Matthew Series, Week 19 - The Unglamorous Disciple

  No job starts off glamourous. In construction I started as a scrapper, picking up the debris left behind from the sheet-rockers. When I worked for a baseball and softball school, I was the one who warmed up the students and picked up the balls between sessions. For a time, my dad used to run a small rooter business, like Roto-Rooter, cleaning out drains for people. My Dad told me a story about my great grandfather who moved to the Los Angelas. area back in the 40s. No one was pumping septic tanks, so he got into the business. Every beginning phase of a job is unglamorous; even later points of the job can be unglamorous. The two questions I have always asked myself is, do I need this job and am I happy doing this? Meaning, if I need the job, I don’t care how unglamorous it is, I need to eat and provide for others. That’s the first question, because sometimes we have to work unglamorous jobs to pay the bills. My second question about being happy is secondary to needing the job. Yet, if I am not happy in the job the need begins to wear quickly and the unglamorous nature of the job wears as well. Yet if I am happy with the job, the unglamorous parts are not as important because I enjoy being there. 

I enjoyed being a scrapper because I hung out with my Dad. I enjoyed being a ball boy, because I got to be around training future players. Most of the jobs I have held are ones where I have learned to look past the unglamorous parts, and found the enjoyment in the work. Some more so than others. 

And it’s understanding that work is not always glamorous, yet enjoying it anyway, is what brings us back into our summer sermon series, where we’ll be looking at the second sermon of Jesus, that Matthew gives us in chapter 10 of his Gospel. And as we open to Matthew chapter 10, let’s recap how the Holy Spirit, by way of Matthew, has brought us into this second sermon.

Starting in chapter 8, Matthew began a three-section, three-fold narrative structure, where he would present three moments in Jesus’ life followed by some sort of teaching by Jesus.

In the first section Matthew has shown us that, as disciples, we need to realize that our home is with the willing God, and not found in this world. In other words, like Jesus was reject by this world, so too would be those who follow him. If we are Jesus’ disciples, then we must recognize that wee cannot be tethered to this world.

The second section built on this by letting us know that, as disciples, we must realize that we are to live our lives under the authority of God, following him as he reaches out to sinners lost in darkness. This means that, just as the hymn states, “where he leads, I will follow,” Jesus must be the one who directs us as he sees fit, and not the other way around. 

Finally, last week we saw how Matthew shows us that, as disciples, we must realize that we are to rejoice in the presence of Jesus and to head out to the harvest fields for work. Jesus reveals that there are many out there that are ready to receive the Gospel message, but few people who are willing to take the time and present it. Therefore we are to not simply pray for others to be used, but also be willing to be used as God leads us.

These three sections culminate in Jesus’ sermon as he sends out his closet twelve disciples. This sermon is sometimes referred to as the Little Commission, because it focuses on just a few disciples, whereas the Great Commission, at the end of Matthew, is for all disciples.

Now, we’re looking at this entire chapter in one sitting, because we need to see how each aspect of it links together. And as we have done for this last few weeks, we’ll read a aspect and see what that aspect has to say.

Let’s begin reading in chapter 10, starting in verse 1.

1 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

For now we just need to notice one thing from these first four verses. These twelve are paired together by their names, this is most likely to let us know that this is how they were sent out. By grouping the names in pairs, we are being shown that when we minister, we need to have support. We need to have others by ourselves, both physically and spiritually as we present the Gospel message. This is based on a proverb from Ecclesiastes 4:12. Which reads, “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” Partnership between disciples of Jesus in the work of God will always produce better results and healthier outreach. 

Now that we have that as a foundation to Jesus’ message, let keep reading in verse 5.

5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7 As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

9 “Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts— 10 no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep. 11 Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave. 12 As you enter the home, give it your greeting. 13 If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. 14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. 15 Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.

Here there are three parts that we are to notice. First, Jesus gives some “Do” instructions. Do go to the Jews, i.e. the lost sheep of Israel. This means their work is focused specifically with that people group. Later on this would expand to all nations, but not yet. The next do is, to proclaim the message about the kingdom and heal the sick, cleans the lepers, and drive out demons. In other words, they were to follow in Jesus’ footsteps of a healing ministry. Jesus’ final do is, do give freely what had been given to them. Jesus never took money from anyone to be healed, he freely gave to those that needed it. The disciples had to follow suit, they couldn’t charge for these miracles. 

This is followed by Jesus some “Don’t” instructions. The first is, don’t take money. Meaning, don’t take your personal cash or even a coin bag to place money in. No money was to be used on this trip. In addition to not taking money, the second instruction was, don’t take additional resources. Don’t take a bag for personal items. Don’t take extra clothes or shoes. Don’t take an extra staff. In other words don’t take things that would weigh down your going and you in getting the Gospel message out. And because you’re not taking anything it leads in Jesus’ final instruction of reliance.

Jesus lets these disciples know that they would be take care of because, a “worker is worth his keep.” Jesus lets them know that there will be houses of peace that will let them in, and will provide their lodging and other physical needs. These instructions are all based on Jesus wanting his disciples to rely on God for sustaining them. They are to go about the work of God, and in return, God will take care of their needs. Remember that prayer that Jesus taught his disciples to pray back in chapter 6, verses 9-13? Here’s the application of it in the disciples’ lives. 

So as they go, they are to rely on God for their needs being met. But as they go out into the world, there will be things that they must be aware of that will happen. Let’s drop down to verse 16.

16 “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. 17 Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. 18 On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, 20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

21 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 23 When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

24 “The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!

As the disciples are going out into the world, they must be aware that things are not going to be all sunshine and lollipops. They will be sheep among wolves. This is something Jesus had already mentioned back in his first sermon, in chapter 7 verse 15. There are people out there that are ready to devour Jesus’ disciples and so they must be aware of the condition that the of the world is in. 

But that’ shouldn’t dismay them, but rather bring reality into view. And they should engage the world with some Old Testament wisdom. Jesus says to “be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” Snakes were seen as being careful and cautious, and so the disciples need to be like that as they are dealing with people. Yet at the same time, the need to be like the dove who was seen as being pure in motive. Therefore the disciples should be honest in their actions and motives, and being open to the movement of God. In other words, a disciple can’t shrink back in the face of the wolves, but move intelligently forward, in the purity that God calls them to.

But even as a disciple does this, there will be both physical persecution and challenges to the disciples’ faith. And so a disciple must rely on the Holy Spirit to speak through them. Not relying on ourselves, but on the movement of the Holy Spirit to speak on the disciples’ behalf through the words he will give.

And because a disciple follows Jesus, families and communities will be divided. Jesus is divisive, because his message calls us out of the sin that we enjoy and into a life under the authority of God. The rebellion of Adam and Eve is where humanity currently resides, and so there will be those that desire to stay in that rebellion. Jesus’ narrow message is not something that is readily accepted by humanity at large, and so will divide people.

Therefore, how the disciple engages the world, must be based on Jesus’ example. Because, even Jesus, who did everything right, was vilified, hated and killed, what more will the world do to those who follow him?

This leads into Jesus’ call to trust in him starting in verse 26.

26 “So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. 28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

32 “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.

Here Jesus lets his disciples know that, even though they will be physically and spiritually persecuted, they do not have to worry because God will be the final judge in all things. A disciple doesn’t have to fear lies, because every lie will be revealed. A disciple doesn’t have to fear physical death, because in eternity, they will be vindicated with everlasting life.

There is nothing in the world that a disciple needs to worry about, because God will make all things good in the end. This is the real world application of Jesus words in chapters 5 (v.38-48) and 6 (13-34) about not worry and relying on God. Do you see the application of what Jesus has already said and did up to this point being asked of the disciple to be put into practice?

The final thing Jesus tells his disciples here is that they are to acknowledge him. This is the application of the final words of Jesus’ last sermon. If we are to know Jesus, then we are to acknowledge him before the world. If we shy away from this, we will be like those that Jesus mention back in chapter 7 (v.21-27), who can do miraculous things in Jesus’ name, but who are unknown to Jesus because they have no relationship with him. A relationship with Jesus means that it isn’t secret. That others know we are his disciples; that we will stand, not upon our own reinterpretations of God’s word, but on the clear teachings of Jesus.

And because of this stance we are called to make as Jesus’ disciples, our home in heaven will become abundantly clear. Starting in verse 34 we read…

34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn “‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— 36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’

37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.

When Jesus made reference to this world not being his home in chapter 8 (v.18-22), and how his disciples too should not be tethered to it, we see Jesus’ words work themselves out here. Following Jesus means that we must realize that he becomes central to us. That he must become greater than anything else in our lives. A disciple must wrestle with this concept and have it as a firm conviction before persecution begins. If we do not have the conviction that Jesus is more important than anything else in our lives, then we have put ourselves in a position where the pressure of the world will be do unbearable to face. 

Yet when we have our conviction to follow Jesus no matter what, we will then find true life. We will love like we have never loved before. We will be compassionate, kind, generous, self-controlled, firm in our identity, and a pillar of strength, because in Jesus we have everything. The world and all the worries it holds will have no sway over us. And as the world descends into chaos, the disciple will seem an oddity, because they stand firm on Jesus.

It’s here that Jesus then turns our attention to the end result of following closely to him.

40 “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 41 Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. 42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”

Jesus’ disciples will multiply as people receive the message. Paul talks about this idea 1 Corinthians chapter 11, that he is passing on what he had learned from the Lord. Each one of us receives the Gospel from another disciple; our faith is then developed by the Holy Spirit and God’s Word. Then we are to pass that on into another’s life, and so continue the work that began from this Little Commission to these twelve. We who are disciples today, are those who stand in a long line of disciples who have welcomed the one whom Jesus sent and who are in turn, welcomed by Jesus. 

Therefore the reward that everyone in his long line has received is not the things of this world, but Jesus himself. Jesus is the reward of the disciple. Through trials and tribulations, Jesus’ Gospel has come, and it will continue forward through his disciples, so that others may know the surpassing riches of God.

The call of these first twelve men to the work of Jesus began the distribution of the Gospel message through those whom Jesus called. The majority of these unknown people would go onto the world stage with one simple message, Jesus crucified and resurrected. This message would then change the world. 

But we must not fall into the trap that it’s a glamorous work. All these men gave their lives in the work of the Gospel. Millions of disciples have given and are giving their lives now for this same Gospel message. They have counted the cost, they have forsaken their home in this world, and they have sought Jesus above all else. This is the call of the disciple of Jesus. God is calling us into his life. A life separated from the world, to God. A life where we must lose our place here, to gain and everlasting one. Where Jesus becomes supreme, and then everything is put into its rightful place. This work is not glamorous, but is glorious. Because as we live in the life of Jesus, we are not elevated in the economy of the world, but God is lifted in the praise of his people, and his people get to experience his glorious presence. 

So then, my challenge this week is to take an aspect of Jesus’ sermon here in chapter 10 everyday, and ask God to make it real in your life.

Day 1: Read verses 1-4; Ask God to give you a Gospel partner. Whether physically or spiritually. Someone who would engage in the work Jesus is calling you to, that would encourage and support you in it.

Day 2: Read verses 5-15; Seek God to rely on him. Ask God to break any desire you have to rely on yourself to provide for his work. True you will need to work, but remember that it is God from whom all your blessings flow.

Day 3: Read verses 16-25; Ask God to prepare you, both mentally and physically for the push back of both light and hard persecution. So that you can be wise and innocent in this world.

Day 4: Read verses 26-33; Asking God to help you be bold about you relationship with him, not worry about the things of this world, but that the Gospel would be known through you.

Day 5: Read verse 34-39; Seek to be an oddity in this world because you rely on Jesus for everything. 

Day 6: Read verses 40-42; Praying that God would multiple the work that he calls you to, that you would be a linage of disciples who follow after you, for the glory of Jesus.

Partnership, Reliance, Preparedness, Boldness, Oddness, Multiplication. Those are the things we are to be seeking as we share the Gospel message. Each one is an aspect that is needed if we are going to be about God’s work in the harvest fields. Each one falls back onto God as being the central and sustaining point of our lives. 

Jesus’ work is not the glamour the world seeks, but it is the glory of eternity. Let us be about our Father’s business, pointing others to the Son’s wonderful life, by being empowered by the Holy Spirit to accomplish all that he has for us. Amen.

Matthew Series, Week 18 - The Groom’s Party

  When I got married I was given two bachelor parties. The first one was just with my groom’s men. They grabbed me, tied me up, and put a bag over my head. They then proceeded to take me to chevy’s where we had virgin margaritas, because we were all under 21, and dinner. Though the evening started off fun with the kidnapping, it ended with a whimper as we all went back to the hotel to sleep. 

But the morning was a different story. We woke up about 4 or 5am and drove the hour and fifteen minutes between San Jose to Monterey Bay in California. There, one of my grooms men, my dad, and several other family friends met to go scuba diving. My family had been diving since I was thirteen and it was a fun morning as afterwards we all went out to breakfast. In total there was about fifteen of us there. I still remember the blueberry muffin in the tiny little hole in the wall restaurant. The night before was a dud, but the next morning was fantastic. The day went almost perfect, and by three o’clock I was married. My groom’s men didn’t put on the best bachelor party, but I wouldn’t have had a different one that morning. Good friends and family, having a good time together. 

And it’s this idea of partying with the groom that brings us back into our Matthew series where we will be finishing off chapter 9 by starting in verse 14. And as we open up to Matthew 9 verse 14, let’s look back at where we are in these last two weeks.

We started looking at chapters 8 and 9 as a connected three-set, three-fold narrative structure that was a precursor to chapter 10. In the first set of this three-set three-fold narrative structure, we saw how, as disciples, we needed to realize that our home is with the willing God and not to cling to this world. In the first set of three, we saw that Jesus was calling us, who would be his disciples, to reject anything that would attach us to this world. Meaning, though we may have things, such as homes, vehicles, families, none must take precedence over our commitment to him.

Then last week we saw how, as disciples, we must realize that we are to live this life under the authority of God, following God as he seeks sinners. God’s authority over our life is key if we are to be his disciples. He is the God over the physical and spiritual realms, and therefore as his disciples, we submit to his authority to direct our lives. That direction he has for us, is to be working in pointing others to himself for their salvation. All other work that we do, is secondary to this one important calling.

It’s here that we now turn attention to the final set of three, in Matthew’s three-set three-fold narrative structure in chapter 9, starting in verse 14.

14 Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?”

15 Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.

16 “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. 17 Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”

In Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount we noticed that he had said, “When you fast…(6:16)” We talked about how fasting is a part of the Christian lifestyle. That we are called to fast, in keeping with Jesus’ words. Yet, when Jesus spoke those words, they were for a future moment in time. His disciples would fast, but not just yet. It’s because the time of fasting had not yet come, and because it had not come, the disciples of John the Baptist wanted to know why Jesus’ disciples were not engaging in the customary fasts that took place weekly. 

Notice how Jesus describes the reasoning. Jesus wraps up fasting with a wedding party. In our culture, the groom awaits the bride at the alter, but in Jesus’ culture the bride awaited the groom’s arrival. And when the groom arrived, the party began and could last for days. Jesus connects fasting as being separated from the physical presence of the groom. He is the groom, and since he is with his disciples, there is no need for fasting. But Jesus points to a time when the physical presence of groom will be gone, and then fasting will resume. 

We need to recognize Jesus’ words here, because it’s the first illusion from Jesus of his sacrifice on the cross that we get in Matthew. It’s here that we get our introduction to Jesus’ full mission on earth. Yes, he has come to seek and save the lost, those who are sick and in need of doctor,  but he has also come to die on behalf of his creation.

This is why Jesus then adds the cryptic words of new patches on old clothes and new wine in old wineskins. God’s salvation work in the nation of Israel was done under the covenant of follow these laws and you will be my people. Which means a right relationships had a two parts: God’s divine promise and man’s faithful work. Yet Jesus is fulfilling the Old Testament teaching that man’s actions, rooted in his rebellious heart, cannot hope to keep the law of God. Jesus revealed this through his Sermon on the Mount. Therefore a new covenant needed to be made, a covenant not based on two parts, but rather on one part, God’s. It was God who would be the bases of the new covenant. His actions would achieve the requirements, which left humanity with the simple task of simply accepting the achieved work of God on their behalf. 

Jesus’ sacrifice was a complete sacrifice. Whereas the old covenant required daily and yearly sacrifices, Jesus’ new covenant was based on his own sacrifice once for all. And so, through this interaction with John’s disciples, Jesus is pointing to his sacrifice and eventual new covenant through the cross.

And when we realize that Jesus is pointing to a new covenant through his sacrifice, the stories from Jesus’ life that Matthew now turns our attention to, make more sense. Let’s read  through these four stories.

 

18 While he was saying this, a synagogue leader came and knelt before him and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.” 19 Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples.

20 Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. 21 She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.”

22 Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment.

23 When Jesus entered the synagogue leader’s house and saw the noisy crowd and people playing pipes, 24 he said, “Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him. 25 After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up. 26 News of this spread through all that region.

In this first set of two stories, we see two females in need of Jesus. The first is an older lady who has been bleeding for over a decade. She believes that just one touch of Jesus would healed her. She was right, and Jesus sent her on her way in a healed state.

Next we see Jesus arrive at the young girls home, everyone believes she is dead, but death to Jesus isn’t the same thing as we perceive it to be. He tells the crowd she sleeps, they laugh, and he proceeds to wake her up. This is a monumental moment, because unlike other healings and exorcisms, resurrections didn’t occur.

Here we must recognize those that trust in Jesus and those that don’t, because it continues on in the next set of two stories.

We read in verse 27, 

27 As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”

28 When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”

“Yes, Lord,” they replied.

29 Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; 30 and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” 31 But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region.

32 While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus. 33 And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”

34 But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.”

These four stories are different in their details, but parallel in their purpose. Instead of two females, we get three males. The first two parallel the bleeding woman seeking after Jesus believing that he can heal them. All three are healed and sent on their way. 

The second story is similar to that of the little girl. Yet, where she was dead to this physical world, this man was dead spiritually. Yet both are healed by Jesus and given back their lives.

Yet do we recognize the implication of these stories that Matthew gives us? The people laugh at Jesus when he says that the girl is sleeping. After the man is exorcised of the demon, the Pharisees attribute Jesus’ works to satan. These two situations should bring to mind the fact that there are those that seek after Jesus and those that reject him. Those who are happy the groom has arrived, and those that are still in sorrow.

Matthew is trying to get us to make a decision, are we going to rejoice that the groom has come, or are we going to act in sorrow rejecting his arrival? Matthew is calling us to rejoice, but then attaches a teaching that links these narratives to the next sermon that Jesus is going to give in chapter 10. Let’s read in verse 35.

35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

By the leading of the Holy Spirit, Matthew is directing us to rejoice that Jesus, the groom, has come, and then to the mission of Jesus’ disciples. If you are a part of those that rejoice that Jesus has come, then you must seek to be workers in the harvest. There are those that are seeking God, who need to be ministered to.

Here Matthew comments that Jesus, “…had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”

The people seeking Jesus were in need of him, and he cared for them. This is reminiscent of what God spoke to Moses about in the burning bush. 

Starting in Exodus 3:7 it reads, “7 The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. 8 So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians…10 So now, go. I am sending you…”

Jesus too is seeing the plight of humanity and is compelled to act. In his actions he will give his own life for those that would seek him, that they may be physically, but ultimately spiritually healed and brought out of sin and death and into his new covenant of his righteousness and life. And who would he send? That’s the question. Who would God call to be workers in the harvest field? 

Jesus is asking this of the disciples that are gathered around him. That they would pray that God would send workers into the field. And we could easily feel a sense of relief because that seems to me that it doesn't have to be me. I can pray for others to be the workers. Yet, it’s from those disciples that in the next breath, in chapter 10, that we’ll see him sending out the twelve. And as Luke records, the 72 (Luke 10), and then eventually we see the whole sending of the Church in Matthew’s final chapter.

In other words, anyone who rejoices at the coming of the groom, those that enter into this new covenant with him, are the ones who are called to be sent out into the harvest field. If we call ourselves disciples of Jesus, Christians, we must be at work in the harvest as God leads us.

Therefore as disciples, we must realize that we are to rejoice in Jesus’ presence and to work in the harvest fields as he leads.

So my challenge is this, first are you rejoicing in Jesus? With his physical departure from this world there are times when we need to fast, but are you experiencing the joy of the Lord more abundantly then not? If we are not to worry, nor be tethered to this world, are we rejoicing in God who transcends our circumstances? Paul states in 1 Thessalonians 5, “16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Are we? People ask, “what is God’s will for my life?” Well, it’s to rejoice in him. Take some time and rejoice in whatever circumstance the Groom has allowed you to be in this week.

Second, are we seeking to work in the harvest? We should be asking God to prepare us for his harvest work. To give us, and our brothers and sisters, the strength, will, and words to share with those who are seeking Jesus. Let us be diligently praying for the harvest, and the workers that God sends.

Jesus calls his people to a bridal party the likes that none have ever seen. We experience only a minute fraction of it here and now. Yet when he returns, we will experience the Groom in his fullness even greater than those who walked with him on this earth. So, let us rejoice and persevere until the day the Lord Jesus is revealed and the real party begins. Amen.

Matthew Series, Week 17 -Seeking God

  There’s this story where A.B. Simpson, the founder of the Alliance, is pastoring in Louisville Kentucky in the late 1800s. He was from Canada originally, but due to health concerns he moved to the States. While in Louisville he would take daily strolls into the forest. On one of these forest strolls, his back gave out. In an age without cell phones, and in a sparsely traveled area, there was no way for anyone to locate him. The story goes that Simpson only had one option, call out to God for help.

Now at this point in A.B. Simpson’s life, he understood God to be his Savior. Like most Christians, this central teaching is the bases for everything else we understand about God. That’s because without an understanding of God as Savior, we cannot enter into relationship with him, because we don’t understand our need for him. But in this moment of pain, Simpson called out to God, not for salvation, which he had, but for help. And God responded with a healing. It was in that moment Simpson’s theology grew into an understanding of Jesus’ not only being our Savior who seeks the lost sheep, but also our Healer who seeks to reveal himself through our suffering. 

Simpson went onto live a life that wasn’t absent from pain, but rather that in his pain, he saw God seek after him.

And it’s this idea of God not only seeking us to save us, but also seeking us in all facets of life, thereby bringing us ever closer to him, that brings us back into our Matthew series, where we’ll be coming back to chapter 8, starting in verse 23. And as we get back into Matthew 8:23, let’s remind ourselves where we are so far.

In the first severn chapters of Matthew, we learned about Jesus’ identity, and how his identity was to encompass who his disciples are. If a person desires to be a disciple of Jesus, then they have to follow as Jesus leads. Through Jesus’ first sermon that Matthew presents us, we learn that a disciple has to come to the realization that they cannot meet the standard of God’s perfection, therefore they must rely completely on Jesus for everything. A disciple has to rely on Jesus to save them from sin, to work through them with people, and to direct their thoughts and and actions through his word. Everything a disciple is, is wrapped up in who Jesus is.

Then last week we started moving towards the second of Jesus’ sermons, by looking at the first of three, three-fold narrative structures. In this first three-fold structure we saw that Jesus, the God come down, is willing to heal, he has the authority to heal, and because of these factors, he is deserving of our service. Jesus’ willingness to heal and the ability to do so flies in the face of ancient ideas of the divine. For most religions, we must prove worthy of the gods’ attention in order for them to act. Yet with Jesus, he willing acts, even before we seek him (Romans 5:8). And because he is willing and does act, a correct response from us is to serve him as he sees fit.

It was after this three-fold structure that we then get a teaching section by Jesus. This teaching has to do with his, and by extension his disciples, not being tethered to a world that has rejected him. Even though Jesus created the world, the world has rejected him (John 1). Because of this, in the state that the world is in, it cannot house the people of God. Therefore we cannot allow the things of this world to tether us to it, always remembering that everything we have are merely tools to accomplish the things of God.

This understanding of Jesus’ willingness and authority, our service and untethering from the world, leads us into our second set of three-fold narrative structure. So let’s read together starting in Matthew 8:23.

 

8:23 Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24 Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”

26 He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

27 The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

This is one of those famous Sunday school stories. The storm is an impressive one, even to those disciples who are fishermen. These types of storms were common place on the Sea of Galilee, and they were not to be trifled with. But there are three things we are to notice. 

First, Jesus was asleep. Though it was a horrendous storm, it didn’t seem to bother Jesus, most likely because his physical body was exhausted from the ministry work. 

Second we need to recognize Jesus’ response to the disciples’ fear, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Well because there’s a deadly storm Jesus. But this follows the first three-fold structure where we learned that Jesus is willing to act in human affairs, he has authority and we cannot be tethered to this world. So there should be no fear of the storm.

Finally, we are to notice the disciples’ response, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” By leaving this narrative on a question, Matthew is inviting us to answer it. The obvious answer is, he’s not a mere man. This not only points us to the identity that Matthew has been presenting of Jesus being the God come down and taking on human flesh, but also the narrative carries forward the idea of Jesus authority. Yes, Jesus can heal, but so could others, but Jesus also has authority of nature itself. The disciples final statement moves us forward in our understanding of both Jesus’ identity and his ability to call nature to order.

This then moves us into our second narrative, which we pick this up in verse 28.

28 When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes (Gad-ar-een-z), two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. 29 “What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?”

30 Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. 31 The demons begged Jesus, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.”

32 He said to them, “Go!” So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water. 33 Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34 Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.

This is an interesting story. We know something of the area from what Matthew gives us. This area is most likely filled with more Gentiles than Jews, or these Jews are more Hellenized to the point of allowing the raising of pigs, something that a strict Jewish observer would have nothing to do with. But we are to notice three things here as well. 

First, the demons recognize Jesus, this is the answer to the disciples’ question, “What kind of man is this?” Not only does nature obey him, but also the possessing demons. 

Now we’re not getting into why Jesus allowed them to go into the pigs, but rather we need to notice that he granted their request. This is Jesus’ authority over the spiritual realms on full display. Jesus does not only exercise a demon out of someone, something that did occur during this time, but he could tell the demon where to go, showing his authority over such creatures. 

Finally we are to notice that the people in the region rejected him. Though Jesus freed two men, he did cause a social crisis in the destruction of the pigs and therefore would lead to some economic problems.

As we finish this narrative, we should have a connection back to the first three-fold structure. Here again is the authority of Jesus, but this time extending to the spiritual realm. But also we should recognize Jesus’ call to be untethered to this world, yet here are a group of people who reject that untethering. Their pigs, were more important than the freeing of the two men. It’s a simple reminder that no economic need is greater than the Gospel message.

Next, we move to the third part of this second narrative structure in chapter 9 verse 1.

9:1 Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. 2 Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”

3 At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!”

4 Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? 5 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 6 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” 7 Then the man got up and went home. 8 When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man.

Whereas both the Gospel of Mark and Luke give us the fuller story of what is happening, Matthew only gives us the bare bones of what we need to know to follow his line of thinking (Mark 2:1-12; Luke 5:17-39). Mark and Luke tell us that this all takes place in a home where a large crowd has gathered. The friends cannot get the guy on the mat to Jesus so they bust through the roof. Matthew skips this background setting, so that we can focus on the interaction between Jesus and the teachers of the law. We are to notice that Jesus’ first reaction isn’t to heal, but to say, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” This is huge, and can be seen in the reaction of the teachers of the law, when they respond with, “This fellow is blaspheming!”

Why is it blasphemy? Because there is a theological underlying understanding that only God can forgive someone their sins. Sure, God gave ceremonies to perform for the removal of sin by sacrificing animals, but the actual forgiveness of those sins can only come from God. This is because, we may sin against each other, but ultimately our sin against God himself. This is illustrated in Psalm 51, where, even though David has sinned against Urial, Bathsheba, and against all of Israel, he writes to God, “Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight (v.4).” The ultimate place where we sin is against God himself, and until we are reconciled with God, we can never be truly reconciled with each other.

It’s this underlying theological understanding that only God can forgive sins, that makes Jesus’ words of forgiveness so revolting to the teachers of the law. In saying he forgives the man sins, Jesus is claiming divinity. Jesus is calling himself God, and it’s not lost on the teachers of the law. 

So what does Jesus do? Jesus first says, “Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?” The the obvious answer being your sins are forgiven, because that is unseen. Then Jesus proceeds to use his authority, that authority we have seen him use several times so far, and he heals the man. This in turns proves his point, Jesus is the God who has the authority to forgive sin. Except does it really prove his point? 

If we read carefully we see that Matthew adds a bit of commentary. In the last sentence we read, “When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man.” They missed the point. They thought God had given Jesus this authority, yet we as the reader should understand, no, Jesus is God himself come down.

This is the third group that hasn’t grasped Jesus so far. The disciples’ question, who is this man? The pig farming town rejected Jesus, and now the people see Jesus claim to be God, yet they miss it.

This brings us into the end of the three-fold narrative structure with Matthew’s own conversion story in verse 9 of chapter 9.

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.

10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

This is an interesting story, because Matthew tells it in the third person, but more than that, he doesn’t use his Hebrew name. Both Mark and Luke in their Gospel accounts use the name Levi, Matthew’s Jewish name. But to Matthew, that that name is gone, Jesus changed it, and therefore Matthew uses the name Jesus called him, rather than one that pointed to his life before he met Jesus.

Here we are to notice that Jesus does the same calling to Matthew the he did to his first disciples back in chapter 4, “Follow me.” And just like those first disciples, we’re told, that, “Matthew got up and followed him.” This shows us that the correct response to Jesus is to leave behind our old lives and follow Jesus in his life. Unlike the three groups who did not understand who Jesus was, Matthew understands that he must follow him.

Then Matthew host Jesus, along with other people that were not “good” company to have for a Rabbi of Jesus’ abilities. This is why the Pharisees spoke so derogatively towards Jesus and his eating with “sinners.”

It’s here that Jesus reveals his mission, to go to those who are in need, like a doctor to the sick, or God to the sinner. Jesus gives a little Old Testament jab at the Pharisees by quoting Hosea 6:6, pointing out their desire to perform un-heartfelt things for God, while God desires compassion on others.

Here we are to see the summation in this three-fold narrative structure. The God of nature and spiritual realms, who forgives sin, has come to sinners to bring them back to himself. Matthew understood this and used his new name, because he was living in Jesus’ new life.  

It is the same life that Jesus is calling us to as well. We must recognize that when we answer the call of Jesus to follow, that it isn’t a simple one time prayer that we say, but rather a new life that we live. We live this life in the power of the God who is over nature and the spiritual realms. We live in his life, because we are in desperate need of his forgiveness and mercy. If we are to be Jesus’ disciples we must realize that our lives are not our own, but Jesus’. We are to follow where he leads. And where he leads we will see storms quelled, demons cast out, sins forgiven. But above all, we will see the mercy of the Almighty God, given out to those who would accept it.

Last week I challenged you to ask if you struggled with Jesus’ authority in your life. This week I want to challenge you to ask the question, am I living fully under God’s authority? Following that up with, and I seeking out sinners to be reconciled to God as he seeks them. And finally, following that up with, as I follow, am I living in the new life of Jesus, is my identity in him like Matthew, or am I trying to hold onto my old self?

God has called us out of our old sinful lives into the life of Jesus. A life that seeks forgiveness, and mercy over ritual observations that have no life changing worth. Let us be a people who are known for forgiveness and mercy, as our God is known to us. Amen.