The Real Jesus: Mark 2:13-17
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In this episode of The Treadweary Podcast, Pastor Smee explores Mark 2:13–17, focusing on Jesus' call of Levi (Matthew), a tax collector considered a traitor and sinner by Jewish society. The sermon unpacks the radical nature of Jesus' invitation: He calls not the righteous or worthy, but those marginalized and broken—those labeled as sinners. Pastor Smee emphasizes that Jesus' mission is not to save the self-sufficient, but to heal the sick, as He declares, 'I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.' The episode highlights the scandal of Jesus dining with tax collectors and sinners, challenging listeners to reject religious elitism and embrace a church defined by grace, relationship, and inclusion. The pastor also reflects personally on his son’s upcoming swim meet, connecting the theme of growth, transition, and surrender to the broader spiritual journey of dying to self and rising in Christ.
Jesus calls sinners, not the righteous—salvation is for the broken, not the self-sufficient.
The church should be a place of relationship, not exclusion, modeled by Jesus eating with outcasts.
True discipleship involves daily dying to self and being raised in Christ’s life.
Love means staying in relationship, even with those who are flawed or different.
Being 'holy' is not about cutting people off, but about loving them in their brokenness.
Opening Prayer and Easter Reflection
Pastor Smee opens with a prayer from Psalm 122, blessing the listeners during the Easter season and setting a tone of hope and spiritual reflection.
Jesus Calls Levi: The Radical Invitation
“He saw him and he spoke a word to him. He says, follow me. There wasn't anything special about him. He's actually, he would not have been welcome into regular company. And Jesus comes to him and says, follow me.”
The Scandal of Fellowship: Jesus with Sinners
“I've not come to call the righteous but sinners. The righteous have no need for salvation because they're righteous. They're already perfect with God... Why do they need me?”
The Heart of the Gospel: Healing the Sick, Not the Healthy
“The reality is that we can't, especially with God, but even more so with each other because we say dumb stuff all the time... We need him, Christ to come and drown him again every day.”
Personal Reflection: Fatherhood and Transition
Pastor Smee shares a heartfelt personal moment about his son’s final swim meet, connecting the theme of growth, letting go, and preparing for adulthood to the spiritual journey of dying to self and living in Christ.
“I've not come to call the righteous but sinners. The righteous have no need for salvation because they're righteous. They're already perfect with God... Why do they need me?”
“The reality is that we can't, especially with God, but even more so with each other because we say dumb stuff all the time... We need him, Christ to come and drown him again every day.”
“I need him, Christ to come and drown him again every day, and raise me to new life.”
Host
Pastor Smee
person
Jesus
person
Tax Collectors
other
Levi
person
Pharisees
other
Matthew
person
Scribes
other
Fatherhood
other
Gospel of Mark
other
Easter
other
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