Miracles in Action: Living out Jesus' Grace

Bible Passage: Mt 17:24–27

In this miracle today, Jesus encounters a potential conflict over the temple tax, which He approaches with wisdom and grace, instructing Peter to catch a fish that will provide the coin needed for the tax. This demonstrates His miraculous provision and emphasizes a lesson about avoiding unnecessary offense while still fulfilling obligations.

This scripture helps us navigate everyday situations where we face choices that could lead to offense or conflict. By examining Jesus' approach, we can learn how to address obligations not necessarily required, while embodying grace and love, contributing to peace and faithful life.

Todays message centers on the importance of living out one's faith in practical ways that mirror Jesus' example. It highlights the balance between fulfilling social responsibilities and maintaining the grace-driven relationships we are called to live in.

Our Scripture reveals Christ's divine authority and provision, showing His ability to meet needs and perform miracles. It connects to the larger narrative of Jesus as the Son of God who both fulfills the law and offers grace, symbolizing the ultimate sacrifice and forgiveness found in His ministry. This is also a prophetic image of how God will supply the required tax on the Cross. Remember we are now in a phase where the miracles are reflective of the Cross. There was a definitive change in the attitude of Christ in the last miracle.

Living out the miracles of Jesus means responding to our world with grace and avoiding unnecessary conflicts, reflecting His heart in our daily lives.

Two men who lived in a small village got into a terrible dispute that they could not resolve. So they decided to talk to the town judge. The first man went to the judge’s home and told his version of what happened. When he finished, the judge said, "You're absolutely right." The next night, the second man called on the judge and told his side of the story. The judge responded, "You're absolutely right." Afterward, the judge's wife scolded her husband. "Those men told you two different stories and you told them they were absolutely right. That's impossible -- they can't both be absolutely right." The judge turned to his wife and said, "You're absolutely right."

All joking aside peace is a lifestyle that Christ calls us to live in, it is the very reason He left His throne on high to walk in human form and suffer death on a cross, to bring peace. All other way’s of living are in themselves against the nature of Christ. The gospel itself can be irrefutably controversial, because of this, there is no reason to add more fuel to that fire, especially when not necessary. This goes in our homes, in our neighborhoods, and in our work places. Read the scripture with me this morning.

Matthew 17:24–27 ESV

24 When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax went up to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the tax?” 25 He said, “Yes.” And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax? From their sons or from others?” 26 And when he said, “From others,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. 27 However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself.”

1. Anticipate and Adapt

Matthew 17:24–25 ESV

24 When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax went up to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the tax?” 25 He said, “Yes.” And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax? From their sons or from others?”

In this passage, Jesus anticipates a potential conflict over the requirement of the temple tax. Jesus, despite His exemption as God's Son, chose to avoid unnecessary confrontation by asking Peter about the practice. This approach suggests that we consider the importance of addressing potential conflicts with understanding. Jesus highlights His divine authority through a simple yet profound interaction, emphasizing the need for us to engage with others thoughtfully and peacefully. Jesus discusses with Peter what He understands about how He could react. Jesus could react as the Son of the Father and simply tell the temple tax keepers that He is not paying it because He is not required to. Jesus though chose to anticipate and adapt to the situation.

How are you on anticipating and adapting to the situation? I am learning this in my personal life. I have come to the understanding that if I can anticipate how someone else is feeling or going to feel then I can make decisions to intercept the problem or issue that may arise and ensure both peace for me and the other person. I have not yet mastered this but it is something I am attempting to do. For instance, I know how it makes my wife feel when I lay my clothes on the side of the bed and go to bed, get up for work the next day, then leave my clothes on the side of the bed. So now I take my clothes immediately to the laundry room. I experience a better morning because my wife experiences a better morning. Do I have the right to say I am the man of the house and I do not do laundry, yep I sure do. I also have the opportunity to not eat dinner that night, or if I do eat dinner, to test for bitter tastes of poison in my food.

Jesus anticipated and adapted to how He knew the situation would make others feel. He had the right to only look our for what He saw as a man made practice and a practice that He as the Son of God did not need to partake in. Jesus looked forward to how His next steps would affect those around Him. The Bible tells us about the wisdom of anticipating and adapting.

Proverbs 3:1–8 ESV

1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, 2 for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. 3 Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. 7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. 8 It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.

This scripture leads us to the importance of leaning on the Spirit to give us wisdom to anticipate and adapt to the situations around us. We are to lean into the wisdom of the Lord. Many times the wisdom of the Lord brings us to shut our mouths, sometimes it brings us to walk away, sometimes it brings us to our knees. The one thing we see here though is that the Wisdom of the Lord Prioritizes Peace.

2. Prioritize Peace

Matthew 17:26–27 ESV

26 And when he said, “From others,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. 27 However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself.”

Jesus points out here that He is the Son of God and that He does not need to pay the tax, He then follows it up with the statement, “However, not to give offense...” Jesus prioritized peace over His desire. Jesus did not view His right as the Son of God as an opportunity to offend, He humbled Himself further to even pay the tax. Are you willing to do this in your life? Are you willing to lay down your right, or your desire, or your position, to prioritize peace? We are called to prioritize peace. Could Jesus have said He was right and simply hold to that and not budge and still be in the right? Yes, He could have. Jesus prioritized peace and calls us to do so as well.

Romans 12:9–18 ESV

9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

1 Corinthians 10:23–33 ESV

23 “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. 24 Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. 25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 26 For “the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.” 27 If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience— 29 I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else’s conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks? 31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.

There is a lot to unpack in that scripture but that will be a different sermon. Today the point in these 2 scriptures is that we are called to prioritize peace. If this calls us to remove things from our life, or partake in things we feel are not required in our life. If it results in offense we are called to avoid it and to prioritize peace over our desires. How can we do this? How can we live in a life of overriding our desires for the needs of others? How can we live a life of giving in to the needs of others and humbling ourselves for others? We can do this when we Walk with Divine Insite

3. Walk with Divine Insight

Matthew 17:27 ESV

27 However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself.”

We are able to live this life that Jesus is calling us to live if we are willing to trust God with the ability to live in that life. Notice here that Jesus did not tell Peter to go into the market place, sell things, go work. No Jesus simply told Peter to go fishing. He told Peter that if He went fishing that He would be provided the money not only for himself but also for Jesus. Peter had to do nothing other than to trust in Jesus and walk in faith. Notice also that Jesus used Peter’s natural God given gift of fishing to meet the need. What are your gifts or talents, how can you use them to walk in Faith living a life of seeking the good of others over your own good? We are called to walk in Faith with Divine Insight. We must trust that our job is to walk and that when we walk God will do what He does best, provide for His children.

I was working as a student intern at a church just down the road from here, when I learned the meaning of what Jesus said when He said that man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. Also when He said that He had provisions that the disciples did not know about. I was working at 62nd and Main, over by Josephs pizza. I worked for an organization that provided summer camps for churches to come in and minister to inner city children. We set up bounce houses, set up speakers with music, popcorn, and hot dogs. One night after getting everyone back to the campus and getting the bounce houses cleaned and ready for the next day. I grabbed my dinner and went and sat on the front steps. A man walked up and asked for some food. There was none left and I knew that this was a test from the Lord. I gave the man the food, and something amazing happened. I found myself not hungry. Not only did I find myself not hungry, I found myself sleeping better that night than I had in a very long time. I found myself the next morning with more energy and an excited spirit.

When we are willing to follow through walking in Divine insight with our eyes fixed on what God can do, we are limitless. When we begin to believe that we can only humble ourselves based on our ability, we limit ourselves greatly.

It is impossible for us to live a life of humility and sacrifice without keeping our eyes fixed on the Father. Jesus had His eyes set on the Father and understood that the Father would provide the needed tax. Jesus only had to humble Himself to be willing to pay the silly tax. What silly things do you need to accept in your life? How do you need to seek the needs of others in your life, even if you are entitled to your desires. Here is the thing there are people in here thinking about how someone else needs to be that person in your life. If that is you, then you are not getting what the scripture is laying down here. The scripture calls us to all seek the good of others above our own. We are called to outdo each other in doing good! Church, we are called to be the people who no one can argue with because we seek their good and we trust God with the rest. Someone once asked me, what is the limit? Where is the line? How can you keep doing this and not give up everything? I had no real answer for them and I sat there for a minute and I prayed and asked for an answer. The words that came out of my mouth were not from me but were from the Spirit and Scripture. The answer was this, “We are Christians which means that we claim we will follow all that Christ did and He is our example. If He is our example, what did obedience and humility cost Him?” As those words came out I began to tear up thinking about the limit that Christ went to to put my good above His own even through I did not deserve it. We are called to walk and to trust. How can we do this? We can do this by looking back into the past and seeing how He has come through time and time again. One of my favorite examples of this is Exodus 14.

Exodus 14:26–30 ESV

26 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.” 27 So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its normal course when the morning appeared. And as the Egyptians fled into it, the Lord threw the Egyptians into the midst of the sea. 28 The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen; of all the host of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea, not one of them remained. 29 But the people of Israel walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. 30 Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore.

By instructing Peter to find the needed coin in the mouth of a fish, Jesus orchestrates a miracle that fulfills the tax requirement and avoids offense. This innovative provision suggests relying on God's creative solutions in complex situations. Reflect on how Jesus' actions and miraculous provision illustrate His deeper mission to fulfill both law and love. Stressing on divine intervention might encourage believers to seek God’s guidance in circumstances where human means seem insufficient. Perhaps utilize this point to inspire Christians to trust in God's provision as they navigate everyday challenges.