Bring out Your Treasure - A reflection on Matthew 13:44-52 - The Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

 

Matthew 13:44-52 ESV

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

“Have you understood all these things?” They said to him, “Yes.” And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”

Bring Out Your Treasure

Three parables and a little bit of instruction.

First we have treasure in a field. Sometimes I read this and see it in two ways. But first I look at the Kingdom of Heaven.

The Kingdom of Heaven contains paradise. It calls memories of Catechism studies of God’s Kingdom mentioned in the Lord’s Prayer. Thy kingdom come…

How does God’s kingdom come? Well, it comes to me out of the past when Jesus entered this world as flesh, and even before this, when Jesus entered creation, and throughout all of the Old Testament. Jesus was present from and before the beginning as well. In fact, as we read the Old Testament, we see Jesus smeared all over each and every book. We see Jesus coming in flesh, but kind of hidden in the heart of God, and kind of hidden from the eyes of his people in Christophanies. A Christophany is an appearance or non-physical manifestation of Christ. In the Old Testament Jesus still comes to us and brings us God’s kingdom.

God’s Kingdom also comes to us in the here and now. In fact, part of praying for God’s Kingdom to come is asking that God’s Kingdom would come to yourself. May God’s Kingdom come to me, here and now, and may God use me to do his will in his kingdom, here in this time in this place, as well as in heaven. May God’s Kingdom come to me here and now, that I may please God, and do his will as I live in this realm of life.

And finally, God’s Kingdom comes in the end of time. God’s Kingdom is fulfilled when Jesus returns to raise all who believe in him to everlasting life. God’s Kingdom is so much more than just heaven. Heaven or Paradise is just the beginning. When Jesus comes and fulfills the Kingdom of God, we will be gathered as one with new bodies to live in a much more glorious way with God forever. There will be no more sin, death or evil.

So, yea, the Kingdom of God is worth everything. After all, God gave everything to have me or you. He gave his very life for his people.

Here in this first small parable, we see that the treasure is the main focus. The found treasure is a surprise, set there to be found.

And here is where my vision splits. Through my eyes the Gospel of the Good News of Jesus is the treasure that brings me endless joy. I see the treasure as Jesus and the Gospel.

Philippians 3:7 ESV

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.

Philippians 1:21 ESV

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

You, see in this side of the vision, I see Jesus and the Gospel as the treasure.

But what if I change it all around? What if I think of Jesus thinking that I am the treasure to be found? It was Jesus who gave up everything to come and find me. He gave his very life for my sin and became my very sin that I may live with him into eternity. I was buried in a field of my very own sin and God gave his very flesh, blood and life to pull me out and place me into the very Light of eternity before him.

So, you see, I have a split vision here. Maybe God speaks through this simple parable in multiple ways.

This split vision seems to apply to the Parable of the Pearl as well. Who is the merchant? Is the merchant me or Jesus? Split vision once again.

As I think of myself being the merchant, I think of how I am always seeking something. I’m seeking Jesus and the Gospel once again. I’m always looking and listening for God to come to me, and speak to me, and lead me, and guide me in my everyday living. Then, every once in a while, it happens. Yet, the finding of the pearl was no accident.

1 Corinthians 2:9-10 ESV

But, as it is written,

“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
    nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him”—

these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.

And then in my split vision, I see myself as the pearl. I see Jesus giving everything for me, selling it all just for me. Split vision once again.

In the third parable of the net, I see a turn to something different. It reminds me of the message of the weeds and the wheat from last Sunday.

Yet this third parable still involves the Kingdom of God.

The net is like one thrown out into the sea and pulled towards the shore. The net gathers all kinds of fish and other crap as well. The Kingdom of God draws people in. Jesus wasn’t seeking perfect people for a pure church, but rather a gathering of all followers to offer forgiveness of sin and salvation. So, as the net draws in, it is full of all kinds, both good, bad, followers, and others. All are pulled towards the Kingdom of God.

Day by day the net is drawn. God draws the net. No one can escape the net. And yet, the draw of the net is not in our control. Each day the net draws us closer to the shore.

And then here it comes… the shore. At the shore I learn, as I’m with all those drawn in the net along my side, that it’s not up to me to judge the people in the net along with me. Judge nothing before the time.

1 Corinthians 4:5 ESV

Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.

God does the judging. God looks to the heart of everyone. God knows who has abandoned him and turned inward upon themselves, trusting in a salvation of their own making.

But for me? I trust in God through Jesus forgiveness of my sin, and live for the One who draws the net.

So, finally Jesus asks his disciples… Do you get it? (In my words).

The disciples will be scribes. Scribes were trained in the things of God’s Kingdom. Thy Kingdom Come… remember the Lord’s Prayer?  The Scribes know the Law. But now, the disciples know both the Law and the Gospel. The Gospel that shows all people that God chooses us and loves us.

Trust in God… For, nothing separates me or you or anyone from the love of Christ Jesus.  For we, as God’s Treasure are called to bring out God’s Treasure of Jesus and the Gospel to all those God chooses to give to us… today… tomorrow… and forever. Bring out your treasure. Thanks be to God… Amen

 

 

 

Poisonous Weeds – Fruitful Wheat --- Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 – Eighth Sunday after Pentecost

 

Poisonous Weeds – Fruitful Wheat

Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 – Eighth Sunday after Pentecost

Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 ESV

He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”

Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.

 

Wow! Some tough lesson to learn here. Here we deal with the mystery of wickedness. The weed in this parable is poisonous bearded darnel --- “weed.” How does weed get in with the wheat? Jesus tells us that an enemy, Satan, sows the wheat into the field. So what is the field in which Satan sows the weed? The field could be the world, but I think here it is a bit more specific. I think the field is referring to the church on earth. Satan would love to be able to penetrate the church of Jesus’ disciples and lead them away by cunning.

Disciples of the church are always anxious and ready to rid the church of the unfaithful. But how do you tell the unfaithful from the faithful. Weed and wheat are hard to tell apart until both are in the ear. Weed, especially darnel, look just like wheat until you see the fruit that they produce. It would be a disaster to achieve a “pure” church with no sinners. And in this trick of Satan, the disciples of Jesus wish to sort out the good people from the bad as quickly as possible.

But Jesus puts a hold on it. As Christian churches who claim to be all wheat, they convince themselves that they are in a weed less field. Really? That’s just another tricks of Satan. How bold can you be to claim that your own church is perfect? No! There is weed in the church on earth.

First I must look upon myself. I must be ruthless with the evil in me. I must see my evil sin and turn to God. Yet, I need to be cautious in dealing with the evil in another person, even in another disciple of Jesus. My eyes and understanding of another person’s issues lack the eyes and understanding of God. So, I can be ruthless with my own sin, yet cautious to point out, or weed out, the sin of another.

This parable is an allegory of the “Last Judgment.” God doesn’t elect some for the fire. God wants all people to be saved. Yet he doesn’t tolerate rejection forever. There are those who are weed that choose to be weed and want nothing to do with God. There are evil doers who do lawlessness in this world by their own choice on purpose.

Christians are not free from God’s law, but rather they are free in the law, and through the law. The Law points us to turn to God. Sometimes God can make weeds into wheat. Sometimes God can and will change things as we turn to him in our sin. Yet, there will always be those who deny God and gnash their teeth in the famine of the cold outer darkness in anger of how foolish they have been and choose to be.

BUT

Those who turn to God; God will make righteous through Jesus and will shine like the sun coming from behind a cloud.

The earth is full of God’s love. As we live in this world, and in the church, disciples of Jesus hope for what we can’t see. We see a world and a church full of weeds and wheat. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Let’s let God be first and God be last in the world, the church and in ourselves.

So, what now? We live in this world, this church, and tell all of what God has done and will do for those who bear the fruit of God in Christ Jesus, and shine like the sun to all the world… today… tomorrow… and forever. --- Amen

 

Wasted Seed? - Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 - Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

 

Wasted Seed?

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 ESV

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear.”

“Hear then the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

Wasted Seed?

Conflict and danger are on either side of Jesus speaking in this passage. A passage of several Parables or stories Jesus gives to his followers. Jesus speaks in parables because he loves God and man. Of course, we know now that Jesus is both God and man in flesh. To Jesus earth was a shadow of heaven. Jesus very life, suffering, death and resurrection; were all spiritual connections of heaven to earth.

Prior to the speaking of these parables, Jesus was speaking to the crowds and confronting and challenging both his disciples and others with his mission and authority in both earth and heaven. Following these parables came Jesus’ rejection in his hometown of Nazareth, which nearly brought about his stoning.

In this Parable of the Sower, most of the seed is wasted. It’s important, as disciples of Jesus, that we don’t worry about lost seed. As can be seen in this parable, the seed, not the sower is closely described. We come to understand that the seed is the Word or the Gospel. The teller of the Good News, the Word, or the Gospel is not the main concern here in this parable.

We see seed cast on a path. Not much soil to bring about the fruit of the seed, and birds eat the seed. We see seed cast on rocky ground, some soil to grow but not enough to last long enough to produce fruit. Seed cast among thorns that don’t allow the seed to produce fruit. And then, seed cast upon good soil, permitting the seed to produce abundant fruit. The small number of seed that does produce fruit, produces a harvest much greater than all the seed that was lost.  Fruit a hundredfold is a huge amount!

So, we are dealing with people that hear the Gospel, the Word, the Seed who are either casual about what they have heard, maybe shallow about it, or fall into worldly desires and walk away from what they have heard in the Word, or maybe they heard it and are responsive to the Grace of the Gospel and the Word. The fruit or the grain of receiving the Gospel produces a fruit of love for God and love for one another through actions of love.

Although, much seed is wasted, the harvest is abundant.

Herein lies a trap for Jesus disciples. We all grasp the Word, the Gospel, the Seed at different times and in different ways. As a disciple of Jesus, don’t be so presumptuous or judgmental to think you are always of the good soil, that produces massive amount of grain or fruit for God.

Sometimes in life we are worn out by the path and trampled upon. We hear God’s Word but it doesn’t penetrate into our lives. Sometimes we hear the Gospel, yet our own pride permits the devil to snatch away the fruit of the Gospel from us and we turn away from God. Sometimes the thorns of this world lure us into a thinking that we can make it all on our own and have no need for God, Jesus, the Gospel or anything else. Life is good right now, who needs God?

We are sinners and need to be honest before God and ourselves and know that we need God more than anything else. And we can’t waste time judging our neighbor on what kind of soil they may be in at certain points in life.

After all, understanding the Word, or Jesus, or the Gospel does not come from within ourselves. Understanding must be given by God and God alone. Understanding is not a result of my own, or your own, intelligence, status, or power.

But here is the Gospel. The sower has cast enough Seed for it to come to you in your hearing, so that as you are in the good soil that God gives to you, your hearing of the Gospel will be transitioned into a fruit that bears glory to God for all that he has done for you. God grows some good stuff in you, and through you, and for him, and to those he gives to you to love each and every day.

 You too, can sow some seed. You can toss God’s love all over this earth in every way and on every day. God’s Seed is free to all on whatever path or place in life people may exist.

So, produce fruit! Cast Seed! Not a bit of that Seed is wasted. God’s Seed saves, God creates perfect beauty in his fruit, bear witness as a Child of God and cast Seed… today… tomorrow and forever. Thanks be to God!

 

A Memorial Reflection - Connie Sue Lynch October 28, 1946 – July 3, 2023

 

A Memorial Reflection

Connie Sue Lynch

October 28, 1946 – July 3, 2023

 

Plans

Connie was a planner. She loved to make plans. Plans for Easter Celebrations with all her “kids” of the family. Plans for Christmas Plays. Plans for Childrens Choirs. Plans for Sunday School, teaching young children the love of God in Christ Jesus. Plans for Travel Groups. Plans… plans… plans.

Connie loved to schedule also. Most of her plans were inspired by God. Some of her plans could be manipulative. I fell into a few of those plans as well. Happening upon a visit to Mom and Dad’s house, suddenly I was involved in one of Connie’s plans and found myself putting badges together for some MacIS convention that Connie was planning for her job at the time.

Sometimes her plans were intrusive as well. On the guise of helping, Connie might just invade your home to give you help you didn’t want or ask for her to give.

Most of Connie’s plans came from a pure heart of giving.

One time, I recall a visit to see Mom. When I walked into the living room, all I heard was, “You make your plans and I’ll make mine!” Connie had apparently tried to plan something involving my mom and Mom would have nothing of it! And Mom let Connie know, loud and clear. My Mom had a direct way of stating things in a no uncertain term kind of way.

Well, I just slinked on by that conversation in the Living Room and went into the Family Room until all the ruckus died down. Connie left the house mad. Mom stayed mad. I kept quiet and didn’t poke a stick into that hornets’ nest!

During one of the last visits I had with Connie, as she was suffering from dementia, I stumbled upon one of Connie’s planning sessions. As she suffered from dementia, I knew that I must leave my world and try to figure out what world Connie was in, and join her in her own world.

It became apparent to me that Connie was on one of her Cruise Ship adventures and she was the group leader. Connie kept telling me how she couldn’t get this group to cooperate and move along to whatever the next activity was to be. Connie was really upset and mad with these people. So, I tried to guide the conversation towards something different. Connie was upset! Well, that didn’t work either. You see, things weren’t going according to the plan Connie had laid out for this Cruise Group she was leading. On and on she went about this boat and these people and she kept getting madder and madder about how her planning was all falling apart, until, until, someone crapped (I chose a different word than Connie used) in the boat! And then I heard about this “crap” for such a long time, I decided it was time to cut this off and made some excuse about having to go home to do something, like let the dogs out.

Needless to say, my plan for a nice visit with Connie failed. And Connie’s plan for these Cruise Ship people failed as well.

The night after Connie died, I couldn’t sleep a wink. I just kept thinking about plans. I knew Connie was an excellent planner, but realized how all plans never go as planned. There is always some wrinkle in the plan. And then I started thinking about how many times “we” have messed up God’s plan for all creation.

God created… and everything was good. Look back at Genesis chapter one and see for yourself. God saw good in what he created.

And then…

Humans “crapped” in the boat.

Adam and Eve decide to believe that they could become like God and know good and evil.

Along come Cain and Abel. Men bringing offerings to God. God likes Abel’s offering. Cain gets jealous and kills Abel. “Crap in the boat!”

We humans have a way about us to make a mess of things. We sin and turn from God and attempt to wrestle control from God to the point that God felt the need to clean house.

Genesis 6:7 ESV

So the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.”

But God has a plan. A much better plan than I could have, or you could have, or Connie could have, or anyone could have. And then the Great Flood. A do over for God’s sinful creatures. A second chance at this thing. A second chance but not the last chance.

And what do humans do with this new plan? Crap in the boat! Noah gets drunk and his son’s have to cover for his shame.

On and on it goes. Tower of Babel. We think we can reach the heavens. Oh, how great we think we are to be able to reach God. Well… “Crap in the boat!”

I’m not even halfway through the book of Genesis yet and still plans are upset and ruined all along. Need I keep this going, with Abraham and Sarah, Jacob and Esau, Joseph and the mess he was in and created as well? On along to Moses and Pharoah. The escape and all the wandering around in the wilderness. Even after crossing the Jordan into the Promised Land, sin creates a mess of plans and there is “Crap in the Boat!”

God keeps on forgiving, warning, working with us to get us to turn to him, to confess our sin and to see what a perfect plan he has in place all along. But Noooo! We continue to “Crap in the Boat” and ruin the plan God has for us, because we think we have a better plan.

Well, we don’t! God has had a plan all along for our “Crap in the Boat.” Our sinfulness, is taken care of in a perfect way through a perfect plan, way beyond any plan we think we have for ourselves.

God deals with our “Crap in the Boat,” in that he takes our sin into and upon himself, and puts it all to death, giving to us his cleanliness, his righteousness, his forgiveness of all of our “crappy,” sinful behavior, once and for all time. Once and finally. And God means it!

John 19:30 ESV

When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

The power of sin is finished! Forever!

God comes into our world, and invades our plan, to defeat the power of sin, from which we cannot free ourselves, and gives us new life with him forever in paradise, and finally in a resurrection from the dead on the last day.

So, there you have it. Sure, we still sin in this world. We sin every day. But the power of that sin is gone for good. As we turn to God each day, as we relive our baptism each and every morning, God drowns our sin and raises us to new life in him, that we may go forth in joy to serve God, to love all those God gives to us each day, to make our lousy plans that will probably fail, but just might succeed to make a wonderful gift of love in Easter Parties, Christmas Plays, Helpful hands to those in need. God uses us flawed disciples for something good, even as we continue to “Crap in the Boat.” All because God has freed us from the power of sin, death and evil.

Somehow, I see Connie together with Mom and Dad and Jesus, planning the most wonderful Easter Resurrection Party of all time and eternity, together with all the saints in Paradise.

Rest in Peace Connie… I’ll see you soon to join in THE One and only Plan of all eternity.

 

 

 

 

Heaven Comes Down - Sixth Sunday after Pentecost - Matthew 11:25-30

 

Heaven Comes Down

Matthew 11:25-30

English Standard Version

At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Jesus says “I thank you…” A flood of praise to the Father from Jesus. A flood of praise for “babes” receiving the Gospel. Babes, common people, the workers, the untutored people of this world. “Babes,” the very souls of this world, that Jesus came to reach and teach and love and give the Gospel to, for all time.

True understanding must be given by God. I can’t obtain true understanding by my own effort. True understanding is a gift from above. Heaven Comes Down with this gift of the Way and the Truth and the Life, through God himself, in the form of the flesh of Jesus, and in the spirit of Truth in the Holy Spirit, all from the Father. True understanding is a gift from God as Heaven Comes Down to you and to me, day after day after day.

As Heaven Comes Down, I humbly acknowledge my need of a Savior. I know that sin dwells in me. I sin every day and hate that I sin every day, yet I still sin. I don’t want to sin, I don’t set out to sin, yet I sin. And I know that in the midst of my sinful being I need a Savior. A Savior to take away this power that sin holds on me and release me from my sinful life to a new life. So, I turn. I turn to God and look and reveal the sin in me that God is already aware of, but that I need to bring before the feet of Jesus.

Jesus came in humility, and I come to Jesus in humility. I come to Jesus aware that I’m but a “Baby.” I need Jesus to remove the power of sin from my life, to release me back into this world of sin, daily to serve and love God and those God gives to me every day of my life.

Aware of my sin, I can’t know heaven, unless heaven comes down to me. Jesus stoops down to earth and blesses me, and you and all creation. Jesus stoops down and gives creation the gift of faith. This faith is driven by the resurrection, that reveals Jesus, One with the Father, revealed through the Holy Spirit, once and for all time to all of God’s Creation. You see, Heaven Comes Down.

And Jesus invites us. Jesus calls all to come after him, to follow him. Jesus takes the Law, which shows me my sin, because he can, and he chooses to. Jesus is above the Law. Jesus is God. Jesus takes the Law which points me to my sin and removes it from my back, and gives me a “yoke” of love for God and one another and a “yoke” of praise to God. Jesus removes the power of sin over my life, and replaces this power with an easy burden of love for God and for neighbor.

When I’m at my weakest point, in the midst of the knowledge and weight of my sin, when I’m weary and tired and completely worn out. Heaven Comes Down. Heaven Comes Down in Jesus, to me, and to you, and to all the “babes” of this world. Jesus takes the burden of sin, forgives sin and gives us his power of eternal life.

The result of Jesus coming down?

 Rest… peace… calm… ease.

As Heaven Comes Down; Jesus plants faith in us. Faith that brings forth belief. Belief in God that frees us to serve God, free from our sin holding us back from loving God and those God gives to us each and every day.

The result of this Heaven that Comes Down?

Refreshment in the freedom from sin that Jesus gives to us day after day after day, yet once and for all time. It’s EASY! Freedom, lined with love. Freedom of a new “yoke.” A yoke no longer lined with the splinters of my sin digging into the flesh of my tired, sore neck. No! Freedom to wear a new Yoke of love for God and love for all the people God gives to me to love each and every day of my life.

Heaven Comes Down. Thanks be to God, that Heaven Comes Down to all the “babes” of creation, through the love of God in Christ Jesus… today… tomorrow… and forever. --- Amen

 

Fifth Sunday after Pentecost - Matthew 10:34-42 - Decide about Truth

 

Decide about Truth

Matthew 10:34-42 ESV

“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

“Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”

What are my priorities? What are your priorities?

We need to decide. Are we for Jesus or against Jesus? Neutrality is not possible when it comes to God. So, what is it?

Truth is more important than temporary harmony. Getting along isn’t the deal here in this passage. In this question, the human response will bring division. Here Jesus is presenting an option with no return to keeping the peace. Jesus came into this world to bring Peace and was termed the Prince of Peace. Jesus “Peace on earth” comes as a cost. A huge cost to Jesus and to you and I as well.

The object of Jesus coming was reconciliation with God. My sin and your sin attempt to pollute this relationship with God. Sin has brought pollution throughout time, bringing a separated relationship with God.

Jesus’ gift to us is peace, but not a peace through compromise. Jesus’ gift of peace to us comes through suffering and strife. And only through Jesus can we become what God created us to be.

As humans we tend to break down our trust into relationships with one another and with God, but here our trust breaks down into trusting God alone. Not one another, not myself or yourself, but trust in God alone.

If Jesus is Truth, then he IS God and must come first in our life. Jesus comes first! No rivals at all. No one comes before Jesus, not even myself or yourself.  Not your mom or dad, brother or sister or any other human being. Not money or goods, or anything we choose to think brings us life or preserves our life, especially for body. Not health or power or prestige. Not honor or glory. No! Jesus comes first!

We need to give up the physical and material life for Jesus. Only Jesus leads to true life. Nothing of ourselves can give us life. Not our works or gifts or power or glory in this place. Jesus is Truth and Life. Jesus comes first!

Through the Law, I become aware of sin. In my sin, I find that I can’t turn it around on my own and make everything come to a peaceful conclusion. I am guilty in my sin and deserve the punishment it brings. Only God can bring me peace through Jesus. But first he must die. And then I must die.

The cross is my self-denial. Lose your full life and all things for Jesus’ sake. We can’t travel two roads. If we lose our life to Jesus, our life is found. Once again, Jesus comes first!

So, Jesus calls us to a decision. Jesus calls us to decide about his Truth. Jesus comes to his disciples and confronts them with Truth. Jesus confronts us with his Truth, and bids us to do the hard thing. To make a decision for him, or against him. In Jesus is the Truth of Life through his death. In Jesus is the Truth of what really matters. In Jesus we are called to take a stand. Does Jesus come first? If not, do you come first? Does anything else come first?

Jesus comes first! He must come first. Jesus came first and took our sin upon himself. Jesus defeated the power of sin, death and evil, once and for all time. Jesus comes first in bringing life from death, and resurrection to a new life with God forever.

Jesus comes first. My death, your death and death come second, third, fourth…

And then… and then… Jesus’ resurrection from death to life comes first. Your resurrection, my resurrection all Jesus’ disciple’s resurrection comes next to live with God forever in his Kingdom.

Jesus comes first!... today… tomorrow… and forever! Thanks be to God!