectors and sinners?

What does this teach us about how to have joy as disciples?Do you gain a sense of joy from seeing Christ’s body, the Church, fraternize with sinners today? Should you? Why or why not?

How are all humans, Christians and non-Christians, like the leper in the story?

How are Christians in particular like the leper in the story?

Tell a story about a time when you felt like the leper in your approach to Jesus.

Why is approaching Jesus in this way important for all disciples in all times and places?

In the beginning of worship we read a Call to Worship based on Genesis 1. How was God’s “speaking and it was so” like what we Jesus doing in this passage?

The leper approaches Jesus, is forgiven by Jesus and then is given directives by Jesus. As Colin pointed out the leper did not listen to Jesus. Are there words of Jesus that you find you have trouble carrying out? How would life be better if, hearing them, you obeyed?

³⁵ Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. ³⁶ Simon and his companions went to look for him, ³⁷ and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!” ³⁸ Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” ³⁹ So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

 Mark 1:21-28²¹ And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. ²² And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. ²³ And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, ²⁴ "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are-- the Holy One of God." ²⁵ But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" ²⁶ And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. ²⁷ And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him." ²⁸ And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.

                                                                           Mark 1:14-20 ¹⁴ Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, ¹⁵ and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel." ¹⁶ Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. ¹⁷ And Jesus said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men." ¹⁸ And immediately they left their nets and followed him. ¹⁹ And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. ²⁰ And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.