Rooted in Jesus’ Call

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.

Today at Bethany we begin this sermon series over the next 7-8 weeks walking through the Book of Matthew - called Rooted in God’s Kingdom. Each week we will focus on the aspect of how we are firm, planted and Rooted in the Kingdom of God through the work of Jesus. Today, we begin at the beginning of any discipleship conversation, the call to follow. We look at the calling of Matthew from Jesus to leave the tax collector booth to become a follower of Jesus.

Let’s imagine - you are in the playground, and we have been picked to be the team captain for your team of tug-and-war. You are given the decision to choose the people who will be pulling alongside of you. Now if you are team captain are you going to pick (show a picture of hulk hogan?). He’s got the strength. He’s got the muscles to pick up many different people in the wrestling ring and fling them around. If you are picking a team for Tug-of-War - Hulk Hogan is built for that. And then (show a picture of Dwight -from the office). Now Dwight here on the other hand doesn’t strike me as someone who is built for strength. He is maybe full of passion, full of knowledge, could analyze something. But in a Tug-of-War battle - if you are smart you are choosing Hulk Hogan every single time. Hulk can better help you accomplish the task; he can better increase your chances of winning. He can provide you a sense of value on the Tug-of-War field. We are pick Hulk every time, easy.

Qualifications are the reason we are chosen and they certainly are viewed as central to who we are. Think about it. As you are in the running to be chosen for job promotion, a certain college, to be the selected coach of a team. You put forward an overview of what you have done, and what you have accomplished. If you are rejected, we often say things, they are missing out on a pretty great person. Or I could do so much better than the person who was chosen. Or I have more experience than that person who was picked. We find a comfort in the qualifications we have when we are called or picked.

But even when our name is selected that temptation still remains to find meaning and identity in qualifications. As we are picked we immediately think - Of course, “look at me!” Look at all things that I have done, it makes sense. Or something like, there really was no other option, I had the best and most successful experiences. Or yeah, I knew it was going to be me, because I was by far the most accomplished. Or us, often times the qualifications or things we accomplish become central to who we are. We can find our meaning and purpose it has been done in our names.

In our relationships, with God we may be tempted to begin to think the same way. We can be tempted to think that God picks based on qualifications. So we think in our lives, what qualities can I give back to Him? What skills and abilities can I search and find within myself to earn my place in God’s family or at least proof that I belong? Do I know the Bible well enough for God to be pleased? What value can add to God’s family through my service time for Him? How can I pull my own weight in the Kingdom? We have this temptation to try and find our own qualities and qualifications to be apart of God’s family. But in our text today from Matthew, we find that Jesus’ call is greater than our qualifications.

In our text today from Matthew, we find Jesus. And crowds were following Him. Crowds were wanting to get near Him to see a miracle. Jesus had begun to garner a reputation. And Jesus as He walks by the tax collector booth - He sees Matthew. And He simply says to Matthew, the tax collector, “Follow Me”. Now if you look at the life of Matthew; he doesn’t exactly meet the expectations of the perfect of Disciple Candidate. He is a tax collector - someone who worked for the man - Rome - taking money from his own people the Jews. Matthew was sitting in the Tax Collector Booth not the Temple praising God. He was interacting with the ungodly, unclean people instead of the people of Israel. Jesus doesn’t wait for Matthew to show all of these qualities of being a disciple, but Jesus simply begins the relationship with a call - “Follow Me”.

And also in our text, we have Pharisees complaining to Jesus because they think they are qualified above everyone else. They come to Jesus and they say to the other disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”. The Pharisees had this idea that the true Messiah would not deal with the sinful, would not share table fellowship with them. But they had this view that the Messiah would come to the righteous, the “Godly” the temple goers. The Pharisees thought they were qualified and were being overlooked by Jesus - this one of great reputation and power.

Both of these groups - Matthew and the Pharisees need Jesus. Jesus came to save them. The Pharisees are unable to see their need. They both need the call of Jesus in their lives.

Jesus as He is walking by the tax booth of Matthew - He sees Him and He calls Matthew to “Follow Him”. He didn’t first say show me what you can bring me, or how good of a writer you are to write the Gospel of Matthew, or what skills can you bring to the group. Jesus has the power to call and His call is greater than our qualifications! Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who is a German theologian - most famous for living around World War 2, and speaking out against Hitler, wrote a great book on following Jesus called, “The Cost of Discipleship”. And this book, he is talking about the call of Matthew. He says:

“Jesus summons men to follow Him not as a teacher or a pattern of the good life, but as the Christ, the Son of God… Not a word of praise is given to the disciple for his decision for Christ. We are not expected to contemplate the disciple, but only Him who calls, and His absolute authority. According to our text, there is no road to faith or discipleship, no other road - only obedience to the call of Jesus.”

Jesus by the power of His word calls Matthew from a life of being a tax collector to a life a being His disciple! The source of Matthew’s discipleship to Jesus is not from His own strength or understanding of doctrine, but its the call of Jesus. Matthew doesn’t have to submit an application with all of his qualifications. But the power comes from Jesus - the One who calls. This is the source and source alone of true discipleship - the call of Jesus. Jesus’ call is greater than our qualifications.

This is how Jesus has called you. He has spoken His Word of life over you as He called you by name in Baptism font making you His child. He calls you today through the power of the Holy Spirit and the hearing of His Word. And just like with Matthew, this call is not determined by what you have done, or what you can do. He simply comes to you today - saying to you “Follow Me!” The Lord is calling you from a life filled with brokenness and sin to find a life found in Jesus. The call of Jesus on your life is something we can have confidence and hope in! He is calling you today!

To hear from Bonhoeffer again:

“At the call, Levi leaves all that he has - but not because he thinks that he might be doing something worth while, but simply for the sake of the call. Otherwise he cannot follow in the steps of Jesus…He is called out, and has to forsake his old life in order that he may ‘exist’ in the strictest sense of the word.”

Jesus has called you out of sin and darkness to Follow Him in this world. Not because our greatness, or your abilities, but because of His mercy! This call of Jesus doesn’t mean we stay the same, but we forsake a life without Jesus to live in His grace and mercy! Have you heard the call of Jesus today?

You life with God doesn’t depend on what you have done. Your standing with God isn’t earned. But place with God is earned because Jesus has called you! He says you are mine! We no longer have to wonder am I enough? Because Jesus says to you today, “Follow Me” and He leads you into the life that He has won for you!

Now may the peace of Christ which surpasses all understanding may it guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.