Behold, The New Has Come Mark 2:13-22

Today, we gathered to reflect on the profound transformation that Jesus brings into our lives—a change so complete that it can only be described as supernatural. Just as the monarch butterfly undergoes metamorphosis, moving from something ordinary and even unattractive to something beautiful and new, so too are we called to be made new in Christ. This transformation is not about self-improvement or religious tradition; it is about dying to ourselves, surrendering to Jesus as Lord, and allowing His Spirit to make us alive.

We looked at the story of Levi (Matthew) in Mark 2, a tax collector despised by his own people, yet called by Jesus to follow Him. Levi’s response was immediate and joyful, and he celebrated his new life by inviting others—especially those considered outcasts—to meet Jesus. This is a picture of what the church is meant to be: not a country club for the self-righteous, but a hospital for sinners. Jesus Himself said He came not for the healthy, but for the sick; not for the self-proclaimed righteous, but for those who know their need.

We also considered Jesus’ teaching about new wine and old wineskins. He was not interested in patching up old traditions or adding His teaching to the Pharisees’ self-made rules. Instead, He came to bring something entirely new—the New Covenant of grace, not based on our works or religious performance, but on His finished work. The law was good in that it showed us our need for a Savior, but it could never make us righteous. Only Jesus can do that.

Transformation, not tradition, is the mark of true faith. Many may say the right words or perform religious acts, but without a changed heart, these are empty. The evidence of salvation is a new life—a life that looks different, that loves differently, that values the Giver above the gift. My own family’s story, and the story of my grandfather’s late-in-life conversion, remind us that it is never too late for God to make someone new.

We are all in different places on this journey, but we all start at the same place: in need of Jesus. The invitation is not to try harder or clean yourself up, but to trust Him, surrender, and let Him do the work of transformation. Jesus is better. The new life He offers is better. Let us fling wide the doors of our hearts and our church, welcoming all who are sick and in need of the Great Physician.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Church is a hospital for sinners The church is not a gathering of the self-righteous, but a place where the broken, the lost, and the outcast are welcomed and healed. Jesus intentionally sought out those whom society rejected, showing us that our mission is to bring the hurting to the only One who can truly heal. We must resist the temptation to separate ourselves from those in need, remembering that we too were once sick and in need of grace. [36:05]
• 2. Transformation, not tradition, marks true faith Religious traditions and good works cannot save or change us; only a supernatural transformation by Christ can. The evidence of salvation is not in outward rituals, but in a changed heart and life. We must examine ourselves: are we clinging to traditions, or have we truly surrendered to Jesus and been made new? [46:01]
• 3. The new is better because Jesus is better The New Covenant of grace is superior to the old because it is based on Jesus’ perfect work, not our imperfect efforts. Under grace, we are invited into intimate fellowship with God, something the law could never provide. This newness is not just a theological idea—it is a lived reality, as we are daily transformed into the image of Christ. [60:35]
• 4. Surrender, not self-effort, brings new life Trying harder or doing more religious things will never make us right with God. True life begins when we admit our need, repent, and trust wholly in Jesus’ finished work. The transformation He brings is not partial or cosmetic, but total—a new creation, with new desires and a new purpose. [63:48]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [27:18] - Opening Prayer and Worship
• [28:48] - Childhood Story: Moving for Ministry
• [31:15] - The Monarch Butterfly and Metamorphosis
• [33:00] - Supernatural Transformation Defined
• [34:12] - Calling of Levi: Mark 2
• [36:05] - Church as a Hospital for Sinners
• [39:16] - Celebration of New Life
• [41:12] - Jesus’ Response to the Pharisees
• [44:44] - Fasting, Mourning, and the Bridegroom
• [46:01] - Transformation vs. Tradition
• [49:16] - New Wine and Old Wineskins
• [51:08] - The Law and Our Need for a Savior
• [53:38] - The Danger of Empty Religion
• [59:58] - The New is Better: Jesus is Better
• [68:09] - The Toolbox: Cherishing the Giver
• [70:50] - The Beauty of Transformation
• [73:24] - Closing Prayer and Invitation

Bible Reading

Mark 2:13-22 (ESV) — > 13 He went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them. 14 And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.
> 15 And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16 And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 17 And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
> 18 Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. And people came and said to him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” 19 And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. 20 The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day.
> 21 No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the patch tears away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. 22 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins—and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV) — > Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Observation Questions

1. In Mark 2, what was Levi’s (Matthew’s) response when Jesus called him? What did he do next, and who did he invite to his house? ([34:12])
2. According to Jesus, who needs a physician, and who did He say He came to call? ([36:05])
3. What do the metaphors of new wine in old wineskins and unshrunk cloth on old garments mean in the context of Jesus’ teaching? ([46:38])
4. In 2 Corinthians 5:17, what does Paul say happens to someone who is “in Christ”?

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Levi responded so quickly and joyfully to Jesus’ invitation, even though he was considered an outcast? What does this say about the kind of people Jesus calls? ([34:12])
2. Jesus says He came for the “sick,” not the “healthy.” What does this reveal about how we should view ourselves and others in the church? ([36:05])
3. The sermon said, “Transformation, not tradition, marks true faith.” Why do you think Jesus was so critical of the Pharisees’ traditions? How can religious traditions get in the way of real transformation? ([46:01])
4. The pastor shared about his grandfather’s late-in-life conversion. What does this story teach us about the possibility and timing of transformation in someone’s life? ([01:08:09])

Application Questions

1. The church is described as a “hospital for sinners, not a country club for the self-righteous.” In what ways can our church (or small group) be more welcoming to people who feel like outsiders or “sick”? Is there a specific person or group you feel called to reach out to? ([36:05])
2. Levi celebrated his new life by inviting other outcasts to meet Jesus. When was the last time you shared your faith or invited someone to church? What holds you back from doing this more often? ([39:16])
3. The sermon warned against relying on religious traditions or good works for salvation. Are there any traditions or habits in your life that you might be trusting in, instead of truly surrendering to Jesus? How can you tell the difference? ([46:01])
4. Jesus’ teaching about new wine and old wineskins shows that He came to bring something completely new. Is there an “old wineskin” in your life—an old way of thinking, behaving, or believing—that you need to let go of so God can do something new in you? ([46:38])
5. The pastor said, “Transformation, not tradition, is the mark of true faith.” Can you point to a specific area in your life where you have seen real change since following Jesus? Is there an area where you still need transformation? ([53:01])
6. The story of the pastor’s grandfather shows it’s never too late for God to make someone new. Is there someone in your life you’ve given up hope for? How can you pray for or encourage them this week? ([01:08:09])
7. The sermon ended with the reminder that “Jesus is better.” What is one practical way you can value the Giver (Jesus) above the gifts or blessings in your life this week? ([01:10:06])