From Mark 2:13-17, we read the following. “Then He went out again by the sea; and all the multitude came to Him, and He taught them. As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him.  Now it happened, as He was dining in Levi’s house, that many tax collectors and sinners also sat together with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many, and they followed Him.  And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, “How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?” When Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

When criticized for eating with the tax collectors and sinners, Jesus responded, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.” Jesus is describing sin as a disease and himself as the physician who can cure.

Sin makes us sick spiritually. We’re not born sick. We become sick when we sin. We realize the need to go to our doctor from time to time for a physical checkup. More importantly, we need to realize the need for a check up to see how we’re doing spiritually.

Sin is a deadly disease if left untreated. Romans 6:23 teaches the wages of sin is death. James 1:12-15 lets us know that God cannot be tempted and He does not tempt anyone to sin. We are tempted when we are drawn away by our own desires. Then, when desire has conceived it gives birth to sin. This sin then results in death.

Sin is a disease that is contracted willingly. Ridiculous! Who would willingly contract a disease that is fatal? No one can force another person to sin. Sin is a choice a person makes. Remember from James chapter one, we sin when we give in to our own desires. Why would anyone willingly contract a fatal disease? Perhaps they fail to realize the serious nature of sin. Maybe they fail to see the consequences of sin. Maybe they think somehow, they’ll beat the odds. Perhaps they are simply unwilling to give up the pleasures of sin. Let’s not kid ourselves. God is not mocked. Sin always has its consequences. Galatians 6:7-8 – “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man sows, that he will also reap.”

Here’s the good news. There is a cure! No one needs to stay sick in their sin. In Mark 2:17, Jesus describes himself as the great physician. He’s not a physician. He is THE physician. He is the only one that can take way our sin. His blood can remove the sin from our lives and make us well again. “Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” I Peter 1:18-19. Augusten Burroughs is given credit for the quote, “When you have your health, you have everything. When you do not have your health, nothing else matters at all.” I would agree with that statement only if it applied to our spiritual health. When you have spiritual health, you have everything. When you do not have your spiritual health, nothing else matters at all.