And it came to pass that, as Jesus sat at meat at his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and His disciples, for there were many, and they followed Him. Mark 2:15
Let’s suppose you were to send out an invitation to everybody that you work with (or go to school with), urging them to come to your home for a Gospel meeting, where they will be told about Jesus’ offering of salvation. In your invitation, you mention that Jesus has saved you and made you one of His disciples. How many would actually show up? Let me guess the percentage would be small. The interest just would not be there. Your invitation would be tossed on the trash heap of disinterest. So how did Levi, or Matthew as he is also known, manage to get such a great turnout to a Gospel supper at his house? For one thing, he actually had the great Healer in attendance. For another, he had his great experience on which to base his excitement when issuing the invitation. Maybe that would help us to get a better response.
No, we can’t have the Lord Jesus physically present when we invite people to a Gospel meeting. So we have to rely on the effectiveness of the invitation. We have to get the message across that the Gospel is an exciting and worthwhile message to hear. Matthew served a supper; perhaps we could serve a Gospel supper as a way to encourage people to come to a meeting. It actually works. Matthew also didn’t discriminate when he issued the invitation. Despite the holiness of his special Guest, he threw the invitation wide open to all the tax gatherers and to the social outcasts who usually consorted with the tax people. These were members of his social circle and Matthew knew they all needed to meet Jesus. He also cared enough them to urge them to come. He serves as an excellent example to us in reaching friends and acquaintances with the Gospel.
We don’t know the result of that Gospel supper in terms of those who came to trust the Lord Jesus. But because those folks were there, they had an opportunity that few have ever experienced. There is coming a great supper at which we will appreciate Jesus’ presence. But it hasn’t happened yet. Those publicans and sinners have enjoyed something we have not yet enjoyed. All because Matthew cared, and because he know Jesus would be glad to meet with his friends.
Would Jesus be glad to meet with your friends? Have you given them the opportunity to meet Him? It may be their only opportunity. -Jim MacIntosh