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First Impressions: Matthew |
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Written by Aaron Sparks
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Sunday, 09 August 2009 21:41 |
It had been a typical day. Many people would walk by the booth giving us dirty looks. After all, we were considered the worst of traitors to our kind, the Jews. Not only had we sympathized with the occupation of the Romans, but we were in charge of doing their dirty work, collecting taxes. Nobody likes the taxman. Especially, when some were known to estimate the taxes a little bit higher than necessary in order to keep more of the share. I admit, I was guilty of the same. It was the only thing at the time I thought was worth living for... money. But even with having everything we could ever want, our lives still seemed oddly empty.
It was around this time I had been thinking a lot about life and what purpose there could be to it. Then this man came up to the booth and simply said, “Follow me.” Those were the words I had longed to hear since being a small boy in school learning about the Torah and memorizing the scriptures. You see, Rabbis would pick the best students to follow them, learn from them and to become just like them. I appearently wasn’t a good enough student in the eyes of the Rabbis, so I was never picked. I went on with my life, discovering this job as an easy way to make money.
This man who I had never met before, just approached me and asked me to follow Him. He approached me not as if I were a taxcollector, but as a human being. I hadn’t been treated so kindly in a long time. I think it was mostly out of curiosity, but there was a sense that I would find a deeper meaning to life if I just did what this man said. So I got up from my chair, left the table with the pouches full of money and followed this man for the day. After spending time simply walking and talking with Him, He very quickly revealed to me a purpose in life through the scriptures that I had never seen before. I decided to have Him over to my house for a party and invite all my friends to meet this amazing guy!
Later on that night some Pharisees showed up at the door to show their disdain for our display of dishonest gain. Apparently, they also had a bone to pick with the man I had decided to follow earlier in the day. They questioned why He would hang out with people like us. His reply was something I will never forget... it was full of wisdom, righteousness, and at the same time compassion for us. He was the doctor that came to heal all our illnesses acquired from life. Guilt, lack of self-worth, and escapism from reality plagued us. He offered hope, forgiveness, redemption, and love.
Before I thought I had no chance of being right with God, no amount of sacrifices could pay for what I had done and was doing. Jesus had simultaneously gave me my purpose and showed me His. My life was to be forever changed thanks to Him. (Matt 9:9-13, Mark 2:13-17, Luke 5:27-32) |