Follow the King

Opening Illustration

There's a new translation and commentary on the Egyptian Book of the Dead by Dr Rameses Seleem.

The book of the dead is full of words to be recited and enacted by the living to help the dead in their journey through the underworld.

So if you've tragically lost Grandma; or you've just wrapped up your dead Pharaoh; these will be the words to say to help them find the garden of reeds. And true peace.

The right words to say. The right ritual at the right time, to get the right results.

Chinese Religions, gets into the rhythms of the universe .. the yin and the yang; Rituals and festivals to mark the seasons, and it's all trying to restore balance. Cosmic harmony.

There’s Confucianism. A mixture of all kinds of Gods and spirits and philosophies; but typically they'll all have shrines and similar principles. Like washing your hands in a fountain and throwing money in the pool to bribe the local spirits. There's a god for everything. Even the kitchen god…twice a day, there'll be family sacrifices where as part of the kitchen routine, mum presents a sacrifice of some incense and a bowl of fruit to the ancestors and the spirit Gods.

There’s a book called the A to Z Guide to the Catholic Faith which is chock full of washings and statues and incense and ceremonies as well.

Judaism has worship in the temple .. washings .. ritual .. sacrifices .. incense .. priests etc

We can forgive people for saying things like .. all religions are basically the same. All looking for things to do and ways to do them that get God's attention whoever you conceive him to be and shape certain outcomes. The right words, the right actions, done in the right ways at the right times.

Then Jesus bursts on to the scene and there is none of that .. Christianity is not about rituals .. cathedrals .. ornate vestments .. it’s not some code book, secret or otherwise, in which keeping rules guides and assures you of eternal bliss

Jesus is NOT a RELIGIONIST If you think doing particular things at particular times in particular ways is the way to God's heart... you've got God all wrong.

The RELIGIOUS MOB in Israel will have to come to terms with this .. God has ALWAYS desired MERCY rather than SACRIFICES

Jesus wants us to be rightly related to Him .. and all our responses are due to our love for Him, not religious duty .. and we are drawn to Him and desire to FOLLOW Him .. and that changes HOW we live

In this passage there are THREE conversations

Forgiven!

And you can see what he's about in three key conversations. Starting with the words he says to the paralytic guy in chapter 9. Follow it with me.

Jesus crossed the lake and he's back home. And verse 2, a group of guys bring him a paralysed friend on a mat. Full of hope that Jesus can do something. Full of confidence that he will.

And Jesus sees their faith. And he does do something. "Take heart, son... your sins are forgiven."

Woah! .. what did Jesus say? What has FORGIVENESS to do with HEALING?

The RELIGIOUS guys heard it. This fellow is blaspheming!

This fellow is blaspheming!

Well .. it’s only blasphemy if Jesus isn’t God

And Jesus says, take heart. You've come to me in faith. Which is all you need to do. To have your sins forgiven.

Now in that, you've got the essence of exactly what Jesus is on about. That here is the one promised by the prophet Isaiah... who would take up their infirmities. Who would carry their diseases. Who would be wounded and bruised and crucified... to take the penalty of sin on himself.

So no wonder he's entitled to say your sins are forgiven.

And Jesus says to these blokes with the paralysed friend, take heart. You've come to me in faith. Which is all you need to do. To have your sins forgiven.

And yet all the teachers of the law can say is, "He's blaspheming" to say that. Who does he think he is. Forgiving sins.

Y’see .. these DISEASES and DISFIGUREMENTS are evidence of a fallen world. A SINFUL WORLD. We need our SINS dealing with way more than HEALTH ISSUE.

And so those next few verses, Jesus demonstrates his AUTHORITY to deal with sins... by dealing with the paralysis. And he says in verse 6, get up. Take your mat. Go home. And he does. And the crowds are still wondering … WHO IS THIS!!

Can you see, it's not as if Jesus is just sprinkling sparkle dust around. It's not as if he's just like that Doctor Patch Adams who'd go around hospital wards cheering people up a bit. Jesus is the REAL DEAL. He's here to address Israel's real problem. And to call for a response.

Follow

Calling all sinners

He's a doctor alright. But he's going to the heart of the problem. And he's calling for a response.

Pick up in verses 9 to 13. Where again, he's under attack. Because he's mixing with all the wrong people.

9.As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.

10. While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

12. On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’a For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Here's Matthew himself. Who I take it is the same Matthew who goes on to write this gospel. Chapter 9 verse 9. And he's a tax collector. Which means he's a Jew working for the Roman occupying forces. Taxing his fellow Jews on behalf of the Romans. Skimming a healthy percentage for himself.

And Jesus walks by the tax collectors booth, and he says follow me. And without even reconciling the books, Matthew, verse 9, gets up and follows. And in verse 10, Jesus is having dinner in his house with all his colleagues. Many tax collectors. And all sorts of other sinners are partying with Jesus and his disciples.

Which to the Pharisees, is the ultimate in bad taste. They draw the disciples aside, they say, what's he doing? Eating with tax collectors and sleazy sinners like that?

Which Jesus says to them, is like asking a doctor why he's hanging around the hospital all the time. This is who I've come for, he says. I'm here in the triage area. This is where the action is. He says in verse 12, "It's not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick." And it's interesting, the rest of the chapter he's been dealing with people who are literally sick. But that's not who he's talking about. He's talking about sinners. And instead of shunning them and avoiding them like the Pharisees do, Jesus is right in amongst it.

And verse 13, Here’s what is SO wrong with Israel. They've got all the religion in the world, the temple, the sacrifices, the rituals... but not even a glimmer of mercy for sinners. Or anyone else who doesn't meet their measure. Go and learn what this means, says Jesus. I desire mercy. Not sacrifice.

Which is a quotation, you'll notice, from Hosea chapter 6 back in the old testament. Hosea the prophet. And it's worth turning back to take a look in context at what Hosea was saying. Words the Pharisees and the Teachers of the Law would have known full well.

Come, let us return to the lord.

He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us;

he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds.

An Israel suffering the consequences of their rebellion. But now here he is in person. Healing. And binding up. The wounds of his people.

Which Hosea says is what's going to happen. That God himself is going to revive and restore his people. Verse 3. As sure as the sun rises. as sure as the spring rains that come after the winter.

And yet, says Hosea, the tribes of Israel, their love is like the morning mist. So the prophets time after time have sliced them with their words. With no response. For I desire mercy, and not sacrifice... verse 6. And acknowledgment .. rather than burnt offerings.

And God says, "Whenever I would restore the fortunes of my people," chapter 7 verse 1, "whenever I would heal Israel, their sins, they're just exposed all the more."

And God says, "Whenever I would restore the fortunes of my people," chapter 7 verse 1, "whenever I would heal Israel, their sins, they're just exposed all the more."

And verse 10, Israel's arrogance testifies against him, but despite all this he does not return to the Lord his God or search for him.

Now it's interesting, isn't it? We do it. We can quote one part of a proverb or a well known saying, and you can kind of assume everyone knows the rest. Well, you know what they say about people who live in glass houses, don't you? By which you're saying to someone, Well, who do you think you are to criticise.

Which is what Jesus is doing. When he quotes that single verse. Go and think about it, he says. Go look it up. "I desire mercy, not sacrifice." Go read the rest of Hosea. Who says even when the lord comes to heal his people... he finds sin and pride. Instead of a humble repentance.

Which is exactly where it's heading.

And while there are some who MARVEL at him... while there are some who have FAITH... but have a look what the pharisees are saying about him by the time you get to verse 34 in Matthew chapter 9. Here is Jesus, he's just given sight to the blind, he's just driven out a demon and a mute can speak.

But the pharisees say, verse 34... it's by the prince of demons ... that he drives out demons.

For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners

There are none so blind as those who will not see

The New International Version Chapter 9

For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners

The HUMBLE the POOR in spirit .. they know they are SICK.

APPLICATION

Friends this is a challenging point isn’t it .. are our hearts MELTED with MERCY .. love for the lost

Remember this old ad. (John West)

Yep .. it’s the FISH John West REJECTS that makes John West the BEST

Jesus actually puts it a bit differently.

Go out and get the REJECTS and HE will MAKE them the BEST .. that is .. MAKE them His people .. the PEOPLE OF GOD ..

Jesus came to SAVE SINNERS … and as we are saved we are all brought into that TREMENDOUS TASK .. that WORK of declaring the MOMENTOUS NEWS by speaking it .. and living it.

We who are DISCIPLES are to go and MAKE DISCIPLES .. knowing that HE is with us .. the GOSPEL is HIS POWER to SAVE

Our challenge is to be known as those who hang out with TAX-COLLECTORS and SINNERS

Intentionally building bridges with those NOT YET in the kingdom

We all find that a bit tough don’t we? Connecting and showing hospitality to with a neighbours and friends. Maybe family. The outcasts. The unlovely. The MARGINALISED. The REJECTS. Those who’s values and lifestyle is different to ours .. as it must be.

How can we do it together? What will help?

Don’t you love Matthews HEART?

Matthew holds a great banquet at his house, invites Jesus as the guest of honour, and brings all his tax collector mates. A large crowd of them, and all the other outcast REJECT types as well.

Yep, here's Jesus at a cocktail party with a bunch of people that decent people don't mix with. Here's Jesus... fishing for men. Quite happy with the fish John West rejects. The fish everybody rejects.

And the pharisees, the religious leaders, the upright and proper ones, they don't like it. "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?"

And there's Jesus .. with Matthew .. right in the middle of the messiness. A friend of sinners.

And Jesus says to the Pharisees who are complaining, he says, this is exactly what I came for. He says, when you go down to the doctors waiting room ... you take your life in your hands .. it's not full of healthy people, is it? You go up to visit the hospital, it's not like the health club gymnasium.

Jesus says, I'm not here for the healthy. I'm here for the sick. By which he means He’s not there for the self righteous types like the pharisees. "I haven't come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

That's who he's fishing for. REJECTS. So that's who he's spending time with. Not to be in the social pages with the rich and famous and impressive. He’s not trying to get the most “LIKES” on FaceBook

How can we do that? How can we do it together? What will help? Have a chat at Growth Group.

Guests of the BRIDEGROOM

Conversation # 3

14. Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?” 15Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.

15Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.

16“No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse.

17 Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out, and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”

ILLUSTRATION

Remember when we used to wash clothes with this ? SLIDE Or this ? SLIDE And now we wash clothes with this !SLIDE

Here’s some religious stuff again .. FASTING. Which is an expression of GRIEF .. MOURNING. Sackcloth and ashes. Difficult days. BUT .. these are the days of Jesus the BRIDEGROOM who has come amongst them .. his guests are his followers who are rejoicing. The wedding is a time of JOY and wonderful things are happening. Especially if you know the thrill of FORGIVENESS and HEALING.

Here’s some religious stuff again .. FASTING. Which is an expression of GRIEF .. MOURNING. Sackcloth and ashes. Difficult days. BUT .. these are the days of Jesus the BRIDEGROOM who has come amongst them .. his guests are his followers who are rejoicing. The wedding is a time of JOY and wonderful things are happening. Especially if you know the thrill of FORGIVENESS and HEALING.

Y’see .. something NEW has come … a new thing is starting. The KINGDOM has come!

When Jesus says in verses 16 and 17 of chapter 9 that you don't sew a new patch on an old shirt and you don't pour your new wine into dry old skins, that's what he's getting at. Time for something new. Which won't include the Israel of hard hearts. But will include room for anyone... hungry for righteousness. Thirsty for sins forgiven. And as we keep reading and see Jesus going to the cross, and ultimately raised... there's a reminder that the curse of sin and death that affect us all... are ultimately tamed. And we can look forward to a final restoration. In the Kingdom of Heaven.

Y’see in the OLD system .. animal sacrifices were made for sin .. and it didn’t work and it wasn’t lasting

NOW .. once and for all .. our sin IS dealt with on the cross .. the debt is paid IN FULL .. we are now declared FORGIVEN forever. RIGHTEOUS in God’s eyes because Jesus took our place

a new thing is starting. When Jesus says in verses 16 and 17 of chapter 9 that you don't sew a new patch on an old shirt and you don't pour your new wine into dry old skins, that's what he's getting at. Time for something new. Which won't include the Israel of hard hearts. But will include room for anyone... hungry for righteousness. Thirsty for sins forgiven. And as we keep reading and see Jesus going to the cross, and ultimately raised... there's a reminder that the curse of sin and death that affect us all... are ultimately tamed. And we can look forward to a final restoration. In the Kingdom of Heaven.

The OLD order of Judaism pointed to .. and is fulfilled in .. JESUS .. Bridegroom of His Bride .. the CHURCH

This is ALL NEW. This Jesus is turning the world on it’s head

APPLICATION

Maybe this morning you are a bit confused. Maybe you are thinking there is some religious stuff you have to do to be right with God. There sure are some churches that are not helpful in making the GOSPEL clear.

There are church buildings still being referred to as THE HOUSE OF GOD .. and they have a similar structure to the OT temple .. priests dress up in vestments that are a throw back to OT priesthood and sacrifice .. we call bits of the furniture ALTARS .. and we can give the distinct impression that we are saved by what WE do .. the laws and rules we obey .. the keeping to a moral code to please and placate God. NOT TRUE! That’s putting new wine in old skins .. new cloth on your old jeans. While torn jeans are trendy, they won’t make you right with God.

It’s NOT what we do .. not rituals .. not dressing in a certain way .. It’s all about believing and trusting in what Jesus has done FOR US.

CONCLUSION

No other religion in the world teaches what we see in the Bible

It’s NOT what we do .. not rituals .. not dressing in a certain way .. It’s all about believing and trusting in what Jesus has done FOR US.

True CHRISTIANITY is about having a PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP with Jesus through faith in all He has achieved on the cross .. and the assurance of the resurrection that we are BORN AGAIN .. NEW BIRTH .. BORN FROM ABOVE .. it’s about being a follower .. a disciple .. a LEARNER

That has tremendous impact on my life.. God’s Spirit now works in me .. it changes my orientation in life .. transforms me .. my WORLDVIEW has changed .. bit by bit my self centredness is becoming Christ centred and I want others to know what I know.

Friends .. it’s not The right ritual at the right time, to get the right results.

It’s humbly accepting the gift of a gracious God who has not spared His Son .. who dies to establish our FORGIVENESS .. and rose again to secure our HOPE