Come - Matthew 14:22-33 - Eleventh Week after Pentecost

 Matthew 14:22-33 NIV

²² Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. ²³ After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, ²⁴ and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

²⁵ Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. ²⁶ When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

²⁷ But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

²⁸ “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

²⁹ “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

³¹ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

³² And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. ³³ Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Come!

So now we have Jesus’ display of His authority. He instructs the disciples to get into the boat and move along to the other side of Galilee. I find it humorous that the text says that Jesus “MADE” them get into the boat. Did He have enough of all this distraction from His original need to pray?

 Jesus is once again sending His disciples out, just as He does all along. Why? For the same reason you and I are sent. We need to get used to proclaiming the Gospel to all the world. Tell all the people what we witness. Tell the world of the Kingdom of Heaven that has come to this place and this time, in Jesus the Messiah. Yes, we have work to do.

Jesus will take care of the crowd and dismiss them. He has shown His compassion for the people, and now it’s time for Him to get on His prayer with the Father, as He originally was intending to do. But the people came first, for Jesus.

Prayer is important. Prayer is important for us, and it was, and has always been, important for Jesus. After, before, and during, the business and the will of God, take time to pray. Take time to pray. Prayer is your source of strength with God. The Father seeks to hear from you, and to speak with you. There is peace in prayer, along with direction in prayer. It’s vital to pray in the solitude of your space, in the here and now. In prayer we apply our lives to the God of love, and seek the guidance only He can offer. Yep, prayer is a big deal. Get used to it, and do it! See Jesus as not only your example, but hear Jesus’ prayer for you, and all creation.

You never know, when your boat will be tossed and flipped on its side. So, you need to pray.

Jesus doesn’t have a boat to get in. So, instead, He just walks across the water! And it was sometime between 3 and 6 am! I can’t help but to think of the extreme action of Jesus coming to His disciples. And to think He comes to us. Jesus is always coming! He comes from heaven to earth. He comes to us in the Bread and Wine of Communion. He comes to us, and shows us our sins, and forgives us during Confession. Jesus comes to US in worship.

Many people get this all turned upside-down, when they attend church on Sunday. It seems some think that we go to church, to come to Jesus. NO! We go to church because that’s one place that Jesus always comes to us! We don’t go there to entertain one another with coffee in hand; to watch the bands play, and the preacher inspire us with his or her own clever words. NOPE! That’s not how church works! God comes to us! And in Jesus, He has always come to us.

Some think it odd that Jesus walks on water. But go figure, this is God here, God who made the universe! He made the water after all, so get beyond your own self-supreme logical thinking, and be humble in the presence of the Creator! This is the same Guy who is victorious over sin, death, chaos and evil!

After all, He is coming to the disciples, AFTER feeding a whole bunch of folks, over 5000, probably closer to 10,000 people with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. Talk about God the Creator!

But you know what? I can understand the disciple’s reaction of terror at seeing Jesus’ walking on the water. I too, seem to live in the here and now. I too live in the simple understanding, that I can only fathom what I am capable of as a human. I easily forget that Jesus IS God! So, if I saw Jesus’ walking on water, I too, would tend to forget it, and be in terror before Jesus as God! That’s’ way beyond anything I can imagine, and to think that God is approaching me, would cause me to be in terror!

The neat part of all this fear, is that Jesus helps the disciples, and me and you too, overcome fear, by giving us faith. Faith is the gift of God to His people, so that, we can live in a loving relationship with God, now and forever.

And Jesus speaks out. Loud and clear! Don’t be afraid! Take courage! This is the gift of faith that transcends any fear we may have. That’s some love, right there! Just like Moses must have felt at the burning bush; we are in the presence of the Great I AM!

It seems, sometimes, for me too, that when I see Jesus, either in my mind, in the Word, or in someone else, I question what I am seeing. I think this touch of doubt is evident in Peter’s questioning if he is really seeing Jesus’ walking on the water. “If it is you…” Give me a sign of confirmation, convince me, or do something to alleviate my doubt. Give me a command that I cannot question the authority that you possess. Make Your presence clear to me.

As I drop back a bit from this questioning in my soul, I see my lack of faith in the presence of God. Well, of course this is Jesus! Look and see, listen and hear, and believe. It’s like Jesus spins me around to see His face, to hear His voice and comes to me to declare just who He is. But, I, like Peter, still want a bit more! “Command me to come to You on the water.”

It’s not enough that Jesus is coming, to me, in the water. The water of a stormy sea, or even the water of chaos at the creation, or the waters of my baptism, that bury me in my sin, to raise me to a new life, to be a new creation in God. Once again, God comes to me, to you, to the disciples in the storm, and to Peter. God always comes to us. My coming to God is only some sinful satisfaction, that I build up as proof to me, that this IS Jesus. Yet, I must face the sinfulness of my doubt as real, and approach Jesus as He walks to me in the storms of my sin, and in the storms of this world in which I live.

And then… and then… as Jesus comes to me on the stormy waters, as Jesus gave up His prayer time to come to the crowd of people hungering for miracles, healing and salvation… Jesus bids us to “Come.” Come to Him to seek salvation, at the very point of our doubts and fears of the storms of this world, and this life, and seek Him.

In this response to “Come” to Jesus, is the very walk, the journey of faith which God freely gives to us. It may be a fearful time, we may shy away from our own failure to carry out what God has called us to do, we may sink in the storms of sin, death and temptation; but none-the-less, Jesus commands us to “Come.”

So, yea, like Peter, step out into the storm, on the water, and “Come” to Jesus. This isn’t about what you can do, but about what God does for, and to you, in Jesus. Jesus always “Comes” to us and bids us, no, commands us, to “Come” to Him. In Jesus alone is where all trust, hope and salvation reside.

And in the midst of the storm, the fear and the troubles of this life, we learn, that we absolutely NEED Jesus to save us. At this very moment, we have moved beyond ourselves, and given our lives TO Jesus, TO save us. And at this moment we RECEIVE the gift of faith, knowing that our walk to Jesus is a call to walk with Him through the salvation that only He can offer.

As Jesus takes our hands, He gives us faith. He replaces our doubt with trust in Him. So, “Come” take the hand of Jesus; even in the midst of the storm. As you come to Jesus, He HAS “Come” to you, to save you, and to take you to live with Him in His Kingdom of Heaven, forever.

And for sure, when you climb into the boat with Jesus; or rather as Jesus “Comes” to you and climbs into the boat of your life, the storm calms down for a bit. Why? Because Jesus willingly, and lovingly came to you on the stormy waters, to love you to death.

And this is the point in which we return to our reason for going to church each and every Sunday. We go, not to be entertained, with coffee in hand, to sing songs, and be satisfied with some warm fuzzy feeling. No! We go to worship, because, we know, without a doubt, that Jesus “Comes” to us, even in the midst of our sinful lives, to show us our sin, to forgive us, and to come to us with His offer of the Heavenly Kingdom, in and through Him. We go to church, because Jesus bids us to “Come.”

And in worship, in the boat, we worship and are convinced, that “Truly You are the Son of God!”

Father, I come to you in prayer. I can’t even fathom how great You are. You created the universe and all that exists. You are way beyond my understanding, yet you still want me to come to You, to pray to You, to listen to Your Word. I am so humbled by all of this, and I give You all the thanks, glory, and praise.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for coming to me, a lost and condemned creature. You come to me, and forgive me, and give me the faith I need to see You, and receive salvation, FROM You!

Yes, Lord, You “Come.” You “Come” to give us faith, hope and love. You “Come” and we call on Your name. Your beauty is awesome!

Sometimes, when I pray, I feel that I’m in the midst of a storm in life. I see my need and seek Jesus to “Come.” In this time of prayer, and especially, in this passage of Scripture; I witness the love of God through Jesus. Jesus walks right through the storms of life to give me the faith I need to find the calm IN Him, and all that He has done.

God has known, from the start, how to deal with chaotic water. God knows all along that chaos has an answer. Even before the creation of the world, God has solved the issue of chaos and brought order, and salvation, and a plan, to be One with His children.

As Jesus calls us to “Come,” may we use the faith that He freely provides to place all of our hope into His hands, SO THAT, we may live in the joy of being His creation, and His children, throughout all time, with Him, into eternity.

So, as Jesus calls me to “Come” to Him, I too ask, “Come Lord Jesus, Come.” “Come” into my life… today… tomorrow… and forever. --- Amen

 

I leave you with this YouTube Music Video that reminded me of this week’s studies…

“Draw Me Close to You”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ci6I_pQKPlI&list=RDCi6I_pQKPlI&start_radio=1

 

Bring It On! - Matthew 14:13-21 - Tenth Week after Pentecost

Matthew 14:13-21 NIV

¹³ When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. ¹⁴ When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

¹⁵ As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”

¹⁶ Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

¹⁷ “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.

¹⁸ “Bring them here to me,” he said. ¹⁹ And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. ²⁰ They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. ²¹ The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Bring It On!

So, right off the bat, we wonder, what Jesus had heard that happened. What happened that caused Jesus to want some privacy?

Jesus had just received the news of John the Baptist’s death and beheading at the hands of Herod Antipas. John was the prophet that prepared the way for Jesus. What happened to John would be a lead in to what was coming for Jesus. So, Jesus wanted to pray and speak with God the Father. Jesus withdrew to a place by the Sea of Galilee.

But, guess what? The crowds figured out what was going on, and pursued Jesus. The crowds wanted healing and were willing to hunt Jesus down for His healing.

As Jesus stepped out of the boat, He saw the needy crowd. So much for a bit of privacy in prayer! Anyway, with that, Jesus saw the need of the people, and cared for them. Jesus loves people in need. Yea, that’s for me and you too.

It seems the prayers of the people are answered by Jesus. So, think about that. When we are in need, have the faith, and believe, that God can, and does heal. Jesus hears our needs, and forgives us, and heals us, if not physically, on this earth, He heals us for life with Him in His Kingdom.

Somehow, I think of how Jesus’ need to pray was substituted by my own prayerful needs. That’s love and compassion!

Evening is the time, in Jewish custom, when one day ends and another day begins. Many times, in Jesus’ ministry, He would teach or heal during the later hours of the day. But the concern here is that, these people are out in a rural area, away from many resources needed for food and such.

So, the disciples, as expected, often turned to Jesus for guidance and direction. The disciples were concerned for the crowds well being at this time of day. But Jesus has compassion on this crowd, as He has from the beginning of this account. He doesn’t want these people to fend for themselves. So, Jesus extends a call to the disciples to serve the crowd. But how?

Jesus’ answer to the disciples, at first glance, seems way too simplistic. You guys give these people something to eat. Well, that was a challenge beyond the earthly capabilities that the disciples currently possessed. They didn’t have enough food to meet the need, not near enough. And that’s where, I think, Jesus wanted this whole thing to turn anyway.

Do we people of God, ever have all that we need? Well, I think sure, but we don’t have, what we would like to have. And in this was the dilemma for the disciples. This was a big crowd, in the wilderness, without enough resources to feed them sufficiently.

But God is abundant in His gifts. This event is a bit similar to what we encounter in Communion, or in the case of the disciples, the Last Supper. God’s forgiveness and salvation is way more than we ever need to live our lives in this place and time, here on this earth. And now in this place, God’s provision will, once again, take on earthly elements and display a heavenly solution, to the needs of the people. And in the wilderness, as well. Think of how God cares for His people in, and through, the wilderness, the physical wilderness, and the spiritual wilderness as well.

So, when Jesus calls us to serve, in what seems to be impossible situations, our duty is not to question, but to be obedient to that call to serve. We may not understand the plan, but we can be obedient to the call of God in our lives.

And it’s when the resources are low, that when called upon by God; we need to put the faith God gives us in action. It’s God’s work after all, so don’t get in the way, even when it all appears impossible!

Jesus wants us to bring our resources to Him. Even if we think our resources or gifts from God are small and insignificant. Jesus can deal with that. Our insignificant resources pale in comparison to what God can do with them. This is our temporal thinking, compared to God’s eternal thinking.

As Jesus takes the bread and the fish, He orders the crowd to sit and rest. This is now in God’s hands, and nothing is impossible. As Jesus comes to us in the Bread and the Wine of Communion, it is in the hands of God. Hands that reach out to His people with His Body and Blood, to offer salvation. This is God’s gift of being One with Him eternally in His Kingdom of Heaven.

In this gift of food, and refreshment, comes satisfaction. Not only satisfaction of hunger, but more a satisfaction of life from Jesus in an eternal sense.

God provides in abundance. Yes, even with meager offerings, God gives in abundance with much left over, to spread to more and more people. This is His special spiritual nourishment. Yes, even given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins, and life everlasting in the Love of God.

Jesus, even in Your time of need, You have compassion for me, and come to me. And You show up by the waters of Galilee. And you show up at the waters of the Jordan, to be baptized by John the Baptist, who You now mourn. And You show up at the waters of my very own baptismal waters, to grant and freely give me new life. I love You, Jesus! How could I not?

When the work seems impossible; give thanks to God. God provides all we need, even in the face, of what we think, are impossible situations.

I give You thanks and praise that You have abundantly reached out to feed me, Your food of life. Even though I’m not a Jew, You have grafted me into Your source of Life, Love and Fellowship, with You, and all Your people. Thank You, Lord Jesus!

As I thought about this passage this week, I couldn’t help but to drop back and away from this scene. I thought about how the news of the death of Jesus’ cousin, John the Baptist, must have made Jesus mournful and sad. Did Jesus think about the sin that has entered into this world? The sin that had John the Baptist, the one who pointed to Jesus as the Messiah, the sin that overcame John’s earthly life in such a jealous and evil manner, that John was beheaded at a party. Surely as Jesus wanted to escape and ponder sin and evil, He realized the power of how His mission on this earth and in heaven was about to unfold.

And then with the presence of evil in mind, and the evil of powerful people; Jesus encounters a poor, sick, crowd, who absolutely want Jesus to heal them, and save them from the effects of sin upon this world, and upon their lives.

Jesus mission to commune with the common people of the day stood out in my thoughts. How this man, this Savior, this Messiah, comes to these people and gives them life-giving bread to eat, and to lead them on towards a heavenly kingdom beyond the earthly need to satisfy an earthly hunger.

Here is the Man born in Bethlehem; a city referred to as “The House of Bread,” coming to a people in need of bread. Here is the Man who will feed His disciples then, and for centuries to come, Bread and Wine, His own Body and Blood, that they, and we too, may receive the forgiveness of sin, and salvation, through Jesus own suffering, death, resurrection and ascension into His heavenly kingdom.

And guess what? There was an abundance, of left-overs for ALL God’s people.

That’s a love that gives up the need to pray about the death of a cousin, to give life to a crowd of needy people. Needy people, exactly like you and I, who need the Bread to live into eternity in communion with a God that has loved us from the start.

From the death of Adam and his return to dust, to the death of Jesus, and His empty tomb, we see full cycle the love of God which comes to us. Comes to us in Bread. Overflowing Bread. Bread that invades our sinful bodies to give us life.

How could I not be inspired to give my life to the Man that gave His life for me?

How could I not love Jesus, and love the crowds around me, to offer His message of the Bread from Heaven, to, and for, all those God places in my life, here, now, today, tomorrow and forever?

Yes, I see Jesus break away from His need for prayer, to give, His own Bread and life to meet the needs of people. All in a miraculous way, that is beyond human understanding.

In this I exclaim boldly… Thanks be to God, in Christ Jesus, my Savior, my life-giving Bread, and Messiah!

I leave you with this beautiful hymn as presented on a YouTube Music Video – “I Am the Bread of Life”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gADDeVUH4uc&list=RDgADDeVUH4uc&start_radio=1

That! - Matthew 13:44-52 - Ninth Week after Pentecost

 

Matthew 13:44-52 NIV

⁴⁴ “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

⁴⁵ “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. ⁴⁶ When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

⁴⁷ “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. ⁴⁸ When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. ⁴⁹ This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous ⁵⁰ and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

⁵¹ “Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked.

“Yes,” they replied.

⁵² He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”

That!

More parables from the mouth of Jesus. Jesus’ teaching using examples that we can relate to in our lives.

So, what do you treasure? If you find what you treasure the most, what do you do with it? Do you use it up? Do you save it? Do you give it away?

Is your treasure of this world’s goods and services? Or is your treasure something else like family, friends, relationships and such?

Do you treasure something outside of this world?

Jesus begins, with one verse, talking about a man who finds his treasure. Jesus goes on to compare that treasure with the Kingdom of Heaven.

The man found his treasure and then hid it. Why? Because he knew what he had. And he knew that by hiding this treasure he could go back and buy the field in which he hid his treasure and keep that treasure for good.

But was that really what was happening, in this case? In the case of the Kingdom of Heaven, that this man had found, he knew what eternal value it held. So, he was willing to give up his earthly wealth to receive a heavenly reward. The Kingdom of Heaven is priceless, valuable, and beyond anything he could ever need or want. He didn’t hide it to keep it away from others. No, he hid it because he knew what he had found and wanted to protect it with all he had.

But did he really find the treasure? It was hidden, remember? So, the man really didn’t do anything but find something hidden. He didn’t produce the treasure. Rather he found the treasure. And how did he find that treasure? It seems to me, that somehow it became obvious to him, or maybe he just stumbled onto the treasure by chance. But I don’t really think it was by chance. The treasure came from somewhere, after all.

The gift of the Kingdom of Heaven is valuable. This gift came from God, and cost Jesus’ His life to give. That’s real value! When we discover what Jesus has given us, value THAT, protect THAT, place all your hope in THAT. It’s a gift!

Jesus next fixes His focus on a merchant searching for fine pearls. Once again Jesus shows us the importance and the eternal value of the Kingdom of Heaven. This is one of the most important gifts that God gives to His people. Maybe the most important, with the exception, in my mind of Jesus Himself.

As we search for the Kingdom of Heaven, we find it closer than we could ever imagine. And on this day, in the life of these followers and disciples of Jesus, this is true as well. For the Kingdom of Heaven is right before their eyes, speaking eternal truths to them, with earthly examples. If you are totally convicted to God’s gift of Love and Grace, THEN, respond willingly with all you have in your life, FOR, and TO, God with a thankful heart. Give up all this earth offers, TO, receive this free Gift from God.

As Jesus moves into another parable, He seems to be pounding the message home, that has been evident over the past couple of episodes of “Pointing to Jesus.” How’s that? Once again, we see an abundance of a gift, in this case fish, but that abundance is mixed in with some evil, here, it is some fish that are not good for food. And guess what? There is a separation that takes place of the good fish from the bad fish.

As the net to catch the fish is cast, like how God reaches out to His people with the gift of His forgiveness and grace, ALL sorts of fish are caught. But some of the fish have been contaminated. Contaminated how? They are like those who have chosen to refuse God’s gift of salvation and walked away. I hate to hear this part! But, in reality, it’s part of this world, and the evil tricks of Satan. Some people will refuse this gift of the “Kingdom of Heaven,” and God permits that. I’m sure He hates that, but He seems to permit us to choose to turn away.

So, always, always, continue to deliver the message of the gift of the Gospel, and pray, pray, pray, for those who have, for now, turned away. You never know what God may do in the life of a relative or friend, or even an enemy. God is more powerful than you could ever imagine. But in the end, some fish will be tossed. Lord, help us and guide us.

In the presence of the disciples, Jesus wants to make sure they understand the parables. The disciples very lives will become those who take the message of the “Kingdom of Heaven,” after Jesus ascends back into heaven, TO ALL the people on this globe.

Jesus has again, used earthly examples of people and things, to explain spiritual truth about the gift of the “Kingdom of Heaven.”

God loves you and chooses you to be His, now and into eternity… in the Kingdom of Heaven. THAT love is to be held close, honored and praised.

Lord Jesus, as I listen to You speaking heavenly truth; build trust in me. Fulfill the hope that I have in You that You are my only hope and trust and salvation.

You have given me all. And I am convinced… I remember last week’s message as well and hear Your Word spoken through Paul…

Romans 8:38-39 NIV

³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

So, what to make of all this? As I pondered this passage over the week, I felt the tug of Jesus on my shirt, showing me what a valuable, wonderful, precious gift of life, with Jesus, in the Kingdom of Heaven He freely gives to me. That’s more than anything this earth could ever provide. Nothing compares to what Jesus gives. And that’s the THAT of this message. THAT is the love of God that was always present. And I need to do nothing for THAT. I couldn’t do enough for THAT to earn it.

Thanks be to God… today… tomorrow… and forever… for THAT --- Amen

Enjoy this YouTube Music Video that spoke to me this week… Shout to the Lord

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRyjTL61GEA&list=RDqRyjTL61GEA&start_radio=1

 

Eternity Love - Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 - Eighth Week after Pentecost

 

 Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 NIV

²⁴ Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. ²⁵ But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. ²⁶ When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.

²⁷ “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’

²⁸ “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.

“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’

²⁹ “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. ³⁰ Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”

³⁶ Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”

³⁷ He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. ³⁸ The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, ³⁹ and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.

⁴⁰ “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. ⁴¹ The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. ⁴² They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. ⁴³ Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.

Eternity Love

Once again, we hear a parable told by Jesus. Parables were prophesied about in Psalms. So, Jesus telling of parables was predicted long ago.

Psalm 78:1-2 NIV

¹ My people, hear my teaching;
    listen to the words of my mouth.
² I will open my mouth with a parable;
    I will utter hidden things, things from of old—

So, yea, we will listen to hidden things again this week, spoken through examples of earthly elements that we can relate to. So, listen to the words of Jesus carefully, to grasp another eternal truth from God.

The “Kingdom of Heaven” is one of the main points of Jesus teaching. And rightly so, after all, Jesus came from heaven to earth, and returns to heaven. Why? It’s about God’s relationship with His created… you and me, and all people, throughout time.

So, Jesus is bringing to you and me, His Word. A word of forgiveness and life, SO THAT, we may live with Him in an eternal relationship of love, FOR Him, and all He came to save. And that’s ALL of us.

So, this field of Jesus, is like the fields we tend to think of also. We live and work in our chosen or given field, or occupation. Even our location. And Jesus’ field, IS the world. And here His plan is to spread the seeds of faith to all of us, SO THAT we may grow in this time and place, and likewise spread His seed to one another, in the love that God gave to Jesus, and to us as well.

That is the Kingdom of Heaven, or the Kingdom of God. And God gives us “seeds,” all we need to grow and bear the fruit of His Word to all the world.

But stuff happens and gets in the way.

Satan gets in the way. Satan invades the field, and sow’s weeds among the good seeds of wheat. Satan is always attempting to muck up the works, with issues that interfere with God’s work.

And notice how we are asleep while Satan does his dirty deed. We sleep and aren’t aware of his vile tricks and deceptions. Sin enters in. The weeds of evil spirits and temptations grow into, and around, the lives of the seeds of God.

As we grow in Christ, we are surrounded by those who may be false. We are surrounded by evil people, and evil spirits, who have bought into the lies of Satan. And we are tempted to move from God to Satan, to be satisfied with the greed and hunger of his works, and this world. It happens day after day. And that’s where sin enters into our lives, and we fail to do God’s will. We fail to love God and our neighbor. Why? Because we get all tangled up in our own selfish ways. This world can bring a fulfillment that is, just of this world.

But even with this, God has planted us, not to turn away from Him. Rather He comes to us to bring us in union with His love, for Him, and for one another.

We have Hope in God, and have Hope to bear the fruit that He would have us bear.

As we go to Jesus and question the sin in our lives, sometimes, for me anyway, I wonder why this sin was set before me. This sin set before me, DOES NOT come from God. Sin comes from the Deceiver, or Satan. Jesus only sowed good seed, the weeds of my sin get in the way of my growth, they get in the way of bearing the fruit that God has given me to bear. So, I must hold on to the hope of Jesus, and bear His fruit of love, even while I grow among the weeds of this world, and the weeds of my sin.

Instead of pulling up the weeds of evil around me, God gives me all I ever need to turn away from the weeds of evil, and the weeds of my sin, to seek Him, and to see Him right there in my presence. Sometimes God lets me see the weeds of my life, sometimes God sets the weeds in my presence, SO THAT, I can see my need for Him, to rescue me from myself. Yes, God spins me away from the weeds and shows me His forgiveness and His Source of life. The weeds are death, and the from the Sower of the good seed, is life and salvation.

Pulling the weeds is not my job. Jesus has come to me to pull the weeds of sin, FOR me, and FOR you. When I think that I can overcome, by my own actions of pulling weeds, I too will die along with the weeds around me, and wrapped all through me. Jesus is the only human in this world that was able to live His life without the sin of the weeds. Yet, He took on the sin of the weeds that we face FOR us, SO THAT, in Him we have life and salvation.

The Church is here not to separate weeds and people, or to judge them. The Church is here to nurture the growth of the wheat, SO THAT, all may bear the love that God has freely shown, even before the Creation.

At the end of it all, the weeds will be bundled together and thrown into the fire, and the good wheat will live forever with Jesus. The evil, the sin and all that pulls us away from God, will be NO MORE. And that’s all the action of God, not the action of the wheat.

So, yea, actively seek God’s Word. Listen to the words and parables of Jesus. Pray for understanding these parables that Jesus gives to us. Listen and respond with that awesome “DO.” Not because you seek to earn favor, but rather because you live now, a joyful life free from the power of sin and death.

We live in a great field full of weeds and wheat. Wheat as the believers and followers of God, and weeds that have rejected God and look to pull the wheat toward death. Know the difference, not for fear, but rather to see which way to turn and look. Will you look to God, or fall to the deceptions of this world’s power and greed?

There will be a harvest. A harvest of both wheat and weeds.

There will be a separation. Sin will be rooted out, in the end. Death will NOT have the final word for the wheat. But death will be the final word for the weeds. Only through Jesus can the sin of the weeds be eliminated, AND, the wheat WILL GROW abundantly.

AND, I love this last part… The wheat WILL SHINE like the Son. Wow!

Jesus, You are the first and the last. I need not fear, for You are with me. Always!

As the weeds seek to bind me up and bring on death, I turn to You, Jesus. For You fill the earth with the love that existed always, in heaven, and on earth. You brought Your love to this earth, to finally reign forever.

As the weeds bind me, Holy Spirit, free me from sin and death, SO THAT, I may live in Your favor forever. I need You!

So, what do I make of all of this? As I reflected day after day on this passage of Scripture, I couldn’t help but to think of God, before. God before creation of it all. He was Father, Son and Holy Spirit, always there. Spirit and Man combined in love to and for each other, separately and collectively, somehow in a way I can’t understand.  But the point being, there is a relationship of love always.

You see, the likeness of God IS Love…

Genesis 1:26a

²⁶ Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness…

See the “us.” I believe the “us” to be God before creation. I believe the “Us” is the Father, Son and Holy Spirit; all in relationship with one another in Love.

And in that “Love” as mankind was created, the intention was always, for the little “us,” to be in a relationship of love with the big, “Us.”

God created us in His love, that we may always love Him and one another.

But then… the evil spirit of Satan gets involved. Satan’s only power is to draw God’s flesh, the little “us,” away from a relationship with God, the big “Us.”

Satan is not flesh; Satan is spirit that chose to deny God’s love and claim power over mankind. God’s loving creation, of the little “us.”

So, the weeds of sin and death attempt to draw us away from our relationship of love with God. And here are those weeds.

But God has a way of turning all things upside down. And since God is also in the flesh and blood of Jesus, God in Jesus comes down with the Love of God that was always present, even before the world existed, to draw the wheat together and away from the entanglement of the weeds, to live, once again in the Loving relationship that God had planned from before the beginning, in Love with God and in Love with all the wheat.

In the end of it all, God’s eternal Love has all the power to defeat the sin and death, of Satan, as Satan attempts to pull mankind from the relationship of love with God. As Paul, so beautifully states…

Romans 8:38-39 NIV

³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

As the wheat and weed are separated, the wheat live in joy and eternal relationship with the Love of God, as was always intended. And the weeds, those evil spirits, are sent away into that eternal fire.

Revelation 20:10 NIV

¹⁰ And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

 

And here is the really “cool” part! Listen to John’s account from the book of Revelation…

 

Revelation 22:1-5 NIV

22 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb ² down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. ³ No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. ⁴ They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. ⁵ There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

 

That there, is the Love of God, as it always was and always will be… today… tomorrow… and forever. Thanks be to God!

 

Enjoy the YouTube Music Video that I ran across that speaks to this passage of Scripture from Matthew…

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdc4kBoaN10

Abundant Fields - Matthew 13:1-9 - Seventh Week after Pentecost

 

Matthew 13:1-9 NIV

13 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. ² Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. ³ Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. ⁴ As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. ⁵ Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. ⁶ But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. ⁷ Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. ⁸ Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. ⁹ Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

¹⁸ “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: ¹⁹ When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. ²⁰ The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. ²¹ But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. ²² The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. ²³ But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

Abundant Fields

This was an intense teaching time in the ministry of Jesus. His teaching continued on His way from a house to a location by the Sea of Galilee. Here in this passage Jesus’ teaching is moving from a private location into a public location. Jesus was an excellent teacher with an eternal message that transcends time and space, calling us, in this place, to listen to Him, and listen carefully.

So, as Jesus draws a crowd, He takes advantage of the location of a boat in the Sea. In a boat, Jesus becomes the sole focal point. This is a wonderful way to focus the crowd’s attention on Jesus, the teacher and the speaker. This is an important teaching lesson that Jesus wants ALL to hear… even for us today.

Think about all of the times that God teaches His people either from the shore, or facing the water, or in the water. Think, even now, about your own baptism, or even the baptism of someone else, as you observe. There is teaching by the waters all of the time. So, once again, God uses an earthly element, like water, combined with the Word, to lead people to see His presence with them. This earthly element and Word spoken, especially by Jesus, leads us forth and through to the gifts God develops in each of us through His Holy Spirit. Always pay attention to how God comes to us, in flesh and blood, upon this earth with His Spirit. God IS present in such circumstances. Here, as well, Jesus will teach us a truth from the water, as we observe from the shore.

So, yea! Gather together, for a sermon from Jesus. Gather together in churches now, and all over, to hear the Word spoken through the pastor, lay-person, or priest. Gather together to hear the Word of God. It’s important that we gather together. Don’t take attending church lightly. Gather together often, and listen, and see Jesus.

Now, let’s think about parables. Parables were common teaching methods in the Jewish community of the day. Parables were used to reveal Truth, in and through earthly examples. There’s that earthly element stuff sneaking into the teaching. So, perk up as Jesus teaches eternal truths, with earthly elemental examples. God speaks in and through His Word, combined with earthly elements. Think baptism and communion, where water combined with a Word and a Promise, jumps a new disciple into life through the Holy Spirit. Think bread and wine, in with and under the body and blood of Jesus, that draws us into Jesus’ real presence, and His gift of forgiveness and salvation. All of these move us close to God. See, they move us close to God. God is the one moving us towards Him. God always comes to us. There is nothing that I can do that will allow me to move into God’s presence. I’m not worthy of that. But thanks be to God, that He moves to me, and draws me in. That’s some love!

So, next we jump into the parable. I’m interested in the earthly people and the earthly elements right away. We have the sower, seed, differing kind of paths, soil or at least the depth of soil, growing or not growing plants, and first off, some birds.

I’m at this point, not really thinking about who represents what. I would rather think about the point of the message, than reflect on who or what represents what. I’m listening, in this instance for the message. Will I get it? I don’t know, but I’m listening.

Now it moves from birds to the sun. It seems like something is always acting on the seeds to prevent growth. Makes me wonder what acts on me in my life to prevent growth, especially when I think of my life in relationship to God. I know that my sinfulness, and the deception of the evil of this world, draws me away from God, acts upon me and turns me around, in directions that I should not go. But I need God to turn me around from my selfish ways, to see and live in His goodness.

The thorns of my sinfulness overwhelm me, and choke out my love for God, and for neighbor. As I read, and reread this parable of Jesus, it’s obvious that there are dangers in my everyday living, drawing my attention away from God. Jesus is really pointing out why I need Him, in this teaching.

In the finality of it all, Jesus draws me back to some good soil. And there is that God coming to us again. God comes to us, even in the midst of the birds, the scorching sun, the rocks and the thorns of this life to bring us to Him. This action of God, even in the actions of the sower, seems to draw me into Him.  Teach me and guide me I pray, Lord Jesus!

As Jesus explains His parable, He draws us in. He draws us in to think deeply about His message. Jesus uses an agricultural theme, because that was common work for the people to which He was speaking. On the surface that seems elementary. But it’s not. Jesus is using something common, to highlight something deep in meaning. Something deep in meaning that has an eternal truth.

Jesus is teaching about the Kingdom of God. Now, Jesus takes us from what we know in earthly occupations, and earthly elements, and draws us to His Spiritual Kingdom in eternity. In some ways Jesus is drawing us out from this world to another world in which He has always dwelt. Yet, even at that, Jesus not only dwells in the Heavenly realm, He has come to live with us, in this earthly realm as well.

Here we learn from Jesus about the Spiritual warfare in the evils that are tempting us away from God. Satan’s lies are real. Satan’s temptations are constantly teasing us away from the eternal relationship that God has given us, to believe something else. And that something else moves us away from God, and into the realm of evil lies. It’s a battle for your soul, for your relationship with God, for your allegiance to God, or to Satan.

You most likely, in your life, hear God’s Word spoken or presented by the Bible or the words of friends or relatives. And when the True Word is given, you most likely, will accept that Word, or deny that Word.

How you respond to the love of God freely given to you, and how you respond to the lies of Satan, makes all the difference. Throughout time, and even throughout life, my life included, I, we, have taken God’s Word and responded in various ways. Sometimes it lights a fire of passion in life. Sometimes the Word places a fear in life. Sometimes the Word makes me run in fear.

As the Word is tossed out into our lives, our response matters. Here Jesus warns us of the various ways in which we will respond. And our response to God’s Word matters. Our response and our willingness to be obedient to God, as we see what He has done, matters.

As we see God’s action, we begin to realize, this life is about what God has given. God gives us all we need to live. To live here, and to live into eternity, with God in His Kingdom.

As this parable is taught, we are to listen for the Truth coming through it. The Truth is that God seeks us out, and wants us to live with Him forever.

But we easily are deceived by this world, and the desires of living in this world. Remember last week’s message of how we are to look beyond? Jesus draws us from the earthly elements of this world, to teach us a heavenly message. Not only through our baptism, or our receiving Him in Holy Communion, but in our everyday lives as well. Jesus draws us to Him, even in our lives of today.

And Jesus has a way of walking right into our daily lives, our daily beings and into our heart, to live with us and in us, as we live with Him, and in Him.

Listen to the words of the parable, with your eyes focused on what we know, in this earth, and what is revealed to you beyond this world, into heavenly union with God, and one another. Listen and listen deeply. Take the time. For as we listen closely to the parables of Jesus, He is drawing out a response from us that will produce the fruitful fields of abundant grain and life, not only here, but in heaven as well.

Water my life, Lord, that my only thought is to respond in obedience, and joy, to what You do, and have done. Draw me away from myself, as You come to me.

Lord God, thank You for filling this earth with Your love, and with the Words of Jesus. For You lead us from what we can see, here and now, to You into eternity. Thank You!

So, dear Lord, may I live, not by the spirit of my flesh, the desires that I have for the here and now; may I rather live by the spirit that you implant in me. May my life be a response to you, and not a life that responds to my carnal desires and sins. What a tall ask this is, but as You came to earth in the flesh and blood of Jesus, to experience what I experience, I know that Your presence is ever before me. Your presence to lead and guide me, here in this place, with you by my side, to be with You in Your Kingdom in eternity, all through the love, mercy, forgiveness, and power of Jesus, my Savior.

Focus on Jesus. Focus on His Words. Focus on Him in a boat, in the midst of the waters. Focus on Jesus’ call. Join your life, here and now, in this earthly world, to Him, SO THAT, you may see beyond the sower, the seeds, the birds, the soil, the sun and whatever else exists upon this planet, that, we may see in Jesus’ eyes, and hear in Jesus’ words, an eternal nature, and an eternal relationship that He alone can offer; to be with Him in His Kingdom… today… tomorrow… and forever. Thanks be to God!

I leave you with this YouTube Music Video that reminds me of the love of God as we walk in Fields of Gold…

“Fields of Gold” by Sting

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jMAIuqnFEI&list=RD-jMAIuqnFEI&start_radio=1