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

Life Giving Crumbs - Matthew 15:21-28 - Twelfth Week after Pentecost

 Matthew 15:21-28 NIV

 ²¹ Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. ²² A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”

²³ Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”

²⁴ He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”

²⁵ The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.

²⁶ He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

²⁷ “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”

²⁸ Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.

Life Giving Crumbs

Jesus was in the area of Galilee teaching crowds and speaking to the Pharisees. Now He was moving on to Tyre and Sidon, cities in the Gentile area that were wealthy and prosperous. This area was outside of the typical Jewish areas of ministry. Tyre and Sidon were known for pagan practices. Also, Tyre and Sidon were areas, typically in conflict with Israel.

A non-Jewish woman approached Jesus. The non-Jewish woman, in herself, was not something that would be customary with a Jew, like Jesus, to give her any recognition. But this woman has a need. She recognizes Jesus’ power and authority to heal. She recognizes Jesus’ divinity.

Anyhow, the woman sees Jesus as someone that can help her demon possessed daughter. Why? Because she has been gifted with a faith from God that jumps outside of religious norms and the societal norms of the day. This is expressed in her sure confidence in Jesus’ power, as she cries out to Him, for compassion, comfort and healing for her daughter.

When in need, we reach out. As this woman reached out, she sees the power of Jesus over demonic forces. Sometimes those outside of the “normal” see the power of Jesus much better than those inside the group. Perhaps like the disciples, or even Christians of today. People outside of the typical group, see Jesus more for what He is, than those “inside” the group.

It’s funny how Jesus must have heard the woman cry, but refused to say anything. Was this a test? Was Jesus teasing a response out of the woman or even, perhaps, the disciples?

This makes me recall other times in Scripture when God is silent. Like Elijah on the mountain, as he worries about his future and his past. The silence is broken by the “still small voice.” Or even with Job in his cries to God of why? How about the so called “silent night” of Jesus’ birth. Sometimes in life, God speaks in the silence.

But the disciples, in this case, just wanted the woman to go away. Why? Were they exhibiting a cultural disgust of this woman being a Gentile? I don’t know, and I really am in no place to judge this, but for me, my sinfulness may have done just that. I may have been in judgment of this woman, if I were in the place of the disciples. And I don’t think my judgment would have been right at all. I may have seen this woman as a distraction to the accomplishment of, what I think, the mission of Jesus to be. Wow! Who do I think I am?!

But I think if we are honest, we may fall to this same prejudice as well. And maybe there is something to learn here in just this prejudice.

Maybe I think that faith, surely can’t be granted beyond the boundaries of my own Christian thinking. But here is the thing, this woman does not see the boundaries that I, or perhaps you, or maybe even the disciples see, as this woman, “Outside of our Group,” cries to Jesus for help. A woman with a deep prayer to Jesus to heal her daughter.

Oh, how easy it is to exclude people in need, rather than to even, at least pray for their need, let alone, assist them in that need they bring forth. It happens all the time. It happens every day, as we count people, out of our norms and our groups, to cast them aside in their need.

And then, to pile it on, listen to Jesus’ response to this woman, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

Whoa! Now I feel confident in my judgment to exclude this woman and her daughter as well. They ain’t part of us! They aren’t like us! They are outside of our privileged religion, or even our nation.

But here is the funny part. Sure, Jesus’ mission was with Israel to begin with, BUT, and this is a big BUT, or maybe better a great HOWEVER. Jesus’ mission WAS NOT exclusive to the Jews or even the Israelites. Sure, Jesus began with the Jews and the Israelites, HOWEVER, He does not end at that!

This woman was bold enough to break the traditions of the day, and cry out to Jesus. Why? Because God gave her the faith she needed, to be BOLD, in the face of God Himself, in Jesus.

This woman surely knows just who Jesus is. Isn’t that great?! Someone from the outside, knows Jesus better than we do ourselves. So, she kneels in the presence of God and prays the deep prayer of “Lord, help me!”

Now this outsider to the group, has become the example of how we should be in the presence of God. This woman is now teaching the disciples, and us as well, how to pray to God, and how to reach out, knowing that only God can save. Hmmm….

This woman is showing us FAITH! So, we need to LOOK, SEE, LISTEN and join in prayer with her, and those like her.

And then see, what Jesus does?

Jesus continues to teach, saying, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

Yea! Take that lady! See! I knew my judgment of this filthy Gentile in need was spot on!

But that’s not the end of the story. Jesus teased out of this woman a passion for the gift of her faith in Him, as her God and her Savior. The woman is even ready to just get a “crumb” of faith and healing from the One she recognizes as her Lord and Savior.

Talk about an example of “Faith” beyond borders or boundaries! Talk about humility in the presence of God! This woman exhibits her reliance of Jesus as her Savior.

And in all of this, Jesus, knows and recognizes the confidence this woman has placed in her God given gift of faith. Jesus heals the woman’s daughter then and there!

May I do what is “right.” Even and most importantly to the foreigners.

Yes, Lord, even I, can hear Your voice in the assembly…

“May God be gracious to us and bless us and make Your face shine on us – SO THAT Your ways may be known on earth, Your salvation among ALL nations.” --- Psalm 67:1 --- my emphasis added in caps…

How beautiful it is to see, in this woman, how You never reject Your people. You have “Come” to save all people.

As God gives each of us faith, may we be bold to show that faith, loud and proud. For faith is a “Gift from God.”

Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV

⁸ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast.

As we hear the cries of those in need, from the outside, or from the inside, may we acknowledge that God not only came to the few, but He came to the ALL, to grant life in His Kingdom forever. This is NOT an exclusive club that we can grant access to, for only those who meet our traditions or our requirements. God’s people are for ALL the people.

Likewise, may I see the needs of those from the “outside,” and invite them into the love of Christ, in what I say and in what I do. That’s some love that started before creation. That’s the love of God, in and through, Christ Jesus. That’s the “Love you neighbor” stuff.

Galatians 5:14 NIV

For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Thank you, Lord for the gift of some crumbs from Your table of love… today… tomorrow… and forever!

Here’s a different one --- A country song that spoke to me on this passage of Scripture…

“The Crumbs From The Table”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBternn7K2M&list=RDKBternn7K2M&start_radio=1

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