sermon

Going Fishing With Jesus – Matthew 4:17-25

Going Fishing With Jesus

Matthew 4:17-25

Introduction

One of my favorite memories from childhood is where my father and some friends would rent a charter fishing boat in Florida. We would leave early in the morning, way before daylight, and go to the deep waters. As a young boy, my imagination would run wild about what was under the boat in the hundreds of feet of dark ocean water.

I loved the ocean spray, I loved the feeling of riding in the boat, I loved looking over the side and watching fish and sometimes dolphins swim beside the boat – but I especially loved being there with my Father. There were times when I would turn green, or get knocked about in rough waters – but my dad was always there to smile and give me assurance that everything was fine.

He showed me how to put a lure on the line, how to bait the hook, where to throw the line. And there were times when the water was a smooth as glass, and times when there were 3-4’ waves. There were times when we caught nothing, and times when we caught our limit, but all the while – my dad and I were together. There was nothing like going fishing with my dad.

This morning we are going to look at where our heavenly Father says, “Let’s go fishing!” Guys, life is too short not to go fishing with your dad. There is nothing like it. Our Heavenly Father shows all we need to know about fishing in His fishing guide (the Bible) and He instills within us the ability to catch fish after fish, after fish.

Prayer – Father, thank you for loving us enough to make us apart of your plan to redeem all of creation back to you. You want us to go fishing with you, thank you for taking us along for the ride. Give us the boldness, to put our fishing rods and hooks in the water. Let us catch our limit, make us into Fishers of Men.

Dropping Your Nets – Leaving the World Behind

Matthew 4:18-22 “While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.”

Jesus sets up his preaching ministry in the area of Capernaum.[1] John 1:35-40 tells us that Simon Peter, and Andrew his brother had already met Jesus, followed him to where he was staying, and heard John the Baptist indicate that Jesus was the promised Messiah.[2] Also, we see that the brothers were not satisfied with the fishing nets, “their livelihood was not their life.”[3]

They were looking for something more. John 1:40-42 “One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus.”

“These men craved wilder seas.”[4] One commentator says that the men are “homesick at home, and strangers under the sun” There is a discontent that rumbles around within all of us, and we ask. “Is this all there is in life?” Where is true purpose, and adventure?

Jesus then goes on to talk to another pair of brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee – who is in the boat with them. Matthew’s emphasis in both sets of brothers is immediacy and decisiveness.

When Jesus Christ called four fishermen from Galilee to follow him, they had no idea of the magnitude of where that calling would lead them. They did not know that they would face persecution, prison, and even death for the sake of the gospel of Christ.

They did not realize that they would be the leaders of the infant church that would eventually span the globe and turn the world upside down. They did not realize that they would have a part in the revelation of Holy Scripture. They just knew that Jesus called, so they obeyed.

The same is true of us today. When Jesus calls, and we follow, we do not know what he might be pleased to do in our lives. We do not know where we will serve, or how we will serve, or the cost that following Christ will demand. But when he calls, we obey. They were not attaching themselves to a creed, or a philosophy, or an idea – they were following a person. In Christianity, we are following a person.

This calling took them away from their vocation of fishing and required that they give up everything, even leaving a father behind, a successful career behind – in order to follow Christ. What have you dropped, in order to follow Christ? Has being a disciple of Christ cost you anything? Salvation is free, but being a disciple is not – it costs you everything.

There were no promises of wealth, or good health or even a place to live. There is no promise of power or prestige – only a relationship with Christ. To be His disciple.

In the opening chapters of the book of Matthew, you have Jesus’ birth narrative, his interaction with John the Baptist, then His temptation in the wilderness with Satan. From there Jesus begins His public ministry and the first recorded word of Jesus’ once he officially begins his public ministry is “repent.” The word order in the passage is important because it is the order that we are to follow as Jesus’ disciples. Matthew is holding up a mirror to these first disciples and we are to see if our faith reflects theirs.[5]

Repent, Follow, Faith

Repent – We are to turn from our sins before we can follow Christ. Are we constantly, daily, turning from sin and toward our relationship with Christ?

Follow – Following is to leave things behind, fathers, sisters, mothers, careers, fish, boats, nets, income, a disruption of an ordinary life. Then we have to stay close to Jesus, and constantly gauge how close we are to Him.

Faith – he will call us to do things, to forsake things, to try something. Am I doing what I’m commanded to do – be fishers of men?

Pony Express riders were usually lightweight young men, often teenagers. For this reason, an 1860 Pony Express advertisement in California read: “Wanted. Young, skinny, wiry fellows not over 18. Must be expert riders, willing to risk death daily. Orphans preferred.” This ad had an overwhelming turnout of people wanting to ride for the Pony Express. Why? People wanted to be apart of something worthy of risking death daily.

Most of the time church ads go something like – “Come join us for healing, comfort, and a pleasant worship experience.” And once they are there at the church we say “Enjoy the coffee, the show, and a message of inspiration. “Don’t give, go about your lives as normal and we’ll see you again next week if that’s convenient for your schedule.”

Delivering An Eternal Message – Repentance

Notice what Jesus is preaching, Mathew 4:17 “From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” The word repentance means a change in the mind and action of a person regarding sin. They think differently about sin than before – they act differently than they did before.

Repent means to turn 180 degrees, and go the other direction. In order to follow Christ there must be a change in our lives. For these disciples they dropped their nets and followed.

Repentance also allows us to see the world differently – we see sin differently, yes, but we also begin to see the world as Christ sees the world. When Jesus sees their net, he thinks capturing people. Jesus loves people and is always thinking of how to save them – If there was talk of a harvest, he spoke of a human harvest (John 4:35), If they were talking about a well, then he talked about “living water” (John 4:10). Where other people saw buildings, laws, battles, Jesus was always thinking about his brothers and sisters. To be a fisher of men, is to have the mind of Christ – to think of how others may be saved.[6]

It says “is near” – what’s near, what’s about to happen? The kingdom of heaven is stepping into human history in a way that it never has before – so much so, that it announces and begins a new epoch in human history. We must turn from our sin, because if we don’t we will miss a God who stepped into human history.

He is providing through Jesus the promise of salvation. These disciples are promised nothing but salvation, and a commission to show others how to have this salvation.

Two men get on a plane, one man is given a parachute and promised that the parachute will make his flight more comfortable. He puts it on and as he makes his way down the center aisle, people begin to snicker at him. When he sits down it is very uncomfortable, and he can’t even put his tray table down. People continue to look at him, and after a while he takes it off and puts in under the seat, hoping that people will forget he even had it on.

Another man gets on the plane, but he is given the parachute and information that the plane is going to crash before they reach their destination. He still hears the snickers, endures being uncomfortable from sitting on it, and he clutches the pull pin tightly.

He could care less about what people thought about him or the parachute – because when the plane goes down, he would be safe. Salvation is not about our lives getting easier, or joyous – it is about not going to hell. Is the parachute enough? It is when you realize that it will save you from death. What if you had an extra parachute – would you give it to anyone? Would you ask if anyone wanted it?

Jesus’ preaching is summarized in this one sentence “repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Turn from your sin, or you will miss the only way to have eternal life – you will miss the only person on the plane who is handing out parachutes.

Discovering the Depth of Discipleship – Everything

“Immediately they left their nets” and “Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him” These were fishermen who would have reeked from being out all-night fishing, hauling the fish in, and cleaning them.

They are mending nets. Jesus did not ask them to go home and get cleaned up, he did not tell them to go home and say goodbye, He did not tell them to change in any way than they were right that moment – stinky and tired. “Follow me”

This is a command, not a request. Jesus does not say, “Please consider being my disciple in your spare time and when you get a chance, please come by and see, perhaps when you are finished with your work here we can talk.” – no, God in the flesh looked these men in the eye and said “I have a plan for your life, let’s go – right now.” There was a sense of urgency.

Jesus said “Follow Me” – It was a call to relationship, to know him as Redeemer and Lord. It was a call to learn of him, to listen to what he taught, to observe the details of his life, to receive rebuke and instruction from him.

It was a call to evaluate the darkness and sinfulness of their own hearts in light of the purity and holiness of Christ’s. It was a call to love Christ more than any earthly treasure, to find him as the pearl of great price that consumes the mind, the hidden treasure that one sells all that he has to buy (Matt 13:44-46). It was a call to walk with Christ, talk with him, and if need be, die for him. To Follow Christ – would cost them all that they had, even their lives.

Later while they are discussing salvation, and the future, Peter says in Matthew 19:27 “See, we have left everythingand followed you. What then will we have?”

Those that Jesus calls to be His disciples, he says “I will make you fishers of men.” You can not teach yourself to become a fisher of men. Jesus alone will make you one. This requires a dependence upon Him, and a growing relationship.

Just as Jesus called fishermen who gather fish from the sea, so disciple’s of Christ would gather men, women and children to radical obedience in Christ. Walking away from everything in order to be a disciple.

Jesus explains this radical obedience in Luke 14:25-30 “Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’” Consider what it costs and what is required of a follower of Christ – you will be fishers of men.[7]

The call of Christ is the same today. It is not that we quit our jobs or leave our families to pursue gospel ministry. While He does call men and families to do this — Instead wherever the Lord places us we are to fish for men.

Spurgeon comments, “The winds of providence will waft you where you can fish for men” [MTP, vol. 32, 344]. God moves upon our lives, placing us in strategic locations and settings so that we might, as followers of Christ, become fishers of men.

If you were to drive up to your home, knowing that your family was trapped in the roaring flames inside. Then you look and you see the large red fire engine, with all the fire fighting apparatus, ladders, axes, hose, gauges, and picks, etc.. and the firemen were feverishly shining the chrome, washing the tires, and neatly folding the firefighter jackets. Some were even huddled in the cab complaining at how cold it was outside. What would you think about this fire fighting unit? Fire fighters fight fires!

Disciples of Christ “will be” fishers of men no matter wherever your’ fishing hole may be.

Conclusion

I think that it is interesting that these men are fishermen and when Jesus comes to call them to discipleship, they are doing what fishermen do, they were beside the shore, they were casting nets, mending nests, they were in a boat. When Jesus comes to collect us to heaven, let him find us doing what Christians do being fishers – fishing for men.

One of the most powerful outreach tools that our Father has given us is prayer. We are on day 21 on our 40 Days of Prayer Challenge– Begin to pray and focus on who you can invite for August 15^th. And re-read today’s passage again and again until you understand that you are a “fisher of men.”

The other night I was watching how Navy Seal train new recruits. The training itself is grueling and painful. Only a few make it through the whole process. One of the ways they train is to take a rubber boat fill it with water and require that six men to eight men hold it above their heads. Eventually there will be one guy, because he is tired, who will not really push as hard as he can, expecting the other guys to hold their weight, plus his weight. In the church there are many people who are expecting others to hold the weight. Don’t be “that guy.” Let’s go fishing with out Father.

This morning if you have never received Christ, He is calling you to Him just as you are. There is absolutely no need to clean yourself up – just follow Him. Lay your life down and follow Him. But consider that that you must give up the sin, repent, and follow Him with a radical obedience.

“Dear Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and need your forgiveness. I believe that You died for my sins. I want to turn from my sins, I now invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as Lord and Savior.” In Jesus’ Name.

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[1] John A Broadus, An American Commentary of the New Testament, Matthew (Valley Forge, Pennsylvania; Judson Press, 1886) 75.

[2] Craig Blomberg, The New American Commentary, Matthew (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Publishing, 1992) 90.

[3] Halford Luccock, The Interpreter’s Bible, Matthew (Nashville, Tennessee; Abingdon Press, 1980) 276.

[4] Ibid.

[5] Douglas Sean O’Donnell, Matthew, All Authority in Heaven and on Earth (Wheaton, Illinois; Crossway Publishing, 2013), 95.

[6] Luccock, 277.

[7] In the Old Testament the concept of fishers of men has a judgmental tone, such as in Jeremiah 16:16 “Behold, I am sending for many fishers, declares the LORD, and they shall catch them.” Luccock

The Power of a Praying Church – Acts 12

The Power of a Praying Church

Acts 12

Introduction

Last week we looked at how Jesus taught the disciples to pray, and what has become known as the “Lord’s Prayer.” And I challenged you (and myself) to begin praying through the booklet “40 days of Prayer.” As of today we should be on day 7. If this is new to you, that’s fine, just jump in with us today. The booklets are outside the sanctuary.

Today we will look at the power of the church, prayer. Prayer has been described as the electricity to the toaster. The appliance with worthless until it is plugged into the wall socket. We can have great dreams, good plans, but unless God leads the way, changes our hearts, and guide our decisions through prayer then we are like an unplugged toaster.

Also, when you have a church family you do not have to go through hard times alone. One of the ways that we support and love one another is that we pray for and with each other. So prayer is not a program or even something we do once a month at a meeting – it is the lifeblood of the local church and believers.

Prayer – so before we jump into today’s passage, let’s pray. Jesus, we come before you today in recognition that apart from you we would be nothing, can do nothing, and will accomplish nothing. We call out to you, to show us what you would have us to do, to be, how to think, how to serve You and our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. We also pray that you will show us the importance and power of prayer this morning. Amen.

The Power of God Displayed in Impossible Situations (vv. 1-4)

About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. 2 He killed James the brother of John with the sword, 3 and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. 4 And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people.

The Herod in these verses is Agrippa I, a nephew of Herod Antipas who beheaded John the Baptist. Herod Agrippa through political maneuvering had managed to expand his kingdom to about the same size as his grandfather’s, Herod the Great;[1] who killed baby boys at the time of the birth of Jesus.

Herod Agrippa had James the “son of Zebedee” beheaded and, because it delighted the Jews, he intended to kill Peter. Polling data told him the majority of the citizens approved of that action so he captured Peter.

Herod Agrippa was a politician who desired to look good before the Roman Empire – one of the ways to look good was to keep the peace. So, if it pleased the Jews to kill Peter, this would help maintain the peace. He was also careful not to break the customs of the Jews by executing a man during the Passover.[2]

The Passover was the first of the three great festivals of the Hebrew people. It referred to the sacrifice of a lamb in Egypt when the people of Israel were slaves. The Hebrews smeared the blood of the lamb on their doorposts as a signal to God that He should “pass over” their houses when He destroyed all the firstborn of Egypt to persuade Pharaoh to let His people go.

In New Testament times, Passover became a pilgrim festival. Large numbers gathered in Jerusalem to observe this annual celebration. Jesus was crucified in the city during one of these Passover celebrations.

He and His disciples ate a Passover meal together on the eve of His death. Like the blood of the lamb which saved the Hebrew people from destruction in Egypt, His blood, as the ultimate Passover sacrifice, redeems us from the power of sin and death.[3]

There was a political tension between the Jews and the Romans – So Herod is holding Peter as an “ace up his sleeve,” if something were to happen during the Passover feast. The Jews were looking forward to his death. In v. 11 we see “from everything the Jewish people were expecting (NIV says anticipating).”

The Power of God is Dispersed By Interceding Saints (vv. 5-12)

So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church. 6 Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. 7 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands. 8 And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” 9 And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10 When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. 11 When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.” 12 When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.[4]

Knowing that Peter had allies, Agrippa took extra precautions against any attempt to free the prisoner – as Peter had already escaped from prison before. Four relays of soldiers took turns guarding him: four guards at a time, one on either side of him (to whom he was chained) and two at his cell door.[5]

I love this picture of Peter. He has taken his sandals off and they are lying by his bunk. He has stripped down to his underclothes and is soundly sleeping – while chained to Roman guards. Did peter’s snoring keep the guards awake? What was it that gave Peter so much resolve to endure the pressure and threat of death that he was able to be sound asleep? So soundly, that the Angel had to strike him?

His Relationship With Christ

Peter was able to sleep so soundly because first, he had seen the transfigured Christ; Luke 9:28-33 “Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. 30 And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, 31 who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, [2] which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32 Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. 33 And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said..”

Peter had seen the resurrected Lord; John 21:2-4 “Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.”

Peter spent three years with Jesus, he had been with Him constantly – He saw the miracles, he experienced the masterful teaching, Peter was amazed at Jesus’ servant heart when he washed his feet. Peter denied him, heard the rooster crow, raced to the tomb after the resurrection, he knew the heartache of doubt. He saw the resurrected Christ on the seashore, and in the upper room.

Peter slept because he had a relationship with Christ – He knew that if he were to die, he would be with Christ. If he were to live, then he could continue to live for Christ. Another apostle had such a faith while facing death.

Paul in Philippians 1:18-21 “What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

Sometimes we think the worst thing that can happen to us is to die – but Peter and Paul show us that is far more devastating to the believer to forget why he is here, and the all-important relationship they have with Christ.

Experience

Acts 5:18-20 “. . . they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 20 “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.”

Peter had already been rescued one time by an angel – if it were God’s will, He would do it again. That is the wonder of Christianity – through our relationship with Christ, and daily experiencing his power, we have hope and faith for tomorrow. If your execution was in the morning could you sleep tonight? In light of all the ways God has provided for you, and shown you that He loves you would you rest easy?

He Knows His Church Is Praying

Peter is shackled with two chains, he is chained to two guards, he is surrounded by specially trained soldiers, who knew if the prisoner were to escape it would cost them their lives. Peter is in a barred room, within the Roman prison. For an average man, escape would have been impossible.

But this man had a very special group of people on his side. His church is praying for him. The church is praying for their pastor. They knew that if God does not step in a do something Peter is going to die, just like James. The church knew that there was no hope for Peter, other than prayer.

The Church’s Prayers Are United

There prayers were united because they were “gathered together.” Hebrews 10:24-25 “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” When believers gather together there is power.

James 5:16 “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” Within our unity of prayer, there must also be purity in the congregation. Then the prayers of the righteous are (NIV) “powerful and effective.”

The Church’s Prayers Are Earnest

They were “praying” – this Greek word was used to describe a muscle that has been stretched to its limit. They were straining in their prayer; they were stretched in their prayer. This was not a flippant prayer, but a prayer that pushed them to the point of strain, praying with all their might.

The same Greek word used here of the way in which the followers of Jesus were praying for Peter is used in Luke 22:44 for the way in which Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane.[6] Luke writes, “And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.”

The Church’s Prayers are Unceasing

“Unceasing” – they had prayed through the night, late into the night. They kept on praying until they heard that God had done something. Other translations have fervent. The origin of the word used here references the pleads of one being tortured on a rack that pulls them apart. The pleadings are urgent.

The church had prayed perhaps for days, and now on the eve of Peter’s execution – their prayer continues. We must not stop our prayer, even if the situation seems to already worked out before us.

Could their pleadings not only have been for his life to be spared, but also that he would not deny Christ as he had done earlier in his life? Peter had denied knowing Christ three times after Jesus’ arrest, and then the rooster crowed.

The Angel led him only the length of one street, he left him all alone in a city that wanted his head. It would only be a matter of time before they came looking for him – where would he go?

He went to a place where he knew he would be safe, a place where he would be loved, taken care of, those who knew his history and prayed all the more fervently for him, – he went to this family’s home because it was a home that was known to be a house of prayer.

It is not the craftiness of Peter that got him out of jail – Peter was asleep when the angel came. It wasn’t the sympathy of the jailers that enabled Peter to find deliverance – they would later lose their lives over Peter’s escape! There was no explanation for Peter’s escape except for the power of God!

It was the power of God that sent the angel! It was the power of God that loosed the chains! It was the power of God that opened the iron gate! It was the power of God that had changed the heart of a fisherman from coward to fearless apostle!

Once free Peter came to his senses and arrived at the same conclusion. In verse 11 we read, “When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.” It was the power of God!

Also, just as an aside, In Acts 5 the popularity of Peter and the apostles is so prevalent that when the Roman soldiers are ordered to arrest them, Acts 5 says, “Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.” But by Acts 12 the Jewish people would have been delighted to see Peter executed. We don’t share the word of God based on its popularity – but because it is our mission.

The Power of God is Doubted and the Saints are Surprised (vv. 13-17)

13 And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14 Recognizing Peter’s voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate. 15 They said to her, “You are out of your mind.” But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, “It is his angel!” 16 But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed. 17 But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Tell these things to James[7] and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place.

When Peter arrived at Mary’s house the followers of Jesus were still praying. They had been up all night long praying for Peter. I don’t know what they were praying about. I haven’t a clue if they were praying for Peter to be comfortable, for the living conditions to be cordial, or for Herod not to kill Peter.

I believe that they were praying for Peter to be spared, released, comfort but when he showed up at the door they didn’t believe the young lady who said, “He’s here!” They ignore the answered prayer when it’s right at their door. They try to rationalize the answered prayer, They said, “You are out of your mind!” They even try to explain awaythe answered prayer by saying, “It is his angel!”[8]

The followers of Jesus were praying, they were even praying earnestly, but they weren’t praying with expectation. When you come to know the desires of God’s heart for your situation (and for our church), ask for Him to move in the situation, and pray as though you know He is listening – and when the answer knocks on the door, answer the door.

Conclusion

The purpose of prayer is to draw us close to the heart of the Father so that our wills, our deepest desires, our passions will be those of the Father and not our own. When we draw close to the heart of the Father then He will be glorified through our lives, our words, and our works done for His glory! Then when we know God’s will and pray accordingly we should expect Him to do great things.

You have been challenged with the 40 Days of Prayer, so how do you bring it about? You begin with prayer.

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[1] Frank Stagg, The Book of Acts, The Early Struggle for an Unhindered Gospel (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Press, 1955) 128.

[2] Clifton J. Allen, The Broadman Bible Commentary, Vol. 10 (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Press, 1970) 76.

[4] J. Jeremias, TDNT, III, pp. 175ff. There were other ancient stories of doors opening and fetters falling off as a story motif. Sudar Singh was thrown into a dry well for execution. FF. Bruce, 236.

[5] F.F. Bruce, The New International Commentary, The Book of Acts (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Eerdmans Publishing, 1988) 234.

[6] I. Howard Marshall, Tyndale New Testament Commentary, Acts (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Inter-Varsity Press, 1980), 208.

[7] This is James the brother of Jesus. James the “son of Zebedee” had already been killed by Herod.

[8] The Jewish people believed that people had a guardian angel, and that this angel resembled the person they watched over. (Allen, 77).

How Do I Please God With My Life? By Persevering in the Face of Difficulty John the Baptist: Part 3 Matthew 14:1-12

How Do I Please God With My Life?[1]

By Persevering in the Face of Difficulty

John the Baptist: Part 3

Matthew 14:1-12

***In the beginning of the sermon my IPad was very slow in booting up, and at the end it died very suddenly. So I skipped some of the notes at the end. Just some insider baseball to explain why this sermon was a little more extemporaneous than normal.

Introduction

Psalm 116:15 “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.”

The book Ordinary Men by Christopher Browning is the true story of Reserve Police Battalion 101 of the German Order Police, which was responsible for mass shootings as well as roundups of Jewish people for deportation to Nazi death camps in Poland in 1942. By the end of the war they had killed over 83,000 Jews. Browning argues that most of the men of RPB 101 were not fanatical Nazis but ordinary middle-aged, working-class men who committed these atrocities out of a mixture of motives.

How is it that ordinary, working class men go from being ordinary citizens of a nation to ferocious killers of unarmed men, women, and children? They were not closely tied to the Third Reich, Nazism. These actions are one small step followed by another, and then another.

Prayer

I Can Please God by Telling the Truth (vv. 1-5)

At that time Herod the tetrarch heard about the fame of Jesus, 2 and he said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead; that is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.” 3 For Herod had seized John and bound him and put him in prison[2] for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, 4 because John had been saying to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” 5 And though he wanted to put him to death, he feared the people, because they held him to be a prophet.

After Herod the Great died (Matthew 2:19 ff.) his empire was divided among his sons. So “Herod the tetrarch”[3] was the son of Herod the Great, was named Antipas, and he ruled for about thirty-two years over the area that Jesus and John the Baptist were preaching and ministering.[4]

“Herod the tetrarch” is hearing about the fame of Jesus. After Jesus raised a man from the dead the people began to say “. . . A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!” 17 And this report about him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country.” (Luke 7:16-17).

So he goes back to an event that happened earlier – The death of John the Baptist. He superstitiously believes that John has been raised from the dead; that is why this person performing the miracles has power.

In verse five we see that Herod the tetrarch was concerned about the people and what they thought of him. He didn’t want any riots or uprisings, so he was careful in what he did with John. So even though he wanted to kill him, he just kept him imprisoned. Matthew 4:12 helps to get a time line that it was about a year since John’s imprisonment.

Wanting to keep the people happy and calm, it seems that Herod brought in John the Baptist in order to endorse his marriage.[5] Here’s where things get sticky – Herod the Great had three sons that the empire was divided amongst; Antipas, Archelaus, Philip. Antipas (the Herod mentioned in Matthew 14) took Philip’s wife (Herodias) as his own wife – and he wanted John to endorse that marriage, so that it would potentially be ok with the people (since John was very popular). “For Herod had seized John and bound him and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. . .” and they already have a child together.

Levitical law required the marriage of a deceased and childless brother’s wife, but here the brother was still living and they had a daughter.[6]

Instead of endorsing the marriage, John kept on saying, again and again ““It is not lawful for you to have her.” Luke 3:19-20 tells us that not only did John go after Herod because of his marriage, but also many other things as well, “But Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for all the evil things that Herod had done, 20 added this to them all, that he locked up John in prison.”

Mark 6:18-20 adds some details, “For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19 And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, 20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.”

From the Greek verb usage we can tell that John kept on saying that what Herod was doing was wrong, and preached against “all the evil things that Herod had done.” Yet “he heard him gladly.” All the verbs here are in the imperfect tense, describing actions continued or repeated from time to time.[7] John was faithful to not water the sin down, and to keep sharing how it was wrong.

So if we take the Gospel accounts together, Herod was originally angry with John and had him imprisoned with the intention of killing him. But because he feared the crowds, he just kept him in prison.

Then over time as John would appear before him and preach against him, Herod begins to respect and fear him as a prophet, even listening gladly to what John had to say, even protecting John from Herodias. Herodias, on the other hand, as John preached again and again, held a grudge and become increasing angry and was waiting for an opportunity to kill him.

Everyone has a conscience. It is our internal warning system that something is right or wrong. When we violate our conscience we feel shame or guilt, and when we do what we feel is right, we feel satisfaction or relief. Like a altimeter in an aircraft that tells you how far you are off the ground. If you get too low, an alarm goes off.

But that altimeter could be calibrated incorrectly and you could fly right into a mountain with no warning. What calibrates our internal warning system in the Bible. We can also not listen to our conscience, essentially turning off the warning system, by ignoring, and over time you no longer hear the warning alarm.

I Can Please God By Completing My Calling (vv. 6-12)

6 But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company and pleased Herod, 7 so that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. 8 Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.” 9 And the king was sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he commanded it to be given. 10 He sent and had John beheaded in the prison, 11 and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. 12 And his disciples came and took the body and buried it, and they went and told Jesus.

Matthew 4:11-12 is the description of the end of Jesus’ temptation which was around 40 days. His temptation immediately followed Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist. “Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him. 12 Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee.” So now after being in prison for around a year, we reach the last day of John’s life.

“the daughter of Herodias danced” Salome is the daughter’s name and she is around 12 years-of-age. Herodias’ daughter (by her previous marriage to Philip), danced before the crowd and Herod at his birthday celebration. Typically, dancing girls could be hired for such an occasion, but they were “of ill repute.” Here, instead of prostitutes dancing around it is Herod’s step-daughter.

What gives this a sense of horror is that a mother has sent in her child, probably mostly naked into a room of drunken men who would then watch her dance. Her dancing pleased Herod (again horrible), and he made a rash vow to Salome.[8]

Mark 6:22-23 gives us a little more detail, “And the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” 23 And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.”[9]

The girl goes and consults with her mother Herodias and they plan the execution of John with the proof to be presented to them on a platter. If Herodias had bet that by sending in Salome the king would react this way, makes it even more diabolical. Even coaching her daughter to ask for the murdered head of a righteous man.

“And the king was sorry” this is the first time in the text that Herod the tetrarch is referred to as king, almost to emphasize that he could, as king, do whatever he wished. He immediately “was sorry” that he had offered the vow because he was trying to protect John the Baptist from Herodias. He probably realizes that he has been played by Herodias.

Herod once again feared what people would say. Weak men fear of being thought of as weak, so he doesn’t do what is right.[10] Herod had no moral problem about his incestial and adulterous relationship with Herodias, nor did he had a moral issue about killing John, nor did he had a moral problem with his 12-year-old step-daughter dancing around, probably nude in a room full of men – here he does not want to break his word. Suddenly, he feels he needs to do what is right.

So Herod upon hearing John’s preaching was aware that his conscience was directing him – he knew John to be righteous, and holy and “he kept him safe.” He gladly heard what John was saying. His conscience was being pricked. We are told that “he felt sorry” for his actions, but it is the same kind of sorry that Judas felt. He was filled with remorse but was not repentant. Instead of severing his relationship with Herodias, he severed John’s head from his body.

Worldly sorry is to feel bad because of an action or decision you have made. Repentance, is to change in your mind how you feel about a particular action. 2 Corinthians 7:10 “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.” There are many today who seek to drown out the sorrow in our hearts, to ignore it, mask it, or to be even busier so we don’t feel anything – but that is the spiritual warning system that guides us to a right relationship with God.

“So repentance begins with an intellectual recognition and confession of sin, but it does not end there. There is also a “change of heart”—an emotional component in which the genuine believer mourns over having sinned against the God whom he loves. That is why in the classic psalm of repentance, Psalm 51, David says, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.”[11]

“People who have worldly sorrow are often defensive about their sin and attempt to justify it or explain it away; whereas godly sorrow causes you to own your sin and make no excuses. You know you are experiencing worldly sorrow when you are grieving for yourself—for the embarrassment you’re suffering and the pain you’re feeling—rather than mourning over the grief you have brought to the Holy Spirit for dishonoring the grace of Christ and belittling the glory of God.”[12]

“To murder a man you know to be good and righteous and to show no remorse – we call such people psychopaths. But Herod was no psychopath. He was just an ordinary guy who made one small foolish step after another – a small step toward a woman who was not his wife, another step behind his brother’s back, a momentary moment of lust at a birthday party, and the next thing you know there’s John’s head staring at you, served on a royal platter.”[13]

In that culture people, especially at celebrations like a royal birthday, the meal would have lasted late into the night. So, more than likely, John would have been in his cell, asleep in his bunk, when the soldiers[14] came in and hastily beheaded him. There were still some that were considered “John’s disciples” even though John had pointed them to Christ who came a collected his body.

In John 3:29-30 there is a discussion about how John’s ministry related to Jesus’ ministry, and John the Baptist responds, “Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.” John completed his task of being the forerunner of the Messiah, he preached “repent for the kingdom of heaven his here.”

Broadus says, “For many years he lived a life of hardship and loneliness, that he might be better fitted for his work as a reformer.”[15] John the Baptist didn’t just preach about repentance, but the way he dressed and the food he ate and even where he chose to do his ministry – all pointed to his message of repentance. He lived out what he preached down to the last detail and he died in a prison because he faithfully spoke the truth.

For John he boiled his life down to one word – repentance. How he dressed, what he ate, where he went, all pointed back to his calling and it gave constant direction to his life. All too often we are split in thousand different directions because we can’t narrow our calling down, if we even take it into account at all.

In “A world where Herod sits in the festival chamber, and John lies headless in the dungeon, needs some one to set it right.”[16] And his disciples [Johns’] came and took the body and buried it, and they went and told Jesus What do we do in light of such injustice? We go and tell Jesus. Jesus understands what is like to lose those he loved.

In Jesus’ parable of the sower Herod is an example of the seed that fell among the thorns.[17] “Herod hears the word, but “the cares of the world” (he has a kingdom to run and important people to impress), “the deceitfulness of riches” (he’s not about to give up his position and the wealth that goes with it to follow some hermit from an obscure little town in Judea or some traveling peasant from Nazareth), and lusts for other things (women, power, you name it) enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful (13:22). So it never grows.”

We must be careful to cut ourselves free, through the convictions of the Holy Spirit, from the sin that entangles us. We must keep our consciences calibrated with God’s Word, and keep it clear.

Baby Jessica’s Rescue Oct. 16^th, 1987

____________________

[1] Week One: By Repenting of Sin and Drawing Close to Him. Week Two: By Accepting My Place in His Universe

[2] “The place of confinement is said by Josephus (Ant. 18.5.2) to have been Machaerus a fortress on the eastern side of the Dead Sea.” W.N. Clark, An American Commentary, Mark (Valley Forge, Pennsylvania; Judson Press, 1881) 88.

[3] Matthew 2:19ff. Archelaus, Antipas, and Philip

[4] John A. Broadus, An American Commentary on the New Testament, Matthew (Valley Forge, Pennsylvania; Judson Press) 314.

[5] Broadus, 314.

[6] Broadus, 317. Lev. 18:16; 20:21

[7] Ibid.

[8] Craig Blomberg, The New American Commentary, Matthew (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Press, 1992) 230.

[9] Esther 5:3, 6; 7:2

[10] Plumptre

[11] https://blog.tms.edu/sorrow

[12] Ibid.

[13] Kent Hughes. Matthew, All Authority in Heaven and on Earth (Wheaton, Illinois; Crossway Publishing, 2013) 387.

[14] Mark’s account tells us that he was an “executioner.”

[15] Broadus, 321.

[16] Lewis, 359.

[17] Hughes, 388.

How Do I Please God With My Life? By Accepting My Place in His Universe John the Baptist: Part 2 Luke 7:18-35

How Do I Please God With My Life?[1]

By Accepting My Place in His Universe

John the Baptist: Part 2

Luke 7:18-35

Introduction

While in seminary a friend of mine asked me to drive him to a doctor’s appointment. He was having headaches and so we went to have a MRI of his brain. We went and on the return trip from one part of Raleigh, NC to across town we got lost on the outer loop. These were the days before GPS, so around and around we went for about an hour.

In the meantime the hospital had called his wife and told her that my friend needed to return immediately that they had found a mass and needed to do further imaging. It was discovered that he had a brain tumor. We were in our twenties, so with prayer and chemo he would be fine, so I thought. Who dies of a brain tumor in their twenties?

Now adding to this was the fact that they were seminary students who lived in a very bad part of town, on purpose – so that they could minister and do Bible studies in this impoverished and crime ridden neighborhood. Months went by, chemo treatment after chemo treatment and my former college wrestler and bulked up man, slowly began to waste away to a living skeleton. I went and setup their Christmas tree because he was too weak to move from his laziboy chair. Eventually, he passed away leaving behind a widow. Doesn’t God answer prayer? Why would God take someone who was serving Him with such passion?

If you live long enough, you will have to endure God doing something that makes no sense to you. You will have some hard questions, you will doubt, and you will not understand. That’s what we will look at this morning.

Prayer

Lord thank you for your word, because without it we would be lost. This world is so confusing, and filled with malevolence. You have not left us without a witness of your love and compassion. Help us to trust you more today as we lean in to your character and unchanging presence. Amen.

I Can Please God With My Life By Asking Him the Hard Questions (vv. 18-23)

The disciples of John reported all these things to him. And John, 19 calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” 20 And when the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?’”

Luke doesn’t tell us where John the Baptist is when he receives the report from his disciples or sends two of his disciples to talk with Jesus, but Matthew 11:2 tells us that he was in prison.[2]

John the Baptist was there at Jesus’ baptism and heard the voice from heaven saying, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” (John 3:22)

John’s disciples reported to John what the people of Judea were saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!” John clearly understood his role as the person who would prepare the people’s hearts for the coming Messiah. But he was confused about Jesus and what He was doing. John says, ask Jesus, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” Jesus did not fit his expectations.

While John preached and baptized, people began to think maybe he was the Messiah. Luke 3:16 “As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, 16 John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

So far there was no Holy Spirit appearing, no fire, no winnowing fork, no burning the chaff. John’s expectation of what the Christ would do, and what Jesus was actually doing didn’t match up.

The Romans showed no signs of going anywhere, Herod and the Herodians were living it up, and the religious leaders (Sadducees and Pharisees) were just as self-righteous and arrogant as ever.[3]

Jesus is focused on mercy, grace, forgiveness – where is the judgement and fire?[4] John seems to feel that he is running out of time – “shall we look for another?” before its’ too late.

John the Baptist has doubts about Jesus.

In May 2020, Jon Steingard, the front-man for the very popular Christian band Hawk Nelson said that he no longer believed in God. Steingard said there were things in the Bible that didn’t make sense to him. There were things in Christian culture that made him feel uncomfortable. He had questions, “Why is there evil in the world?”, “Why doesn’t God do anything about it?”

This year, Kevin Max of the band DC Talk said that he was an “exvanglical.” And there are several others like Joshua Harris of “I kissed dating goodbye,” and the comedians and Air Biscuits podcast hosts Rhett & Link[5]. Many very famous and popular people are deconstructing their faith.

Deconstruction is a movement among those inside Christianity that are seriously struggling with their faith. 67% of young adults are praying more and thinking more than before the pandemic. They want to know how the church is dealing and reacting to racial injustice and sexuality.

Is it wrong to ask questions and to have doubts? Let’s see how Jesus deals with John’s doubt.

21 In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight. 22 And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. 23 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

Jesus responds to John the Baptist’s question with empirical and Scriptural evidence that he was the Messiah.

John 4:17-19 “And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” In Jesus’ response to John the Baptist, He references four different texts from Isaiah.[6] Jesus points to Scripture, and then shows how He is living out the Scripture.

Jesus also doesn’t demand belief, he presents the facts and lets John make up his own mind. Jesus’ asks John’s two disciples to simple state what they have seen and experienced, and from that John can draw his own conclusions.[7] God gives dignity to man by slowing down long enough to allow us to put the pieces together, on our own. God doesn’t become angry when we question, he addresses our questions with facts.

Jesus does not tell John that he would be delivered from prison and he doesn’t say anything about the winnowing fork, or burning chaff, or unquenchable fire. But He does give evidence that He was the Messiah, the Christ. Jesus deals with John the Baptist’s doubts by showing him that He is the Messiah.

Jesus doesn’t promise us that he will take the pain away, cure the disease, or follow the plan that we want to see happen. He just keeps pointing people to Himself. Jesus is who he said He was and in that we have hope.

Jesus is God who put on human skin, fulfilled prophecy in his birth and life, preformed miracles to prove his identity as the Christ, taught and explained how his kingdom was different from all the earthly pharaohs, and would eventually rise from the dead. He reaffirms in John’s life that he is who he said he was.

Jesus closes his remarks to John by saying, “And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”[8] Or blessed is the one who does not fall away because of the way I do things. John was convinced that the Messiah was going to free Israel from Roman oppression, get rid of the religious phonies, and execute judgement – But Jesus wasn’t doing any of those things. If we are not careful, our preconceived notions of how God acts, and beliefs about what He should do, will keep us from being apart of what he is actually doing.

God is God and He will run His universe the way He sees fit, but if we stay the course then we will be blessed. Life still happens, even to those who believe in Christ.

But God’s Word never changes and God never changes.[9] There was a time when the Catholic Church punished Galileo because he believed that the earth revolved around the sun[10] – does the Bible teach that the sun revolves around the earth, no it does not. So, while God’s word does not change, some interpretations of it do change. Our humbleness to admit that we don’t know or may get some things wrong is important to a watching world.

I Can Please God With My Life When I Humble Myself Before Him (vv. 24-36)

24 When John’s messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 25 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are dressed in splendid clothing and live in luxury are in kings’ courts. 26 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is he of whom it is written,

“‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’

28 I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

Jesus asks the crowds, “why did you go out to the wilderness?” Were you looking for a trend leader (someone moving back and forth), a fancy dresser (soft clothing), yes they were going out to see a prophet.

Jesus recognizes John the Baptist as the pre-runner of the Messiah, John fulfilled the Scriptures referencing him and his ministry of preaching “repent, for the kingdom of heaven is here.” Jesus also praises John in v. 28 saying “none is greater than John.”

But a new day has arrived, and Jesus says, “Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” John is the last prophet from the Old Testament, and Jesus is beginning a New Testament where those of this new day are apart of the kingdom of heaven. Both are God’s Word, and both are needed to understand God’s message to mankind. The OT is needed to understand the context of the NT.

There are two ways of doing ministry, John representing the Old and bridging the gap into the New, and Jesus representing the New.

29 (When all the people heard this, and the tax collectors too, they declared God just, having been baptized with the baptism of John, 30 but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.)

Luke in parentheses compares those who humbled themselves, repented, confessed their sin, and were baptized by John. He even singles out tax collectors, even those horrible sinners – they declared God just in pointing out their sin.

The Pharisees and the lawyers did not believe that they had any need to repent, confess their sins, or humble themselves to be baptized by John the Baptist. They rejected the purpose of God for their lives, which is to “bear fruits in keeping with repentance.” (Matthew 3:8)

“31 “To what then shall I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, “‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.’ 33 For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ 35 Yet wisdom is justified by all her children.”

Jesus uses a child’s song to make a point. One group of children are trying to get another group of children to play. There were “people of this generation” who rejected both John’s and Jesus’ ministries. John’s message of “repent and be baptized” was ignored (no weeping), and Jesus’ ministry of good news of salvation was ignored (no dancing or rejoicing).[11]

John’s not eating certain foods (bread) or drinking certain drinks was an outward expression of his mourning and message of repentance. He is literally living what he is preaching. They even called him a demon for living this way. Jesus’ eating and drinking was an expression of his celebration that the king of heaven was here, and Jesus was called a glutton, a drunkard, and a friend of sinners.

Both Jesus and John’s message was the same, “repent, for the kingdom of heaven is here.” But their presentations were different. The people rejected both. There will be people, that no matter how eloquent or humble the presenter, they will not respond to the gospel. No matter how well laid out the facts may be, they refuse to humble themselves before the Lord.

The religious people who refused to repent, confess their sins, and were not baptized are missing the fact that “the kingdom of heaven has come near.” John’s whole message was for people to prepare their hearts, so that they would not miss the appearing of the Christ. And here we see a group of people who refused to humble themselves and they don’t know what to do with John or Jesus’ message. They are missing the kingdom of heaven that is literally staring them in the face.

“Yet wisdom is justified by all her children” Those that follow the religious leaders (rejection of the need for repentance, and the rejection of the coming of the kingdom of heaven) and those that follow Jesus and John’s message of repentance of sin – one group will be shown to be right, one group will be justified.

God can handle any questions you may have, and He will provide the facts you need, but at the end of the we all have to make a decision to choose Jesus and what He has done for us on the cross or have faith in ourselves and our own abilities to save ourselves. Both can’t be right, and at the end of time one way will be justified. Which do you think is right?

_________________

[1] Week One: Matthew 3, By Repenting of Sin and Drawing Close to Him.

[2] Robert H. Stein, The New American Commentary, Luke (Broadman Press; Nashville, Tennessee, 1992) 226.

[3] Kent Hughes, Luke, That You May Know the Truth (Wheaton, Illinois; Crossway Publishing, 2015) 275.

[4] Leon Morris, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Luke (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Inter-Varsity Press, 1990) 156.

[5] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujtXatJVeN0

[6] 26:19, 29:18ff, 35:5ff, 61:1 (referenced above)

[7] Clifton J. Allen, Gen. Ed., The Broadman Bible Commentary, Luke-John (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Press, 1070) 67.

[8] “The verb rendered takes offense is picturesque. It derives from the trapping of birds, an refers to the action that depresses the bait-stick and so triggers off the trap. It is a colorful way of referring to the cause of trouble.” Leon Morris, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Luke (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Intervarsity Press, 1990) 156.

[9] Immutable.

[10] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galileo_affair

[11] Craig A. Evans, New International Biblical Commentary, Luke (Peabody, Massachusetts; Hendrickson Publishers, 1990) 119.

God’s Economics, John 6:1-15

God’s Economics

John 6:1-15

Introduction

Going into my senior year of college I had saved some elective hours and so I decided to take economics (Macro and Micro). It was a fun course and I learned the formula of economics that is called the law of supply and demand.

When demand exceeds supply, prices rise. And when supply exceeds demands, prices decline. Pretend there is a store that sells apples. On a given day there is a tremendous demand for apples. Outside the door there is a line of forty or fifty people waiting to buy apples. The supply is low. What does the storeowner do? She raises the price of apples because the demand is exceeding the supply.

On another occasion, there comes a time when there are a hundred apples in the store and no one has any interest in apples. No one is asking for apples. They are about to rot and will become of no use to anyone. So, what does the storeowner do? She lowers the price because the supply is exceeding the demand.

What does all this have to do with Christ’s feeding of thousands of people on the Galilean hillside? That experience was all about the law of supply and demand. Without Christ, we always want more than we can get. With Christ, we always have more than we need.

Of the 38 parables that Jesus told in the gospels, 1/3 of them deal with our relationship to our material possessions. One out of every six verses in Matthew, Mark, and Luke discuss the right use of material goods. Our Lord reminds us that our money talks and it is saying something about our commitment to Him.

One day Jesus laid out an economic plan for His people. He gave it on a grassy hillside in Galilee. Jesus has an economic plan for our lives, let’s take a look.

Pray – Lord we recognize that you and you alone have provided all that we have, and have blessed our lives with the things we need. You have also given us friends, our church family, our homes, cars, and we thank you. It is our desire to follow your Word – change our hearts to follow your plans and commands.

Without Christ, We Always Want More (John 6:1-9)

“After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 2 And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. 3 Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” 6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him,“Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?”

A need developed in Galilee. The demand was great. Thousands of people were gathered together far away from home without any food. There wasn’t a McDonald’s as far as the eye could see. There was no apparent supply to meet the demand.

Without Christ there is never enough. Demand always exceeds supply. Those who try to fill this void of their life with money never have enough. How much is enough? Just a little bit more.

How much sex is enough? Just a little bit more. How much recognition is enough? Just a little bit more. How much power is enough? Just a little bit more. Why? Because there is a void in our lives that is so large that only Christ can fill it.

There were three things that brought about this problem of supply and demand (John 6:1-5). These people did not think ahead. There were thousands of men, women, and children who had (1) no sense of proper planning. They had a demand for which there was no apparent supply. The little boy’s mom seems to be the only person among thousands of people who thought ahead.

So how does this affect our lives? How should we plan? It is wise to save in the event of unplanned surprises, to have a retirement account, to put money away for college, or to invest. Planning ahead is very important.

So what do we do with Matthew 6:19-21 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust5 destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.”

Our answer is in the second reason that they had the problem – they find themselves in their predicament because they had (2) no sense of purpose (John 6:5-9). When you combine no plan (just living for the moment) and connect it with no purpose for doing it – it stills leaves one empty.

Is it wrong to want to retire, or even retire early? Is it wrong to want to put money into savings for a time of emergency, or just put money aside for any reason (vacations, travel, or develop a portfolio?) It’s all about your purpose for doing it. What goals do you want to accomplish, and why?

Philip and Andrew best illustrate this very fact. The Lord said that He was “testing” them (John 6:6). He had asked Philip where they should buy bread to eat. For several semesters, the disciples had been taking Jesus’ Bible Economics 101 class – and now it was time for the mid-term. How did they do?

Philip gave an interesting response to Christ’s question. He replied that “”Eight months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” Phillip had a cash register for a mind. The first thing he thought about was not the glory of God nor the power of the Lord Jesus Christ, but how much would it cost?

They had seen Jesus turn water into new wine, a few chapters before. They had seen Jesus heal the sick. But because they had not seen Him specifically multiply fish and bread they were clueless. Philip dealt with the dilemma the same way an atheist would – he looked only at what he could see.

Then Andrew comes speaks up, “⁹“Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, (yeah Andrew! Then he says) but how far will they go among so many?” (oh, so close to being right)

Phillip and Andrew were both soul winners (Phillip found Nathaniel and brought him to Jesus, and Andrew found Peter and brought him to Jesus). But on the Galilean hillside they became part of the problem and not the solution because they had no sense of purpose. Christians who don’t understand why they are on this planet, often times become part of the problem instead of pointing to the answer.

It says that Jesus was testing them – Was Jesus hoping they would say, “Lord, that is no problem for you. We watched you turn water into wine. You can do anything.” Phillip and Andrews are still around today. There are some who are always looking for human possibilities to solve problems with their

When we live our Christian lives this way, our impact stays very small. It is one single lunch perspective verses feeding 5,000 people perspective. The difference in those two perspectives is eternal in its scope.

The third reason they find themselves in this predicament was that the disciples had (3) no sense of potential. Look at this boy who left home with enough food to feed five thousand people and he did not even know it.

Demand often exceeds supply and it’s not just because of no sense of planning, or no sense of purpose. Sometimes it is because we have no sense of potential. It is not the size of our lunch that matters but whether Christ has it in His hands or not.

^“5When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him” – The truth is that no matter how much we fail to plan, how we lack purpose, or even see little potential – Jesus sees us, and says “you feed them.” Jesus already knew what He was going to do, He knew that He was going to feed the thousands of people.

Jesus saw the teaching potential in the moment, Jesus saw the potential to show His power to vast amounts of people, he saw the potential in the people to go home and share what they had seen with others – Jesus saw the potential in the disciples when all they had to say was “send them home.”

Do you know what the disciples saying, “send them home” means?

We must ask Christ to give us eyes to see the multitudes and the fish and loaves in our lives as He did on that day. – we have all we need to do any ministry that presents itself before us.

But instead of saying “there’s not enough” or “send them away” or “I don’t see what we can do with this” Ask God to let us see the potential of what you could do for Christ, and what we can do as a multitude of disciples.

With Christ, We Always Have More Than We Need (John 6:10-15)

¹⁰Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. ¹¹Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. ¹²When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” ¹³So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. ¹⁴After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” ¹⁵Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

Jesus took the bread and fish, gave thanks to the Father, and multiplied it across the multitude. After everyone had eaten there were twelve basketfuls of fragments that remained which were gathered.

The boy could have clutched his brown bag, but he gave it to Jesus. He gave it all – what did he get in return? He had a meal that was all he wanted (which is what he had to start with). He got to see Jesus do something wonderful right before His very eyes. He got another opportunity to give again – from what was left over of his meal. We never give anything to the Lord and lose it. He keeps giving it back to us again and again.

The boy gave to Jesus. Jesus gave to the disciples. The disciples gave to the crowd and the more they gave the more there was to give. And the crowd even had the opportunity to give back. The Bible says “they were filled.” Our biggest fear is, if I give of myself, my resources, my family, my time – then there won’t be enough.

There is a television show called “Hoarders, Buried Alive” on the Learning Channel – it is an illness, but at the heart of the illness is the thought, “I will be happy if I have just a little bit more.” Then they hoard whatever they can (trash, animals, newspapers, clothes, and most of it broken and damaged. But each time they gather something the joy they find is fleeting, and so they go out again.

Notice that Jesus did not just lift his hands to heaven and say, “let manna rain down from heaven.” He desires to use whatever we are willing to give to Him, in honor of Him – why? He desires to show His power and love through us – He desires to use in His plan of redemption and grace to mankind. He uses what we give Him as apart of this plan, even if it is small in our eyes he sees the infinite potential of His power.

Most of us would have stopped there. The need had been met. Jesus then says, “Gather up the fragments that remain.” Now the people gave. The ones who had said, “not enough,” are now crying out “more than enough!” Those that gave nothing, now have something to give back.

There once was a time when you did not know God, and the knowledge of His grace was far from you. But now, you know Him, and every time you reach out to Him, He is there. Every time you pray, He listens, and every time you have a need, your heavenly Father provides. You have experienced the Bread of Life, what do you do with this knowledge?

But Jesus also added, “Let nothing be wasted.” This is the same Greek word that is translated “perish” in John 3:16. The same Greek word that is translated “ruined” or “destroyed” in Matthew 9:17. It is the same word that is translated “perish or spoiled” in John 6:27.

Jesus is in the business of “picking up the pieces” of lost, spoiled, perishing, wasted, ruined lives, and using them again! He wants to gather up the pieces of broken lives today so that none will be wasted or lost.

Matthew 18:14 “So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.”

Remember it is not the size or the condition of the lunch that matters but whether we are willing to let our Lord Jesus have it all. The lunch did not do any good at all until it was placed in the hands of the Lord, and when it was, what a difference it made!

Some of us who have been crying “not enough” need to begin to trust Christ. With Christ, supply exceeds demand and the cry is “more than enough.” You have hung out with Jesus, but you have never placed your lunch in His hands.

Without Christ factored in the equation of life, we will never be satisfied. We are always trying to fill the void within us. Is Christ the center of every area of your life this morning?

Conclusion

The miracle that we looked at this morning is the only miracle that is shown in all four of the gospels. It is important – God multiplies what we give Him. He uses it to show others His love, and it all begins with one person saying “here’s what I have, let me see the potential of what you desire to do around me.”

This giving begins when a person gives Christ their lives for salvation. He will take what you give him, a person who lives for himself and is at war with God, who is forever lost and without hope, and re-creates him, places His Holy Spirit within him, and adopts him as His own child. You can be at peace with God through Christ Jesus – do you want this morning? It all begins with the first step of giving Him your life.