GO BACK- Little Ones - Matthew 18:1-20 - Fifteenth Week after Pentecost

 

Matthew 18:1-20 NIV

18 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

² He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. ³ And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. ⁵ And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.

⁶ “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. ⁷ Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come! ⁸ If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. ⁹ And if your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.

¹⁰ “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. ^[11] 

¹² “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? ¹³ And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. ¹⁴ In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.

¹⁵ “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. ¹⁶ But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ ¹⁷ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

¹⁸ “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

¹⁹ “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. ²⁰ For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

GO BACK- Little Ones

I wrestle with just what the Kingdom of Heaven will be like. The disciples wrestled with this image as well. Even after we hear Jesus plainly tell us that He will suffer, die and rise again; we tend to think of the Kingdom of Heaven in some earthly way, at least I fall into that thinking trap, I admit.

Here in this passage, it appears, to me, that the disciples are still using their human, earthly, thinking caps, and visualizing the Kingdom of Heaven as a place of ranking the powerful, influential, or even the most-godly of people, ahead and above one another.

In Luke they even fall into the trap…

Luke 9:46-48 NIV

⁴⁶ An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. ⁴⁷ Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. ⁴⁸ Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.”

Here Jesus, points out the position of “Humility.” And that’s, just NOT QUITE, what we want to hear. Throw servant-hood into the mix, and the whole idea gets kind of tough to fathom, as to why the Kingdom of Heaven would be this way.

To be like a humble, serving, child; just doesn’t add up.

Jesus even went as far as pulling a little child into the mix, before the disciples, to see for themselves, just what He is speaking about.

This is a purposeful action on Jesus’ part, to direct their attention AWAY from greatness, and power, and ranking in the Kingdom of Heaven. You see, a child has an air of innocence, humility and dependence, of those assigned to care for her or him.

And then Jesus reveals that to be in the Kingdom of Heaven, we all need to change and BE LIKE this child. I like this image! I always have. I know that I’m a simple man in need of understanding. I know I’m a simple man in need of the gift of faith. I know that I’m a simple man that just loves to be in the presence of Jesus and those He chooses to wander around with. I know that I’m a simple, childlike man, and the thought of “Playing” with, or going out to “Play” with, Jesus in this world, and in my life, brings me joy. For this simple-man that I am, I know that I place all of my trust and hope and life, into the hands of Jesus.

Being an adult in this world, can stink, for the most part. At least that’s how I feel. Yet, I must be adult, in some ways, and not be negligent in my duties within this society that I live, and work, and play in.

Jesus carries this thinking beyond what seems normal. He makes this humble child to be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Well, that just tosses out the “Ways of the world,” as we see it, before our eyes in our societies.

So, to be truly great, it’s not about how much you know, how much power you have over others, how much money, or prestige, and how great your ego is! NOPE! To be great; be humble, trusting, and show a faith in your Creator, Savior, and Redeemer.

Don’t you just love a child that comes to you, and is honest? A child that openly depends on what you have to offer, in order to live? That’s why, I think, I want to be like what little Billy was. Think back and remember, those good memories. People being glad to see you, and having fun with you. All the great teasing, of older sisters, brothers, uncles, aunts, and even grand-parents. This is NOT the teasing that hurts feelings. This is the kind of teasing that evokes laughter and play. That’s the “good stuff” of childhood.

Jesus goes on, in this text, to emphasize how we influence, not only children, but new believers. It’s important that we show humility before children, and, really, anyone else that we may have some influence over, in their lives. It’s so easy to make a mess out of another disciple’s way of life, if you set a seriously “bad” example. And boy oh boy, I can do this so often.  I can sure set some bad examples! I hate that! I must see this failure, and turn to God, and my neighbor for forgiveness, and then move on. I really DON’T want to lead anyone astray, or off the path that God has set them on. Yes, I have a responsibility for my sinful actions, and need to face those actions, and the consequences of my sin, on the other, AND, for my neighbor.

It’s a serious offense to God and my neighbor, if, and when, my actions cause someone else to sin. It’s my responsibility to face into my sin, because, most of the time, my sin has some societal influence, or effect, on those I care for the most, and even with those I’m not aware of, that my sinfulness impacts. Seems like that kind of sin, that sin, that causes harm, in some way, to someone that I’m not aware that I have harmed; is the worst kind of sin.

I think that’s why this whole hand and eye thing, that Jesus speaks of in this passage, is used. Huh? Well, the impact of my sin on another person, IS, a BIG deal and brings BIG consequences to others, as well as those I love, and myself. So, the consequences, SHOULD BE extreme, just as Jesus expresses with the whole hands, feet, eye thing, He speaks of in this passage. Jesus really drives the point directly home. Sin IS a problem, not only for myself, but also for those MY SIN impacts.

So, in the face of my sin, I must refrain from taking it lightly, and be humbled in the presence of the “Little Ones,” that Jesus speaks of, in this passage. These “Little Ones” ARE children of God and ARE deeply loved by God. Loved in an “Eternal” kind of way.

Loved so deeply that God, through Jesus, came to die for them, in order that these “Little Ones” would be with Him in eternity.

Then this passage of Scripture, takes a bit of a shift. But in some ways, not really. Jesus goes on to express this love that He has for the “Little Ones.” And it’s my desire, yes, even my job, to care and value the love God has for ALL His children. And love these “Little Ones” knowing that God cares to keep them in His fold, like He loves them.

If one of God’s sheep go astray, like these “Little Ones,” God seeks them out relentlessly. And guess what? We all fall into this category. We all become “Little Ones,” at some stage in our life with God. And God will HUNT you down!

Why does God hunt us down? His love is so deep, that He does NOT want any of us to perish, especially perish in our sin. So, fall in humility before your Creator, Redeemer, and Savior! God has a huge heart, and compassion, for those who are lost in sin.

And in the midst of our sinning against one another, and in the midst of the impact of another’s sin against us… FORGIVE one another. Get over yourself, and forgive one another. It’s NOT that important to be over the other person in the face of sin. Be humble in the face of one another, just as YOU TOO are humbled before God in your sinfulness.

Talk to one another, and try with all you can, to bring one another into the fold, that God would have us be together in. We all sin, and need one another, and God, to make us aware of our sinful ways, SO THAT, we can be spun around in our sin to face God’s forgiveness, and the forgiveness of those we have sinned against, or those who are impacted by our own sinful ways. Again! Get over yourself, AND, live in the love and forgiveness of God and fellow disciples.

Just like in a recent past reflection, Jesus states some cold facts about repentance, forgiveness, the Law and the Gospel. Jesus assigns some authority to His disciples to preach Law AND Gospel. Show sinfulness, yet forgive. We all fall to sin. It’s impossible, in this world of evil temptations, NOT, to fall to sin. AND we WILL fall. Yet, reaching out in love to one another, we are free to be honest about our sinfulness, point out our sinfulness to one another, and then to forgive that sin. This is NOT about judging or overpowering another person with your own pride and power. This is, once again, about the humility of a child, in going to one another, in love, to reach forgiveness before God and each other. So, once again, as my pastor states, after corporate confession, before all of the disciples with whom I stand with, on Sunday mornings, Pastor Prin CAN and does forgive us, by the authority that God gives to him.

And guess what? In our lives with one another, we TOO, by this same power granted by God, CAN and SHOULD, forgive one another not through our own power, but by the power of Jesus given TO us. This is the role of the church, and our role, as well. This is the LOVE of Forgiveness. Take it seriously, and give it freely.

The LAW and GOSPEL thing IS something for us to follow, not only in church, but with one another as well. This IS about prayer, compassion and forgiveness, within the church and among the disciples of Jesus.

And in this, we gather together, in Love to God, and in Love towards each other. This is the UNITY in LOVE that God gives, even before the Creation. Stop, pause, and think about a LOVE so deep.

Teach me the “right” from the “wrong,” and if needed, humble me in the presence of a caring friend, friends, or even the church, SO THAT, I can see my sin, and know the power of forgiveness through Jesus. I don’t want to die for my sin. And I know that I can’t save myself. I depend on the Grace of God through what Jesus has done.

As I face my sin, and see Your face, oh Lord, I am blessed by Your forgiveness. As I face my sin, and see the face of my neighbor, I seek forgiveness. Lead me and guide me in my sin, SO THAT, I openly, and freely turn to God, and neighbor, in humility.

Yes, Lord, I see… “Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law.” – Romans 13:10

When I look back on my studies of this Scripture over this past week, I can’t help but to think of how my first reading left me confused. It seemed like Jesus was going all over the place with this one. There was the child, there was the hands and eyes and feet, there was lost sheep, there was this whole forgiveness thing going on; I couldn’t help but to feel how broken up this passage of Scripture was. I even wondered if this passage was just a jumbled-up mix of different messages from different times. I didn’t investigate this possibility, BECAUSE, by the end of the week, the links came out, in my mind.

I couldn’t help but to think back on the Scripture when Nicodemus encountered Jesus at night.

John 3:1-4 NIV

3 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. ² He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”

³ Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

⁴ “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

As I pondered this present passage from Jesus in Matthew, and thought about Nicodemus dilemma with being born again, from the mother’s womb; I started to ponder all sorts of connections.

Things that connected the child, with the sins, with the lost sheep, with the forgiveness; and all of those things that seemed so disconnected from one another, after my initial reading on Monday.

In the presence of God, I need my, or God’s “GO BACK” machine to kick in. I need to “GO BACK” and be like a child, in the presence of God. I need to “GO BACK” and realize how my whole life and very self, depend on God.

I need to look, and face into my own sin and how it has had an impact on not only God, but on all of those people I have hurt along the way in my life.

As I grew from childhood to adult, I BECAME, a result of this sinful, evil world in which I have lived these past seven decades of life. My sin has piled up and had awful impacts on so many people that I have encountered in my life. I have sinned in power, haughtiness, the bend on success, the awful judgments that I have made, over and above other people. I have piled up a whole bunch of sin in my life. Yep, I deserve to lose my hands, my eyes, my feet, and even my life.

I mentioned earlier that I was a “Simple” man. Well, I am a “Sinful” man as well. I’m lost, just like the sheep that get lost. I’m lost into this evil world, and cannot redeem myself.

And that connects back to that corporate forgiveness thing, that I hear each Sunday through Pastor Prin, and so many other pastors in my life before he came along. I cannot free myself from my sin, but I do KNOW someone who can! And as I reflect on this passage of Scripture, I hear His call to “GO BACK.” “GO BACK,” and stand before Him in innocent, eternal dependance on Him, and what God the Father sent Him to do, in His life, suffering, death, resurrection and ascension. In the gift of life freely granted to me, in and through, the Holy Spirit, as I rise from the waters of my baptism. As I encounter Jesus in the Bread and the Wine, in with, and under, His very own body and blood. And As I hear Pastor Prin speak the words of forgiveness. Yep, in all of this, as I’m in the presence of God, I too, “GO BACK.” I “GO BACK” to Billy. Billy in the need of life, love and salvation.

So, I need some friends to be with me. Will you too, “GO BACK” with me, and stand in the presence of all those adults around us, and be in FULL dependance on God to rescue us, each and every day, SO THAT, we may, all together, come out of the womb, along with Nicodemus?

I leave it to you to look up, or recite in your mind, John 3:16. God loves us so much, that He planned a “GO BACK” before the very start of creation.

Come on! “GO BACK” with me, turn to face Jesus, be forgiven, and live in the grace of God, IN His Kingdom… today… tomorrow… and forever. Thanks be to God!

I’m not one to get into “Country” music, but somehow this song spoke to me during this past week of reflection. Enjoy!

“Keep Going Child of God”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvFv807htY4&list=RDcvFv807htY4&start_radio=1

 

Die! - Matthew 16:21-28 - Fourteenth Week after Pentecost

 

Matthew 16:21-28 - NIV

 

²¹ From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

²² Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”

²³ Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

²⁴ Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. ²⁵ For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. ²⁶ What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? ²⁷ For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.

²⁸ “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

Die!

Jesus has shown His disciples, and us as well, through Scripture, that He IS the Living God. Witness the miracles, the teaching, and His ministry, to ALL the world. Jesus, through Peter’s words, and His own actions, shows us, that He IS the Messiah, the Savior, the I AM of today, and eternity.

However, His final journey towards fulfilling the plan of God the Father, will not be like what the disciples expect, or even like what today’s world anticipates, and expects.

The I AM will suffer, die, and rise again. Why? Why, would God the Father do this to His Son? Why would God the Holy Spirit allow this to take place? Even as we think we know the answers to these questions, in this day of ours, we really don’t have a clue. Speaking for myself, I can’t fathom why God would take such action. It throws me back in time, to the little desk, in a classroom, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, in front of Pastor Bergdall, reciting and memorizing, Luther’s explanation to the Third Article of the Apostles Creed…

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

What does this mean? I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole catholic church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this catholic church He daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers. On the Last Day He will raise me and all the dead, and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ.

Jesus, final journey towards the persecution and death on a cross, at the hands of men, just like myself, yet, intentionally done, for my salvation, from my very own sin, and death; is too far for me to grasp, in my humanity.

I can only believe this with the help of the Holy Spirit in my life, giving me the faith that I desperately need, to believe in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

I’m NOT trying to make this a “Lutheran” thing here either. I’m speaking on my own, with my own words, and my own confession before God.

In this one verse, verse 21, Jesus is speaking plainly of the necessity of His going to the cross to die. So, that seems to make God’s suffering, through Jesus, part of His death. That means that God’s suffering, through Jesus, is a part of God’s plan. Yet… as Jesus continues in His words, this suffering and death, lead to, and offers, ALL mankind, a hope, and a victory, through what God does, NOT through what I think I can do.

Finally, Jesus bids His disciples, and us, to prepare ourselves. Pay attention! Jesus’ mission is far different than what we may wish or expect, YET, the results, as well, are far MORE than we could ever imagine.

Wow! Peter, who just confessed Jesus AS THE Messiah, rebukes Jesus, for revealing how He would suffer, and die at the hands of powerful men. It appears to me that Peter expects Jesus to meet his needs; like the triumphant Messiah that Peter himself had envisioned. But here, God’s plan, may NOT BE the plan that Peter has in mind.

I sin, when I make God about what I think He should be for me. Forgive me and forgive all disciples that fall into that evil trap of Satan. I must not instruct God on what He needs to do! I am to DO HIS will, after all.

I see how Peter’s wants and desires, were for Jesus’ own earthly well-being, but I don’t think God needs my protection at all. It reminds me of that Old Testament account of the guy who reached out to steady the Ark of the Covenant, as it wobbled on a moving transportation cart…

2 Samuel 6:1-7 NIV

6 David again brought together all the able young men of Israel—thirty thousand. ² He and all his men went to Baalah in Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name, the name of the Lord Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim on the ark. ³ They set the ark of God on a new cart and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart ⁴ with the ark of God on it, and Ahio was walking in front of it. ⁵ David and all Israel were celebrating with all their might before the Lord, with castanets, harps, lyres, timbrels, sistrums and cymbals.

⁶ When they came to the threshing floor of Nakon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. ⁷ The Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down, and he died there beside the ark of God.

Whooeee! That’s some tough stuff there! God doesn’t need me or you or even Uzzah to protect Him. Nope! Sometimes I get stuff the other way around, and am wrong about that. And like in the Gospel passage we are looking at, Jesus too, doesn’t need Peter to rebuke Him.

Human viewpoints can, and many times ARE, way off, to what God has planned. So, I need to be open to correction from God, and from Jesus. Lord, help and guide me with Your correction, I pray. I, and Peter too, are once again humbled in Your presence.

And then Jesus makes His correction very, very, clear. “Get behind Me, Satan!”

Jesus recognizes that this rebuke that appears to come from Peter, and does come out of Peter’s mouth, is really a result of the deception of Satan, in the life of Peter. Peter has fallen into the trickery of Satan, in his thinking that the cross could NOT be part of God’s plan to save all mankind.

God does NOT see the cross as defeat, RATHER, as the way sinners are forgiven through Jesus, and death is condemned and defeated.

This is the danger of my perspective, and, in this case, Peter’s perspective, that takes us away from God’s plan. Satan is good at this stuff! He loves for us to focus on our own wants and needs and desires, rather than, God’s will for us, in our lives.

Deny self? Well, that’s what Jesus does, and that’s what God calls us to do as well. God came to us in and through, the flesh, blood, and spirit of Jesus. Now, it seems, Jesus is telling, not only the twelve disciples, but anyone, that if they want to follow Him, they need to deny themselves. What does that look like?

Daily we must look in the mirror of God and His teachings, and commandments, see our sin, and notice how God has already moved us to face Him and His glory. Why does this happen? God calls us His Children, and He calls us to leave our wants and desires, for ourselves, and our world behind, TO, go with Him, doing His will in the way He has called us, and directed us. We deny our will, and DO His will. But, again, why?

As we live with God, He will protect us, and lead us into His Kingdom. A Kingdom NOT of this world, or a Kingdom of our own will, rather, a Kingdom in which we live with Him in the Paradise that He has planned for us, and ALL people since before the creation.

Our commitment to God is a daily thing. Daily we re-live our baptism. Our baptism that is a gift from God, where He comes to us in Father, Son and Spirit, to claim us as His, and adopt us as His Children forever. So, what’s the cost of all this?

Look at what it cost God, through Jesus His own Son. His life! And that’s what Jesus is trying to get across. Jesus is going to that cross to die, in the Great Substitution. Jesus dies for our sin, and puts death and hell under Him. Yes, Jesus defeats the powers of death and hell, to give us eternal life with Him.

But first, we must be willing to face our Creator, our God, and follow Him into what ever dangers and evils this world tosses our way. It wasn’t easy for Jesus, and it won’t be easy for His disciples as well. Just look through the Acts of the Apostles, and the letters of Paul, and on to other letters. This awesome gift, MUST be declared to all the world! And ALL the world won’t accept that gift, and just may, and probably will, and already have, persecuted people all along the way, as they show what Jesus has done, in forgiving, even people that other people don’t want forgiven. That there, is a whole bunch of stuff to reflect upon. But what happened was that the Power of God, turned into a threat for individuals and earthly kingdoms, that they lose control over themselves and their kingdoms, TO God’s grace. And there we are, in a long circular path back to the “deny” yourself stuff, and live FOR God, serving Him and all those He gives to you, each and every day.

So many, WILL NOT, want to serve God or others. So many, want to only serve themselves. And in serving self, THEN, sin, death, and the deceits of Satan, enter into our lives.

And Jesus says in Mark 16:25…

For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

So, saving yourself, at any cost, just won’t do. Only God can save! And witness HOW God saved us, through what Jesus did at that cross, and in that tomb.

Jesus took up the cross, so expect to take up the cross yourself, IF you choose to believe and follow Him. Even though God comes to us, many people will choose to turn and run. However, if you receive the gift of faith from God, you will believe, and do the hard stuff anyway. Why? Because God shows you how it’s done for you, SO THAT, you respond in love towards Him, and towards those God places in your life, each and every day.

This is a challenge to the worldly way. To find life in Christ, you must be willing to lose all of your selfish desires and ambitions. This is NOT about you. It’s ALL about what God has done for you, and calls you to do for Him, and your neighbor. Yep! Even that neighbor you can’t stand!

Galatians 5:14

For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Yea, well, I know that sounds like more than one word, but that one word is LOVE. And that’s just what God set up from before creation… LOVE.

So, if you think you can gain the power, wealth, strength, and honor of this world on your own? Big deal! In the finality of it all, all of that stuff amounts to NOTHING! So, give that up, and exchange it ALL for the love of God, in, and through, Christ Jesus.

Yep! In the end of it all Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of Man, will come IN HIS Father’s glory with His angels, to repay each one according to what he has done. And what did YOU, or I do? We gave ourselves to God just like He called us to do. And none of that is about keeping score of any goody-two-shoe stuff. It’s about seeing the God as He spins us around in our sin, to receive His forgiveness, and life, SO THAT we may live with Him in His Kingdom forever, ALL in the LOVE of God. Talk about a GIFT!

All believers are called to live for, and in, God’s glory, following His will, in His way, reflecting His Love to all the world.

Then Jesus says this!

²⁸ “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

So, what’s that supposed to mean? Today, we have the advantage of Scripture unfolding before our eyes in the writings. So, if you peek ahead a little, you will see, how Peter, James and John, will be present on the Mount of Transfiguration with Jesus, Moses and Elijah. Right there, you see the presence of the Law through Moses, the prophecies through Elijah, and the fulfillment of both, IN Jesus. And God the Father speaks forth declaring Jesus as His Son, whom He loves, and says to listen to Jesus!

Do you see it? Some who are standing here, that is Peter, James and John, get to see the Son of Man coming in His Kingdom.

Sometimes it’s easy to get wrapped around the wheel, and think that Jesus is talking about some people that will still be alive at His Second coming. But we have the advantage of peeking ahead in Scripture, to see what Jesus means.

To bring it all home to us, we are privileged, through Scripture, to witness to the power of events as told to us, by eye witnesses, SO THAT, we too, can see and tell how God is active in our own lives as well. So, look for those moments when God comes to you, and like my mom always told me… “You’ve got a mouth. Use it!”

God’s Kingdom has come in Jesus, and WILL come to you too, each and every day. Talk about it! All of our hope lives in the faith that God freely gave to us, to believe the words that He shows to us, AND, we are privileged to live out God’s will in our lives, day by day.

Jesus, You came to earth, You lived, You taught, You healed, You led Your people, AND, You suffered, You died, AND You rose again! It’s beyond my comprehension; however, I give You, all the glory, honor, and thanks. Thank You, God the Father. Thank You, God the Son. Thank You, God the Holy Spirit. Thank You, always and forever!

Jesus, I pray, rescue me from Satan, from myself, and from all things that are NOT of Your will and Your way. Yes, Lord, I stumble and need You to SAVE me, not the other way around.

Be honest and sincere about your love towards God and each other. Devote your life to love God, and to love your neighbor, in a humble, serving way. Look at what God has already done, in and through, the gift of the Cross of Jesus.

So, what to make of all of this week’s study? First off, I see my need to be humble in the presence of God. Where do I see God’s presence? First and foremost, in the words given to me to read and study in the Scriptures. Secondly, I see God present in the Sacraments. I see God present in Confession, I see God present in Forgiveness, I see God present in and through the words of my pastor, Pastor Prin, as he delivers the sermon, I see God’s presence in those I gather with each and every Sunday, through and in their words and their loving actions, as they respond to the Grace of God. I see God’s presence in the waters of Baptism, I see God’s presence in the bread and the wine of communion, in, with, and under the body and blood of Jesus, Himself. And I see God’s presence as He blesses people and sends people out into the world to respond in love to Him and one another, BECAUSE of His grace freely given.

Second, I need to die daily to my sin. Yep! That’s MY cross, at least one of them. I need to die to my selfish hunger for wealth, power, strength and on and on. All those things that get in the way of God’s will in my life. I need to die to myself, to serve God in the way He would have me serve Him, and to serve all those God gives to me each and every day, in the Love and Forgiveness that God has given to me. So, yea, die daily, just like I died under the waters of my baptism as God called me His own and marked me with His seal of the cross, to live with Him in His Kingdom, forever.

So, go out and get baptized folks. That’s just the beginning! And the journey can, and is tough at times, but it’s a journey that leads away from self, and to, the love of God in Christ Jesus.

Does that all sound like church word salad? It’s not and it’s worth all of it.

As I look forward to seeing Jesus come again, in His glory, with all the angels of heaven, I look to gladly respond with works of the fruit of the grace of God… today… tomorrow… and forever.

As I fall to my knees, in the presence of God in Jesus, may I humbly, gladly, bear my cross, and live with you, Jesus! --- Amen and amen and amen!

Enjoy this YouTube Music Video that spoke to me this past week.

“Die to Self”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MN9hbiMgaek&list=RDMN9hbiMgaek&start_radio=1

In The Presence of God! - Matthew 16:13-20 - Thirteenth Week after Pentecost

 

Matthew 16:13-20 NIV

¹³ When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

¹⁴ They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

¹⁵ “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

¹⁷ Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. ¹⁸ And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. ¹⁹ I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” ²⁰ Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

In The Presence of God!

Okay, now Jesus has moved to north of the Sea of Galilee to the foot of Mount Hermon. This was an area that was common for pagan worship. It’s interesting that in this place Jesus will make it obvious, just who He is, to His disciples. What a contrast!

Here Jesus is about to draw out of His disciples a confession of faith. A confession that declares belief in Him.

So, Jesus poses the question… who do people say that I am? Here Jesus asks, “Who do the people say the Son of Man is?”

I like the I AM theme of this question. Next, Jesus will ask the disciples the I AM question.

Of course, the people of the day were guessing just who Jesus was, or is. Many different guesses were in order, John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or a prophet. People were trying to discover just who this was, that God has sent into their lives, in this time.

Makes me wonder, how many of us today, wonder just who this “Jesus” is, and how it has come that we even talk about Him. And guess what? We often question this same thing, in the midst of our own idolatries, and in the midst of our sinful world. Who is this Jesus guy? Why are we still speaking about Him, all over this world, even today?

So, now Jesus poses the question directly to His disciples then, and in some similar way to Christians today. “Who do you say I am?”

It’s like “get off the dime,” and make a choice, or at least make a confession, as to who Jesus is, in your life, and mine. Do we today understand the significance of just who Jesus really is? If so, declare it; even in the midst, or at the foot, of a pagan worship place, or for today, in the midst of an idolatrous, sinful, world.

Reveal yourself! Reveal yourself, and what you believe in the presence of Jesus!

And does your answer, reveal your actions in this world of sin?

And Peter opens his mouth. He opens his mouth with a truth that I don’t think, even he, is fully aware of what words are coming forth from his lips. Sometimes we say things that we don’t fully understand. I, myself, do that all the time. Sometimes I can say some really good stuff, and most of the time, I say some really “stupid” stuff. But here, Peter hits the nail on the head, no pun intended. And I think this statement from Peter is meant to reveal a confession of the Truth that came from God. Peter’s words here, are a God gift to all of us throughout the ages. Peter states Truth, even if he didn’t fully understand it. Yes, Peter revealed his faith in God, and in Jesus. Peter has the courage we all need, for the times we are called to stand up and to speak. My Mom would often tell me at different intervals and situations in my life, “You’ve got a mouth. Use it!” That’s a living faith that only God can instill in mankind.

Peter, having recognized Jesus as the Messiah, is now addressed by Jesus with his given family name. Peter is now of a different family, not only of flesh and blood, but of the Spirit of God, as well. Peter has now revealed the Truth that could only be granted to him by God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Peter reveals the eternal Truth, in his recognition of Jesus as the Messiah.

Such heavenly revelation, as spoken by Peter, comes only in the humility of a simple man, in the presence of God. Peter has not only confessed, he has spoken the spiritual Truth that will lead him on into his very own ministry as Jesus, suffers, dies, rises and ascends into heaven, but that’s all yet to come, for Peter, in the time of this passage of Scripture.

Hear and read for yourself this passage of Scripture from Matthew 11:25-27…

²⁵ At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. ²⁶ Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.

²⁷ “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

Yes, in this time and in this place, Jesus reveals just who He is…. I AM… the Messiah…

Following Peter’s confession that Jesus IS the I AM… the Messiah, Jesus sets Peter apart to play a major role in the church that will shape, after Jesus’ ascension, and the sending of the Holy Spirit, as seen in the book of The Acts of the Apostles.

Jesus speaks of Himself as the Rock on which the church will form. Well guess what? The meaning of Peter’s name is “Rock” in Greek. How cool is that?!

Peter will build the church, on the Rock of Christ, as the Cornerstone throughout history. Jesus the Messiah! And death and hell are victorious over, and above, this sinful world, and all the wiles of the devil.

So, what about disciples today? Well, with Jesus the Messiah, we can, together, live in hope, and all confidence, supporting each other, and all those God gives to us, in unity, as we go forth into this world of ours, to declare how Jesus, the Messiah, the I AM, has come to save all people from sin, death, and the devil.

None of this means our ministry will be a cake-walk. But the really tough stuff, that Jesus is soon to accomplish, going forward in this Scripture, has already been accomplished. Not by or through our own works, but by and through the work of Jesus.

Revelation 1:8 NIV

⁸ “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Next Jesus grants an awesome power, in the “keys of the kingdom of heaven.” So, just what are these keys? Along with any keys, comes great responsibility. Keys permit entry into a place that has been locked away. But just what is locked away? Usually something locked away is of some great value, especially to the owner. So, Jesus is granting, here Peter, and subsequently the church, to open the kingdom of heaven to those who have been locked out. And who is locked out? Well, all of us. None of mankind have done anything to deserve entry into this locked place. None of us could ever do enough to achieve entry into the kingdom of heaven. Nope! None of our actions will grant the opening of the kingdom doors.

Notice who gives these keys to Peter, and the church here on earth. It’s Jesus! He is the One with the keys. Jesus is the One, and only One, who can, and does, grant entry into the Kingdom of Heaven. How?

Well, now, like Peter and the disciples, we stand in the presence of God Almighty. This is a place in which we fear God. We are not worthy of standing in the presence of God. But here, as Jesus is proclaimed as the Messiah, the Son of the living God, we stand. Fall down and worship!

Yes, it’s the Messiah that brings forgiveness to our sinful beings and life, to give us the responsibility, to grant that same forgiveness to those God gives to us, to be with us each and every day. Through this forgiveness, we too, can use the keys of the kingdom, that Jesus has given to us, to open the door of the Kingdom of Heaven, and let the forgiven sinners in.

But don’t take this lightly. There is responsibility. What responsibility you say? We are responsible to forgive others. We are responsible to forgive our neighbors, and show them what God has in store for them, through the telling of the Gospel of God. That God comes to us, and has already come to us, through the Son of the Living God, that’s Jesus, to save us from sin, and death, SO THAT, as we have been forgiven, WE TOO, will forgive one another, and open the door with the keys that God gives for ALL people. Open the door, not just for those with like thinking, open the door of forgiveness even to your enemies.

That’s what Jesus did on that cross! He opened the door and gave away the keys. Will you enter? Or will you run? That’s up to you, but the door is open, and the keys are in hand.

Now, next, in this passage of Scripture, Jesus asks His disciples to keep this thing secret. Why? There was more for Him to do. Jesus was facing the tough stuff ahead in His suffering, death, resurrection and ascension. The time was not “at hand” as of yet.

People thought the Messiah was someone who would rescue the world from politics, and overpower the evil rulers. Well, it went way beyond that. And that wasn’t even part of God’s mission anyway. That was peanuts to God. The keys to the Kingdom of Heaven, went way beyond anything of this world. The keys to the Kingdom of Heaven, were even beyond this world. That’s something then, and something now, that people have issues understanding. And if we’re honest, do we ever fully understand God’s love?

Lord Jesus, I look up to You and see Your Light. For You alone are my help and my salvation, throughout my life, and throughout all time, into eternity.

Jesus my Messiah, my I AM, I sing praise to You, for in You I am bold to declare to all the world what You have done. Alleluia!

Lord, renew my mind and transform me into what You would have me be, and do what You would have me do. Use the fruit that You have me bear to bring glory and honor to You.

So, in my studies this week of this passage of Scripture, I fall at the feet of Jesus. When I declare, myself, that I believe Jesus is the Messiah, the I AM, the Savior of the world, I fall silent in awe and thanksgiving. Knowing what Jesus has done for me and all creation, humbles me to the core. I mean, this IS God here. Who am I to even be here?

I begin to realize that in this space, and in this time, I’m missing something. I’m missing an entire realm of existence. I am aware of what God has been up to since before the creation of this world, yet, I don’t, and can’t begin to fathom the depths of it all. I can’t fathom the depths of what God has done.

And I’m challenged. Look at what Jesus was about to experience. The Messiah, would give His life away. So, will I really be willing to give my life away, in the trust and hope of what God has in store with the Kingdom of Heaven, when I encounter a life and death decision, in the face of the evils of this world, to declare boldly that Jesus IS my Messiah, and the I AM for all the world?

I have it very easy in this country in which I live. I can worship and praise God in the comfort of an air-conditioned church. It’s easy for me to sing hymns and sing praise songs, to recite prayers and have God come to me each Sunday in Word and Sacrament. Does my atmosphere really endanger me in my proclamation of Jesus the Messiah? Well, not really.

There are Christians in parts of this world where that proclamation of Jesus as Messiah have cost them their very lives. I am humbled in this alone. Yet, I must be bold, if I encounter such a situation to do the same. And, I know, that I could only do this with the help of God? Why? As Satan comes to me to convict me of my sin, I know I am guilty of the charges. But I also know someone of whom I can boldly state, will rebuke Satan in my stead. And this One, this Messiah, already HAS rebuked Satan, and all the evil plots and plans of this world, at a cross, right in the face of evil.

In my own power I will be defeated by Satan. However, God calls me to wear the armor He gives me to stand and fight. Stand and fight, not that I will be the victor, but to stand and fight, because I know the One, the Messiah, who CAN and already HAS done all the work for me. So, I put on the armor of God and place all my hope in what God has done through the Messiah.

Yet, as Jesus gives the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven, what will I do with them. Well, as I hear the words spoken by my Pastor each and every Sunday, after I have seen and confessed my sin in the presence of God and those all around me… My Pastor, declares that by the power granted to him, by Jesus Himself, ALL my sins are forgiven.

And with my neighbor, my brother, my sister, my enemy, I too, can use these keys of forgiveness to open the door to ALL those God gives to me, TO the Kingdom of Heaven. Will they walk through that open door? Some will… some won’t.

The door is opened, not by me, but by what God HAS already done, through the love of Jesus’ sacrifice. I’m humbled in the presence of the Messiah!

When Jesus looks into your eyes and asks, “Who do YOU think I AM?”

Fall to your knees in the presence of God, and declare boldly that YOU ARE the Messiah! I need you Jesus, I need you Father, with the grand plan, and I need you Holy Spirit to lead and guide me… today… tomorrow… and forever.

I leave you to enjoy the song, “Jesus Messiah”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IL7BlrwZHf8&list=RDIL7BlrwZHf8&start_radio=1