Sheep

Matthew 9:35-10:15

The crowd gathers. They’ve heard that Jesus can do amazing things. The lame walk. The blind see. The dead are raised. The possessed are set free. Healings. Miracles. They’ve come to Him.

Jesus looks at them. Does He resent their coming or wanting quick fixes? No. Does He send them away with the invitation to come back when they’ve figured life out? No.

Jesus looks at them and sees who they really are: “confused and helpless.” Other renderings describe them as harassed, distressed, dispirited, dejected and bewildered.

Jesus looks at them and sees their real need. They are sheep without a shepherd. Wandering. Lost. Abandoned.

Jesus looks at them—at us—and has compassion. The Shepherd has come.And we sheep—remembering we once, too, were lost—can offer His compassion to those who’ve yet to be found.

Lord Jesus, help me to remember...

Mary Pierce

Breaking The Barriers

Friday, January 13th - Matthew 9:9-34

It's amazing to see the things that Jesus has been doing and saying. It's tough sometimes to let these familiar passages feel new again. But as we read together in a fresh translation and as we blog together, I've been trying to experience these things as if I were there or to picture what it would be like to have things like this happen around me today.

This morning, I'm going to focus on a brief part of today's reading, just verses 9-13, Jesus' interaction with Matthew, Matthew's friends, and the Pharisees' response.

Matthew, as a tax collector, was an outcast in Jewish society. Just seeing him probably disgusted people. Some likely feared him, either because of his ties to the Roman government or because he had the power and the desire to demand more than they owed in taxes and, possibly, more than they could afford to pay. He was a traitor, a Jew serving the occupiers.

One day, as Jesus is walking through the streets, he sees Matthew at his booth. He doesn't walk past. He doesn't ignore Matthew, or hope Matthew doesn't see him. He doesn't rebuke Matthew for his sinful lifestyle or decisions. He said, "Follow me, and be my disciple." And Matthew got up, left his job behind forever, and followed Jesus. Then, later, Matthew invites Jesus to meet his friends. Our text describes the group as "scum." But Jesus accepts the invitation to join them. He talks with them, enjoys their company, and loves them.

Matthew's interaction with Jesus reminds me of at least a couple things. First, I'm so thankful that Jesus has come for the sinners. I'm thankful that even though I'm a traitor, who has turned to go my own way, he sees me, comes to me, and invites me to follow him.

Second, I'm challenged and convicted. I'm challenged to have eyes like Jesus, to see people for who they are, to break down the barriers caused by my perception or my social comfort or my own insecurities and recognize that the common factor for all of us is that we each need Jesus, and he loves us all. I'm convicted by my tendency to categorize people the way the Pharisees did. These people are like us; those are not. These are not exactly like us, but they're similar in a way we like. The lines might be political. They could be based on behavior. They could be simply because someone did something I didn't like while I was driving. The lines might be drawn because I admire them or because I fear disappointing them.

It's natural. Some people we feel more comfortable around than others. But Jesus related to people in supernatural ways. The only barrier left standing was, "will you follow me or not?" But even when they chose not to, he still loved them.

As I consider these words in Matthew, my prayer is this: "Thank you, Jesus, for seeing me, for loving me, and for inviting me to follow you. Please help me to see people through your eyes and not my labels, that I might be used by you to be an instrument of your love in the lives of the people around me. Help me to love them, so that they might experience your transforming grace, your forgiveness and follow you."

Brian Quade

"Such Great Authority"

Thursday, January 11 - Matthew 8:23-9:8

Have you noticed how our readings have switched from Jesus' teachings to accounts of some of his miracles?

When Matthew wrote his Gospel, he placed great emphasis on the teachings of Jesus. If you have a Bible with the words of Jesus printed in red, try flipping the pages of the book of Matthew. You'll get an idea of the treasure-trove of teaching available to us.

As we began the Sermon on the Mount, we encountered the apparent audacity of Jesus - "You have heard the law ... but I say ..." with the result that crowds were amazed as they recognized Jesus' authority.

Now, Matthew shifts gears, so to speak. He chooses to give us the details of some of Jesus' many miracles. They, too, speak of His authority. Yesterday's reading shows us the Roman centurion (8:5-13) who knew the meaning of authority. Though a Gentile, he was commended by Jesus for his faith. The centurion's trust in Jesus' authority resulted in the healing of his paralyzed servant.

Today, we see Jesus as "Ruler of all nature." When He rebuked the wind and waves, the disciples were amazed. Jesus could just as well be saying to me, "Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!" For I ask myself this: If Jesus, King of Glory, has control of the whole universe - as indeed He does - then why is it so hard for me to believe that He has my own particular circumstances under control? When I'm trembling, like the disciples I need to shout, "Lord, save me!" I want to remember that if He doesn't change the difficult things that surround me, He will still be with me, ready to calm my inner storm.

Next, we see Jesus' authority to cast out demons. Even these demons recognized who Jesus was - the Son of God. Isn't it a curious thing that some people who had been hoping for His coming didn't recognize Him when He came? There were even some people who wished he hadn't come. Look at the response of those who heard how the two demon-possessed men had been restored. To the townsfolk, the men's change from brokenness to wholeness probably meant a financial setback. As Jesus continues to bring healing to my heart and mind, I won't worry about losing a few pigs. Still, it's sad that some family members or friends, seeing what Jesus has done for me, may say "go away, leave us alone."

Finally, we see how Jesus, by healing the paralyzed man, demonstrated His authority to forgive sins! The religious leaders almost got it right. Yes, only God can forgive sins. Jesus was claiming equality with God. Either he was indeed the Son of God, or He was blaspheming the Holy One. The religious leaders rejected the notion that Jesus was God-with-us. But, as fear swept through the crowd, people praised God for sending Jesus. May we, who know the price He paid, never cease to praise the Father for our Sin-Bearer.

Deetje Wildes

The Love of Jesus

It surely helps me to try to visualize the experience I am reading about – Jesus, the crowd of people, and then the bold action of a man with leprosy.  That just wasn’t the way such a person was expected to act – for he was to keep his distance from others due to his disease. 

“Go to the priest,” said Jesus.  I notice again how often references in the New Testament go back to lessons from the Old Testament.

Yes, I recall that little rhyme:

“The New is in the Old concealed; The Old is in the New revealed.”

I’ve often wondered: how many folks came to Jesus for help who weren’t “quite the kind” we’d expect – non-religious, outcasts.  And notice those who “felt so religious” who often rejected Jesus.

AND YET, JESUS LOVED THEM.

v. 20 He didn’t really have “a place to lay His head”.  I get sort of emotional as I think of that, especially in contrast to all that I/we have.

He gave up so much to come down to earth to be with us and help us.

 

Donald E. Pardun

God's Kingdom from Matthew 7:12-29

Greetings from Pastor Adam this fine day!

These verses speak of God’s Kingdom and gaining entrance into that Kingdom. Matthew 7:13 tells us that we can only enter God’s Kingdom through the narrow gate. One must immediately be reminded of Jesus’ words in John 10:9, “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.” Jesus is the narrow gate, this does not mean that Jesus is narrow and not overweight (although He did a lot of walking) but that He is the only way of salvation. Only through Jesus and His work of forgiving our sins can we find entrance into the Kingdom of God.

As Matthew continues to speak about God’s Kingdom, I am also reminded of the Second Petition of the Lord’s Prayer and its meaning found in Luther’s Small Catechism, “Your kingdom come.” What does this mean? The Kingdom of God truly does come of itself, without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may also come to us. How is this done? “The Kingdom of God comes to us when our Heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His Holy Word, and live a godly life here on earth and in heaven forever.” God’s kingdom comes to us through the work of the Holy Spirit as we believe His Word (that Jesus is the narrow gate) and that we live a godly life, like apples on an apple tree or a builder who builds on a solid foundation and not sand. Lord may your Kingdom come to me! May I gladly hear and learn your Holy Word and put it into practice in my life!

Matthew 7:14 can be difficult at first reading, “But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.” Does this mean we must work hard in order to enter God’s Kingdom? I thought we were saved by grace, do we have a role in “getting saved”? No, Jesus does 100% of the work to save us and forgive our sins. He saves us while we were still sinners, while we were spiritually dead he makes us alive! We aren’t saved because we follow the 10 commandments, but we follow the 10 Commandments because we are saved. The Christian life is one of paradox. In one sense we are free from sin and slaves to no one. But on the other hand we are slaves to all as we seek “to do to others as we would have them do unto us.” This Christian life is hard because it is not self seeking, remember we have died to self (Rom 6:6). Philippians 1:29 says that we have been given the gift of faith and also the gift of suffering for Christ’s sake. Indeed the road is difficult but it has already been walked for us by Jesus Himself.

Here too we find a stern warning against false prophets and false teaching. These are those who appear innocent and appear to be one of us, but in reality, because of their teachings are as dangerous as vicious wolves (not just normal wolves, vicious ones!). The fruit of a prophet is more than just their behavior but it is their teaching. Does it match up with the Word of God? Jesus seems to be making the point that is really does matter what we believe and that we know and understand the Word of God. Some will even cast out demons in Jesus name and perform miracles but Jesus will reply, “I never knew you.” This statement alone should cause an appropriate level of Holy fear so that we firmly hold to the words of I Timothy 4:16 which says to “watch your life and doctrine closely.” Praise God for His Word! For in it we find life and truth and all we need to defend against false prophets.

I pray that we too may be like the crowds who heard and were amazed at the teachings of Jesus.

Who Calls Us From a World of Care

January 8th, Matthew 6:19-7:11

Good Morning All!

"The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry." I was truly sorry I was not able to be with the church family this past weekend! It was almost humorous that my plan to spend the preaching year from the Daily Life texts got derailed right out the gate! I guess it should be a reminder and permission that resolutions are better employed to 'pick us up' than they are for 'perfection'. :) I DID enjoy worshiping with the Bethesda family via the radio broadcast, and appreciated much the worship team's ministry, Mary's 'Ancient Words' solo, and Pastor Rodney's sermon. I am improving from this nasty virus, and hope to return to work in a day or so. (By the way, let me say 'thanks!' for the quality of thought and work all of you have put in your blog posts -- a wealth of insight!)

I read today's text with my family this morning, and it struck me how related the verses seemed to the misplaced, distorted aspirations warned about in yesterday's reading (Matthew 6:1-18). (I appreciated Londa's developing this in her blog around the word 'reward'.) Reward that is sought only for self-importance and temporal life becomes an empty dead-end of vanity. It makes us small. It makes us less. The reward God would give us is from Him and in Him; perhaps best said, it is Him. This reward enriches us now, but will blossom astronomically in eternity. It evokes from us not the conceit and calculated deviousness painted in 6:1-2,5,7,15,16 (aren't these pictures simultaneously revolting and convicting?!); but rather true 'reward' draws from us the responses of Hope, Gratitude, Generosity.

Again, it seems that in today's text, we see a related aspiration, 'treasures' (v19). And once again, if the pursuit becomes self-centered and temporal-bound, like with reward, we are left with an ugly caricature of the aspiration. In a word, it becomes WORRY. (cf. vv 25, 27, 28, 31, 34, 7:3). Wow! These verses cut to the heart, don't they? If I read them every day, would I fully learn and follow their meaning? In seeking treasure, I have instead found Worry; worry about moths and rust and thieves and food and drink and clothes! Worried about 'so many things' like Martha (Luke 10:41). Because worry 'loves company' and is visionary in a twisted way, I'll worry about 'tomorrow' (v34)! And, if my many possible worries weren't enough to occupy me, I might just expand my horizons further to 'franchise' my worrying -- I'll even begin to worry about... YOU! (7:3) Because this is an area of giftedness, I'll worry for the both of us!!!

This seems the predicted trail of demise when treasure becomes only about me and mine, only about now, and sought apart from God and His future desired for me. This is what the pursuit of treasure, absent of faith, comes to yield.

One of the benefits I love about reading scripture in a different translation is how familiar verses can fibrillate my attention. Isn't it fresh and awful to hear, "Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?" (v27), and "Why do you have so little faith?" (v30 - it IS a faith issue, isn't it?!), and "These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers" (v32)?!

That's the odd thing: treasure was meant to serve us as we serve God. But when pursued apart from faith, it 'dominates' us. And (now the Word gets meddling!), it shapes an ugly love triangle between us and God and Money (v24) -- a love triangle this verse declares CANNOT persist. It's a polygamous relationship destined to fail! It will eventually turn faith to infidelity and love to despising.

So let me bow and repent, and confess He is first and only -- there is no other. If I do not find my true treasure in Jesus, in His forgiveness, in communion with Him now and anticipation of more beyond, my reward will end up being only conceit, and my treasure a mound of worry.

PPaul

PS: pic from http://www.oneyearbibleblog.com/