Are We Ready for Everyone?

Introduction

Jesus loves everyone! We hear that phrase a lot. We even hear phrases like “I don’t see color”. Or, “there’s really only one race and that’s the human race”. Nonetheless we have preferences. We live in certain neighborhoods, we eat at certain restaurants, we shop at certain stores, and we associate with certain people. There is a term, “implicit bias” defined as implicit prejudice or implicit attitude, is a negative attitude, of which one is not consciously aware, against a specific social group.

When we think about evangelism we have to rid ourselves of bias. Reason being because we have no idea who the gospel is going to attract to our congregation. Truth be told you aren’t really in control of who walks through those doors, let alone sits right next to you. As much as we like to profess that we love everyone, if we are being honest each and every one of us have preferences. It’s easy to point out the Pharisees for their wrongdoings, appearing to be the Jesus in the story sounds good for each and every one of our lives. Nonetheless, how often have we associated with the tax collectors of our time in effort that they might see Jesus.

On the heels of accusations of being blasphemer, Jesus steps into a very challenging space with the community by associating with tax collectors. Truth be told no one just loves taxes today, let alone a time in which tax collectors were backed by military authority and socially disdained. Jesus is walking in unchartered territory. He is not very popular on both spectrums. Folks are upset at some of the miracles and ministry Jesus has done. The Pharisees accused Jesus of blasphemy. Then on the other hand he begins to associate, befriend, and minister a group of people that society did not really find very popular like tax collectors.

This is the beauty of evangelism, we never know what Jesus will do for people once they accept him. We do not provide the increase nor do we know the outcome. It’s up to us to plant seeds and cultivate a spirit of discipleship around people so that they have the support to walk in the purpose that God has designed for their life. I can truly relate to this. When I arrived at 200 Bowser Circle in Terrell, Texas at a small Historically Black College my goal was to throw the shot put, finish my degree and move on to the next opportunity. God had bigger plans, I’m thankful for the people that saw something in me that I never saw in myself. I wonder how we would have treated Matthew, knowing that he came by our our house to collect taxes. I’m pretty sure Matthew would not be our favorite person. This is the beauty of Jesus, this is the beauty of giving your life to Christ, it unlocks purpose that you may not have never known without Jesus.

See Like Jesus Sees

Matthew 9:9 “As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him.”

This takes meeting people where they are to a whole new level. Jesus saw Matthew at the tax office and invited him from there. One of our biggest issues is neglecting the commission that we’ve been given by Jesus. We are commanded to “go ye”. Instead of going by the tax offices of life, we limit our reach by just expecting people to come to a building. Let’s put ourselves in the shoes of others for a second. We are expecting and sometimes get offended when people do not feel comfortable coming to a place they have never been, singing songs they probably do not know and participating in a worship that they might not be familiar with.

Jesus did not see a tax collector, Jesus saw an author, Jesus saw a disciple, Jesus saw a brother! Jesus saw grace, truth, love, he saw someone lost that He wanted eternal fellowship with. Even further along in the conversation Jesus sets the stage for what true evangelism is. As they tried to condemn him for for eating with tax collectors and sinners Jesus responds in Matthew 9:12–13“When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.””

it’s interesting that we have allowed culture to push us to present this since of perfection. No, understand that I am a work in progress, and every day is a gift of mercy and grace. This interaction emphasizes relationship building. Jesus desires mercy and not sacrifice. It’s not about acts it’s about the relationship. Mercy in this text means to show kindness or corner for someone in serious need. This requires a sense of relationship. It’s difficult to show mercy if I don’t prioritize the relationship!

Seeking relationship for the right reason will push us to pursue the relationship in a way that enhances the opportunity for spiritual health. See it wasn’t about Jesus hanging out with sinners it was about the reasoning behind him hanging out with the sinners. In life we have to ask ourselves are they pushing us further away from God or are we helping them move closer to God. Jesus promotes an alternative vision of seeing sinners just like a doctor sees the sick in the hospital. It also pushes us to understand our reason for being here. It’s about growing spiritually, we go to the doctor for primarily two things, to make sure everything is okay and to get help when we are sick. The interesting thing is Jesus doesn’t just use this analogy because it sounds good, it’s quick common to use the imagery of God’s people being sick or needing healing.

Jeremiah 3:22 ““Return, you backsliding children, And I will heal your backslidings.” “Indeed we do come to You, For You are the Lord our God.”

Isaiah 53:5 “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.”

We lose sight of the power of the gospel when we begin to compare sickness. It doesn’t matter what sickness brought you here, what matters is that through the healing process offered by doctor Jesus you regain your health.

What Does It Mean to Follow Him

One thing about Jesus is He liked to show up at your job. When it came to James and John he showed up at the place they fished and here we are with Matthew and he shows up at the tax office.

Matthew 4:18–22“And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him. 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. He called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.”

To follow is two fold in this text. It’s not just to follow Jesus but to be a disciple. We are known to be a follower by the way we live our life. It’s a sense of attachment. I’m no longer in control of my direction, when Jesus goes left, I go left, when Jesus climbs I climb, where Jesus shows mercy I show mercy. What Jesus tells me I should prioritize I prioritize it. (Put Azi on my shoulders) It’s continuous following and learning simultaneously. It’s easy to follow Jesus geographically, but we are really tested when following Jesus means trials and heartache. It’s tough when it means leaving people and things behind that you used to find important!

Matthew 16:24 “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”

The fun stuff about Jesus makes it easy, we like the stuff about Jesus that makes us shout, clap our hands and say amen. We cannot dismiss verses 21 - 23.

Matthew 16:21–23“From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.””

Following Jesus is about denial, renouncing anything and everything that gets in the way of us being connected to Jesus. This seems strong but it had to be, understand that our old self must be put to death. It’s similar to the moments of the civil rights movement when people decided to attach themselves to movements like the freedom riders, sit-ins and protest. Essentially for the cause of being free from sin it might mean I place myself on the firing line, putting my head on the proverbial chopping block. The call to join Jesus may include the the outcome of losing one’s natural life. The overall goal is to deny the desire to be led by self-preservation or our own interest for the sake of the greater good.

The Invitation Requires and Immediate Response

Historically, salvation has been used a fear tactic. I need us to understand that when we understand the danger of sin and the bondage it has on us we will jump at any opportunity to be free.

The invitation was extended to Matthew and the bible says he arose and followed him. When Jesus approached Peter, James, John and Andrew the bible says they left their boat and immediately followed him. Two of these men even left their father! Sometimes family can get in the way of the mission that God has in your life. It’s not about fear, it’s about the fact that this invitation might only come once in your life.

Sometimes Jesus has asked us to put things down and we respond like we see in Luke 9:59 “Then He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.””

The issue is we get distracted by jobs that do not even belong to us. Culturally this is a reasonable request but at the expense of being spiritually dead, it’s not worth it. Don’t miss your opportunity to be associated with the kingdom. The duty of following Jesus should be placed in higher priority of even the most stringent human duties. Understand that old family relationships might have to be left behind in effort to follow Jesus. This suggest that this man is essentially saying once my father dies I will follow you.

Sometimes we even act like the rich young ruler in Mark 10:21–22“Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”

All you have is right now!