February 3, 2026 

In Mark 2:15-17, Jesus shares a meal with tax collectors and sinners, people others avoid or judge. Religious leaders question His choices, assuming holiness requires distance. Jesus responds by naming His purpose clearly. He comes not for those who believe they’re well, but for those who know they need grace. In this moment, Jesus reveals that God’s heart is not guarded by exclusion, but opened wide through mercy.

Devotional: Few things make us more uncomfortable than being seen with the “wrong” people. Even now, we still carry unspoken lines about who’s acceptable, who’s respectable, and who feels safe to associate with. We may not say it out loud, but we know the categories. And most of the time, we try to stay on the right side of them.

That’s why this scene feels so awkward. Jesus isn’t just passing by these people. He’s sitting down at the table. Eating. Laughing. Staying awhile. He chooses proximity when others expect separation. And predictably, people notice. Questions get asked. Assumptions get made. Judgments start to swirl.

What’s striking is that Jesus doesn’t explain Himself in detail. He doesn’t defend His reputation or clarify His intentions. He simply names the truth. Healthy people don’t go looking for a doctor. Sick people do. Grace goes where it’s needed, not where it’s approved.

This moment reveals something important about how God works. God doesn’t wait for people to get their lives sorted out before drawing near. God moves toward the places that feel messy, complicated, and unresolved. Jesus shows us that mercy isn’t cautious. It’s present.

For many of us, faith has been shaped by the idea that being “good” means staying separate. Separate from certain conversations. Separate from certain people. Separate from discomfort. But Jesus models a different way. Holiness, in His life, doesn’t mean withdrawal. It means engagement rooted in love.

This doesn’t mean Jesus overlooks harm or ignores truth. But it does mean He refuses to let fear or reputation decide who’s worthy of His presence. He trusts that transformation grows out of relationship, not distance.

In our everyday lives, this might look less dramatic than a banquet and more like who we’re willing to listen to. Who we sit beside. Who we don’t rush to correct or fix. Mercy often shows up in ordinary moments when we choose curiosity over judgment and presence over avoidance.

Jesus reveals God not through carefully managed appearances, but through relationships that cross lines. Following Him invites us to examine which lines we’ve drawn and why. It asks us to consider whether our faith makes room for grace or keeps it safely contained.

If mercy feels awkward, you’re probably close to where Jesus is.

Action: Notice who you instinctively keep at a distance. Ask God to help you see them with compassion rather than assumption. Look for one small way to show kindness or presence without trying to fix or change them.

Prayer: Jesus, You draw near to people others overlook or avoid. Teach us to reflect Your mercy in the way we treat those around us. Help us release fear, soften our judgments, and choose presence over distance. Shape our lives by Your grace and love. In Your name we pray, amen.

Thought for the Day: Mercy often looks uncomfortable before it looks holy.

Jesus didn’t protect His image by keeping distance. He shared meals, stories, and time with people others avoided. This devotional reflects on choosing mercy and presence, even when it feels awkward or risky.