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My favorite Bible story - Luke 5:27-28

I really liked this passage ever since it was shared to me at Project Serve @ SYFC. Yes, these 2 verses are a Bible story, not a memory verse or something to that effect. In 2 verses, 2 sentences, Luke shares the calling of Levi.

26 After this (healing of the paralytic), Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. "Follow me," Jesus said to him, 27 and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.

If we take a short survey of the Gospel of Luke, we notice that Luke loves stories. His gospel is centered on describing the events surrounding Jesus. Yet here, in this pivotal moment where Jesus calls one of His disciples (part of the twelve, if the belief that Matthew and Levi are the same person is true), the story is a 2 sentence long story. What's in this story that's so amazing?

First let's address who Levi is. In Matthew 9:9-13, it records the exact same story as Luke does, albeit under the name Matthew. (thus the belief that they are the same person)

9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.

Also, it is recorded in Mark in no more words than it is in Matthew or Luke.

Mark 2:14 - as he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him.

What we know about Levi / Matthew(?)
- He is a tax collector - the most disgraceful of professions, where they cheat people of their money. They are often labelled sinners by society.
- He was sitting at his tax booth, probably in his business of cheating more people.

What we know of the account of his calling
Having seen all three authors recount this experience the exact same way, we can be sure they have not left out anything, but the short-ness of this passage is by design, and not because there were details deemed unimportant by the authors.

So what's the amazing part?
"Follow me," Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.

Jesus has never met Levi.
Jesus tells the worst of sinners to follow Him.
Levi's entire life has revolved around cheating people, and not God

But when he hears Jesus calling him - "Follow me.", he leaves everything behind and follows Jesus.
There is no excuses from Levi. No "wait, let me pack my bag". No "who are you that I should follow you?". No "Why would I give up all my earthly possessions for this madman?". No "I should be practical and bring some of my ill-gotten riches".
He leaves everything behind, and follows Jesus. And all Jesus said to him was "Follow me".

What about us?
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