May 19 Devotion

We can learn a lot from an oyster

This bivalve breathes in water to live but sometimes a grain of sand with be taken in as well.

The irritation is very uncomfortable for the oyster

To combat this discomfort the oyster secretes a solution to coat the grain of sand

The results is a fine pearl.

Without that original discomfort this beautiful pearl would never exist

Sometimes God places us in uncomfortable situations to bring about a beautiful solution.

This too shall pass

May 17 Devotion

Can we thank God when things are not exactly the way we would want them to be?

Almost from the moment David entered the palace he had troubles.

And yet he more than any other biblical character except for perhaps Paul never stopped praising God for all His good blessings

Today more than ever we need to remember that God is to be praised in all circumstances

We have sung these words but perhaps it is time to pray them.

Psalm 18:1-3 (ESV)
¹ I love you, O LORD, my strength.
²  The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
³  I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.

 

This too shall pass

Sermon May 17

May 17

 

So far Jesus has found Andrew and Simon who he renamed Peter, and James and John the sons of Zebedee as disciples, and a tax collector named Mathew Levi.

We were not told a lot about these men except that four of them were fishermen and as I said Mathew was a tax collector

We were also shown that all Jesus said was to follow Me and these five men dropped everything and followed Jesus from that day on

But He also called two others and one made an amazing statement

 

John 1:43-45 (ESV)
⁴³  The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.”
⁴⁴  Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.
⁴⁵  Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

The next day here refers to the day after Jesus called the four fishermen

He is still in Galilee which was a fishing town and now he finds Philip

I think we can safely assume he was a fisherman as well.

Philip then goas and finds Nathanael and says something interesting

“We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

How could he possibly know all of this?

I am convinced that most of these first disciples were also disciples of John the Baptist

If that is the case, then John could very well have told them this as it was revealed to him

 

But what puzzles me is the last part, that Jesus was the son of Joseph

Technically Jesus was not Joseph’s son but was Mary’s son by the Holy Spirit

So I do not think this part was revealed by God but may have been John’s understanding

 

Now watch what happens here

John 1:46 (ESV)  ⁴⁶  Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”

I always say that if I were God, I would have done so many things differently

Maybe born in the palace or temple instead of a stable

Surrounded by servants rather than shepherds

My first announcement would have been to the priests and not those shepherds

 

And now we find after returning from Egypt, after Herod’s death the family settled in Nazareth

“Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”

That seems kind of harsh

But at the time Nazareth had become a place where many gentiles and Samaritans migrated.

Neither was well respected or liked by Jews

Because it was a fishing town, there was very little decency and much rough language and behavior

So  “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”

 

But there may be something else to this question

When God promised the Messiah to Jeremiah he made some specific predictions

Jeremiah 33:14-15 (NASB)
¹⁴  'Behold, days are coming,' declares the LORD, 'when I will fulfill the good word which I have spoken concerning the house of Israel and the house of Judah.  
¹⁵  'In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch of David to spring forth; and He shall execute justice and righteousness on the earth.

Every religious scholar knew that “a righteous branch of David” meant that Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, the city David was born in

 

When the wise men questioned Herod as to where the new King of Israel was born, Herod called together the scribes and asked them

Matthew 2:5-6 (ESV)
⁵  They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
⁶  “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

If Nathanael was familiar with the prophecies it would explain his question

“Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”

 

Philip tells him come and see, but see what?

Jesus has not done one thing that would point to Him being the Christ yet

John 1:47-48 (ESV)
⁴⁷  Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!”
⁴⁸  Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”

There is more going on here than meets the eye

“Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!”

Behold a true descendant of Jacob whose name was changed to Israel

We all know that Jacob was a conniver and tricked his brother into selling his birthright and also tricked his father into giving him the blessing of an older son

But Jesus says you are an Israelite in whom there is no deceit

You are a descendent of Jacob but of far better character

Nathan is surprised at the statement and asked how do you know me?

This could have just been simple flattery on Jesus’ part to win Nathanael over

But it was far from it “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”

How could Jesus possibly know where Nathanael was before they even met?

Over in Mathew 16 when Jesus asks the apostles who He is, Peter gives what is known as the good confession

“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”

But here we are 2 ½ years earlier, before Jesus has done any great works and Nathanael says

John 1:49 (ESV)
⁴⁹  Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”

 

John the Baptist called Jesus the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world

Andrew and Philip called him the promised Messiah

But Nathanael calls Jesus the Son of God and King of Israel

There is a progression here that can only be explained by things either done or said that are not recorded for us in the scriptures

 

John 1:50-51 (ESV)
⁵⁰  Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.”
⁵¹  And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

 

It is doubtful that an actual vision of angels and ladders will be given, but there is a definite promise here

As I said earlier, the statement of an Israelite, a son of Jacob was meant and is here justified

Remember that it was Jacob who in a dream, saw heaven opened and a ladder with Angels ascending and descending

It is interesting what Jacob said when he saw this vision

Genesis 28:16-17 (ESV)
¹⁶  Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it.”
¹⁷  And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”

Clearly a promise that Nathanael as well as the other apostles would see greater things than this

That the intervention of heaven, and God’s heavenly messengers on earth is now opened with the heavens and the ladder is Christ Himself

You will see greater things than these.”

 

With this we are led into Jesus’ first earthly miracle

I have heard some of the most absurd discussions about the wedding feast at Cana

Did Jesus really turn water into wine?

Would Jesus sanction or allow wine drinking?

This is the result of interpreting scripture with 21^st century bias rather than looking at the culture of the first century

Wine was a common drink in different strengths

So, what was Jesus trying to teach in this, His first miracle?

 

John 2:1-5 (ESV)
¹  On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.
²  Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples.
³  When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.”
⁴  And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.”
⁵  His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

The words on the third day most likely refer to the third day after Jesus called Philip and Nathanael

It would have taken him 2 days to travel from Bethsaida to Cana in Galilee

Why Mary was there is unclear as is Jesus and His disciples being invited

But Mary seems to have had a close relationship with the bride or groom’s family which will become clear soon

Now, running out of wine at a marriage feast that traditionally lasted for days would have been not only embarrassing but an insult to all the guests

It’s not something you would want your guests to know and yet Mary knows

She then goes to Jesus and says “They have no wine.”

Well excuse me, but what did Mary expect Jesus to do about this situation

To our knowledge Jesus has never done any miracles and we know from His own words that he did not possess any financial means

And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.”

Now do not think this term woman was meant as an insult

I call Marion woman all the time….just kidding

In first century Israel the term woman was actually a term of respect like our madam or sir

But Jesus needs to be very careful

Revealing Himself too soon would cause many to want to make Him their king rather than their atoning sacrifice.

 My hour has not yet come.”

The fact that Mary addresses the servants leads me to believe that she was very close to the bridal party

And may have even been in charge to the refreshments

But here is where Mary shines

His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

 

Remember when Gabriel came to Mary and said she would conceive even though she was a virgin?

Her response was “be it done to me as you have said”

The NASB puts it this way, whatever He tells you to do, do it

Perfect words to live by for every believer

 

John 2:6-10 (ESV)
⁶  Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons.
⁷  Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim.
⁸  And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it.
⁹  When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom
¹⁰  and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.”

 

Six large stone pots used for the purpose of cleaning ones self as was the custom of the Jews both before eating and also for the plates and utensils etc.

Matthew 15:2 (NASB)
²  "Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread."

Mark 7:3 (NASB)
³  (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they carefully wash their hands, thus observing the traditions of the elders;

 

Some of these may have even been used to wash the feet after coming in from the dusty and dirty roads

It would seem that Jesus told the servants of the feast to do this, so no one could say his disciples added anything

This may also be why Jesus said to fill them to the brim. Nothing could be added. This is not a trick

When the master or chief steward tastes the contents, it is no longer water but the best wine

So why would Jesus do this?

A few answers have been given

First as I said this would have been very embarrassing for the bridegroom and an insult for the guests to run out of wine

The fact that there were six large pots tells us this was a very large gathering and so this would have been perhaps the whole town

 

But I think the lesson is more for us today than it was for those who knew what happened

What could be dirtier than water used for each guest to wash their hands and feet and not just once

If someone left to relieve themselves they would have to go through the whole cleansing ritual again

Jesus took this dirty and defiled water and turned it into something good and beneficial

 

In Gods eyes, nothing is dirtier or more defiled than a sinner

But Jesus can, like he did with that dirty water, cleanse us and transform us into something good and beneficial

Hebrews 10:22 (NASB)
²²  let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Hebrews 9:14 (NASB)
¹⁴  how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

 

Jesus did not perform miracles to entertain people or draw attention to Himself

They were evidence of who He was, and all had a lesson to teach us

The lesson here is that Jesus can take the dirtiest of things and make them clean and new

But there is another lesson and we learn that one from His mother Mary

Whatever He tells you to do, do it

Had those servants not listened the whole wedding feast would have been a disaster

Listening to Jesus changed everything

 

If we do not listen to Jesus and His word, our lives will be a disaster

But listening to Him can change everything for the better

A new life and a new future in eternity

LET US PRAY

May 16 Devotion

Who have you placed your trust in?

On who do you depend when things get tough.

David's friends advise him to flee to the wilderness from Saul's fury, vv. 1-3. He answers that, having put his trust in God, knowing that he forsakes not those who confide in him, and that he will punish the ungodly, he is perfectly satisfied that he shall be in safety, vv. 4-7.

Listen to his prayer

Psalm 11:1-7 (ESV)
¹  In the LORD I take refuge; how can you say to my soul, “Flee like a bird to your mountain,
²  for behold, the wicked bend the bow; they have fitted their arrow to the string to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart;
³  if the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?”
⁴  The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD’s throne is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man.
⁵  The LORD tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.
⁶  Let him rain coals on the wicked; fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.
⁷  For the LORD is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face.

This too shall pass

May 15 Devotion

Probably one of the best prayers in the old testament was King David.

He regularly spoke to God in a way I have yet to master.

His heart was always open and pouring out exactly what he felt and held nothing back

We need someone who prays like that today especially in our lives and situations

As you get ready to talk to your heavenly father today first read David’s prayer and listen to how he addresses God Almighty

Psalm 5:1-12 (ESV)
¹ Give ear to my words, O LORD; consider my groaning.
²  Give attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you do I pray.
³  O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.
⁴  For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you.
⁵  The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers.
⁶  You destroy those who speak lies; the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.
⁷  But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house. I will bow down toward your holy temple in the fear of you.
⁸  Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your way straight before me.
⁹  For there is no truth in their mouth; their inmost self is destruction; their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue.
¹⁰  Make them bear their guilt, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out, for they have rebelled against you.
¹¹  But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you.
¹²  For you bless the righteous, O LORD; you cover him with favor as with a shield.

 

This too shall pass

May 13 Devotion

The glory and excellence of God manifested by his works, vv. 1, 2; particularly in the starry heavens, v. 3; in man, v. 4; in his formation, v. 5; and in the dominion which God has given him over the earth, the air, the sea, and their inhabitants, vv. 6, 7, 8: in consequence of which God's name is celebrated over all the earth, v. 9.

We often sing a song based on this Psalm but how many know the background. The Psalmist here opens the door for praises he cannot contain and that is how we are to approach God

Psalm 8:1-9 (ESV)
¹

 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.
²  Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger.
³  When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
⁴  what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?
⁵  Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.
⁶  You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet,
⁷  all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field,
⁸  the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas.
⁹  O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

 We know in Whom we have believed and are confident that He will accomplish what He began

This too shall pass

May 12 Devotion

Did you know that many of the Psalms were written under the most serious conditions?

David at one point is fleeing King Saul and his men who were trying to kill him.

At another time David was sorrowful that he had his affair with Bathsheba and had her husband killed which led to his baby’s death.

But if you read his Psalms, they are like victory chants and songs of praise for a loving and awesome God.

How is that possible?

Because David knew the God he served and never let circumstances dictate his theology.

Spend more time in the Psalms. You will be a stronger Christian for it.

Psalm 1:1-6 (ESV)
¹  Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
²  but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
³  He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.
⁴  The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
⁵  Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
⁶  for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

 

This too shall pass

May 10 Devotion

There seems to be a split in our county not along political lines but along the lines of opening up America.

Many are frustrated with how long they have been shut in and out of work and they want to get back to a normal life

For many this is essential. There are bills to pay, mortgages to pay and food to buy.

But another group says its too soon and quite frankly they are afraid if they go out or if the country is opened too soon, they will get the virus and perhaps die or give it to someone they love.

I can sympathize with both sides. I want to get back to normal or at least something close.

I miss my church family. I miss my children and grandchildren.

Fear and anxiety has a way of paralyzing people. But since we are constantly getting conflicting information from the so-called professionals, we must turn to a higher source.

The apostle Paul knew of such struggles

2 Corinthians 11:28 (NASB)
²⁸  Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches.

The apostle Peter has a solution

1 Peter 5:7 (NASB)
⁷  casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

In times like this we need to go to the Lord for His direction as Paul again tells us

Philippians 4:6 (NASB)
⁶  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

This too shall pass

May 10 Sermon

May 10

 

So far we have seen how John introduces Jesus as Almighty God come in the flesh, the word who was with God and was God

We then looked at the promised forerunner who would introduce Jesus to Gods chosen people and His baptism

We then saw how Jesus was led into the wilderness to be tempted and how He overcame so that we might also

 

After Jesus’ baptism John and Jesus split up but were doing pretty much the same thing.

John was baptizing and so was Jesus, although He himself was not baptizing but His disciples were

And then we read this

John 3:25-30 (ESV)
²⁵  Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over purification.
²⁶  And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.”
²⁷  John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.
²⁸  You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’
²⁹  The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete.

Now listen to the next verse

³⁰  He must increase, but I must decrease.”

 

These are perhaps the most important words John, or any other disciple have ever said

Man’s biggest problem has always been pride

John could have easily been jealous that more people were going to Jesus than to him

After all, he’s been doing this for some time now

He is the one who introduced Jesus

But John knew that it was no longer about him, and perhaps it never was

 

How often I have heard pastors bring attention to themselves

Look at the latest book I wrote

Look at how large I have grown my congregation

Look how many people I have brought to the Lord

It seems more about them than it is about Jesus

When a pastor focuses on himself or his accomplishments, then people’s eyes are not on Jesus

³⁰  He must increase, but I must decrease.”

These are the last words of John before being arrested and eventually killed by Herod

 

Now it is time for Jesus to call those who will be His disciples and some who will become apostles

 

How do you choose friends?

Do you look for certain kinds of people?

Perhaps those who have the same interests or like the same things

Certainly, those you hope you can depend on if things get tough

It seems Jesus had a different set of criteria.

 

After Jesus was baptized, we read this

John 1:35-38 (ESV)
³⁵  The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples,
³⁶  and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”
³⁷  The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.
³⁸  Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?”  

 

How would you answer that question?

Suppose Jesus appeared to you today and asked you, what are you looking for?

Can you be sure that your answer would be pleasing to Him?

I find the disciples answer curious

And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?”

Was this because they wanted to stay with Him or were they offering a place for Him to stay?

John 1:39-40 (ESV)
³⁹  He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.
⁴⁰  One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.

 

The tenth hour according to Hebrew reckoning is about 4PM

Almost time for the evening meal and so they stayed with Jesus that day

We are introduced to the first one Jesus chose and his name was Andrew, the brother of Peter

And Andrew goes and tells his brother

John 1:41-42 (ESV)
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. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).

We know that Andrew was a disciple of John the Baptist and John must have told Andrew far more than is recorded to have come to the conclusion that Jesus was Messiah

When he brings Simon to Jesus, Jesus changes his name almost immediately

Jesus changes his name from Simon which means a hearer to Peter which means a rock

That name will play into Peter’s character as we’ll see later

 

 

If we read all four gospels together we have some gaps of unexplained time

John’s gospel suggests that Andrew and another disciple went to Jesus the day after Jesus’ baptism

But we know that Jesus immediately went into the wilderness for 40 days to be tempted

 

But they may have left the next day and went back to work because Matthew records something that happens later, after John the Baptist is arrested by Herod

 Matthew 4:18-22 (ESV)
¹⁸  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.

 

The key word in these verses is the word immediately

I believe Peter and Andrew already had contact with Jesus and Andrew even introduced Him to Peter as Messiah at which time Jesus changed his name

James and John however were not previously introduced, but have the same response to Jesus invitation

Jesus says follow me and the response is immediate

They left their boats, their family business and presumably their family and went with Jesus

Who does that?

 

Andrew and Peter were casting their nets in the water fishing

Perhaps in the shallow waters or how else would they hear Jesus

James and John are repairing their nets perhaps from a night of fishing

But we are told that they were all fishermen

And that is the same word Jesus used in his invitation, I will make you fishermen of men

I don’t know how I would have understood that statement

How do men fish for men?

Oh, sure you can answer that now in the 21^st century knowing what Jesus had in mind

But did these men understand what Jesus was saying?

Regardless, the four men (three of whom become Jesus’ inner circle) drop everything and follow Jesus.

 

If these four men, leaving their nets and business, were not interesting enough, we read this about another disciple

Matthew 9:9 (ESV)
⁹  As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

Tax collecting was a very lucrative business

You had to collect the tax Rome demanded but then you could add on any other amount you wanted for yourself

As long as Rome got their part, they really didn’t care

But the people cared

The Jews hated tax collectors. They were considered traitors to their people because they worked for Rome

In fact, when talking of less desirable people they often said sinners and tax collectors

Placing tax collectors in a special category

 

While the word does not appear in the text, the grammar suggests that Mathew got up and immediately followed Jesus

He left his table, and the money and just went with Jesus

While we are not told, I am convinced Mathew was touched in a way that demanded a response to Jesus’ invitation

Mathew and Mark record the next verses with Jesus reclining at a table but only Luke tells us whose table and why they were there

Luke 5:29-30 (ESV)
²⁹  And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them.
³⁰  And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” 

There is that expression tax collectors and sinners?” 

They were considered the lowest of the low

Mathew seems to have been so moved by Jesus calling him that he had to throw a great feast

We are told there were other tax collectors and others who the Pharisees say were sinners

But my question is, why were the Pharisees and scribes there?

Did Mathew invite them and if he did why did they come if they were so offended.

 

At any rate Jesus gives them an answer but perhaps not the one they expected

Luke 5:31-32 (ESV)
³¹  And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.
³²  I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

There are actually people who think Jesus called them because somehow, they deserve it

Like they have lived a life that Jesus approves of

Actually, they have more in common with the Pharisees than the ones Jesus really wants

 

Jesus compares Himself to a physician making house calls on those who need a doctor

But he has not come to call the righteous as if any could qualify

Instead He has come to call sinners unto Himself.

That’s you and me

Jesus wants people who recognize their sinfulness and their need for a savior

Those who unlike the Pharisees are willing to humble themselves and leave everything to follow Him

 

So far, we have focused in on disciples who later became apostles, but Jesus called many, many more unto Himself and I want to look at one more

Luke 19:1-4 (ESV)
¹  He entered Jericho and was passing through.
²  And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich.
³  And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature.
⁴  So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way.

This is not just a tax collector but rather a chief tax collector

This was a man who had many other tax collectors who worked for him

Clearly a very successful man since we are told he was rich

By Luke 19 Jesus was known throughout all of Israel and Zacchaeus wanted to get a look at this man everyone was talking about.

He was a very short man and so he climbs a tree to get a better look

Rich men just did not do this. It would have been very beneath their status, but Zacchaeus didn’t care

How far would you lower yourself to see Jesus?

 

Luke 19:5-10 (ESV)
⁵  And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.”
⁶  So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully.
⁷  And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.”
⁸  And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.”
⁹  And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham.
¹⁰  For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

 

The effect that Jesus has on a person’s life can sometimes be very drastic

Zacchaeus comes down from the tree and receives Jesus joyfully.

The Greek actually implies with great joy

And why not. Imagine if Jesus came to you and said tonight, I’ll be staying at your house

Clearly Jesus was prepared to forgive the fact that this man was a tax collector but not the Pharisees

“He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.”

In what world did these religious leaders think they were not sinners?

In what world do people today think they are not sinners and in need of a savior?

 

But welcoming Jesus into his house was not the dramatic part

“Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.”

Zacchaeus’ heart is so changed that even in his restitution he goes well beyond what the Law required

Half of his possessions to the poor and restoration of four-fold

That is a dramatic conversion and Jesus recognizes it as such

“Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham.
¹⁰  For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

 

I believe this was a smack at the Pharisees

They thought they, were righteous just because they were sons of Abraham

Jesus says, so is this man

But that is not why salvation has come to his house

This man had demonstrated true repentance and humility

 

As was the case in Mathews house where Jesus compares himself to a physician coming for the sick

Here He is the seeker who seeks all who are lost

He who left the 99, the crowds in the street, to seek the one that was lost

In each of these conversion cases John the Baptist’s words ring true

He must increase and I must decrease

It’s always about Jesus and if it is not then some realigning is in order

Where do you need to decrease this week that Jesus may increase in your life?

 

Let us pray