The Event that Changed Everything

Introduction:

What events have taken place in your life that have significantly changed everything? Some have been tragic events that have impacted you with worry and great anxiety. Others are events that simply brought peace into our lives. I’m certain that we can all think of various things and when we share them with other, it triggers another memory.

Today I want to talk about an event that changed everything, bringing peace into our world, even though for some, anxiety because of uncertainty. (my moment)

As a parent, it doesn’t take long to realize that God has not only blessed us with children, but he has given us the do diligent responsibility to raise them in such a way that when they leave the house at an appropriate age, they will be able to make it on their own. I remember the day we took our oldest son to College. We were down by the mailboxes of the Student Union and were preparing to say goodby, when another student came by and my son reached out his hand and said hello and introduced himself. it was at that moment that I knew he was going to be ok and he would do well on his own as he depended upon God. It gave to us great peace…

parent, we realize that God has blessed us with children and given us the do diligent responsibility to raise them in such a way that when they leave the house at an appropriate age, they will be able to make it on their own. I remember the day we took our oldest son to College. We were down by the mailboxes of the Student Union and were preparing to say goodby, when another student came by and my son reached out his hand and said hello and introduced himself. it was at that moment that I knew he was going to be ok and he would do well on his own as he depended upon God.

We all have moments in our lives, some good and some bad, that stand out and mark a significant change in life.

Today, we want to talk about an event that changes “Everything.” We know it as “Easter” or “The Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

The truth be told, I never really got it as a Kid. I mean, I never really quite understood the significance of what Easter was all about until I got older. I remember easter being a time of treasure hunts… getting clues from my parents as to where I might find my Easter basket. The very first one I remember took place at Grandma and Grandpa Walkers home. I eventually found mine under a small white metal cabinet that my Grandmother had in her kitchen. When she passed away, it was one of those things that you wanted to keep.

Another time was on an Easter morning, much like today, when the sun was shining, it was warm outside. That particular Easter, I got a little football, and before church went out into the front yard to play catch with my Dad.

It wasn’t until later that I began to understand the significance of what Easter was really about. I think it hit me in College when I attended an Easter morning worship service and heard one of my professors speak on the resurrection of Jesus that I began to understand what it meant for me personally. It was a moment in life that changed everything for me and led me to do what I do today.

The question I have for you this morning, is How has the resurrection of Jesus impacted your life? Maybe another way of looking at it is “How has it change your life?”

This morning we are exploring a passage of scripture that was written by Matthew, one of Jesus Disciples. He talks about a particular teaching of Jesus that took place just before Jesus was crucified and then rose from the dead. It’s found in

Matthew 25:31–44 NIV

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

Matthew 25:45–46 NIV

“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

You may follow along with me as the scripture is put up on the screen or take your Bible or a Bible located in the pew in front of you and follow along...

According to this passage of scripture, we will all stand before Jesus someday and have to give account as to what we did with what we know about Jesus… About what we ‘Believe’ about Jesus?

I. What did we do with his teachings?

II. What did we do with how to treat other people?

III. What did we do concerning His resurrection from the dead.

Let me tell you a little about Matthew who wrote the book of Matthew. He was a Jew… a Tax collector. He collected taxes from the his own people and gave what was required to the Roman Government. Tax Collector were not the most popular people at the time… Especially Jewish Tax collectors, who took from their own people and gave it to the Romans. They had a reputation for collecting more taxes than were necessary, giving to Rome what they required, but keeping the rest for themselves.

In some ways, Matthew is trying to convince other Jewish people of who Jesus really is and How Jesus accepted him personally, a tax collector… considered by many Jews to be nothing more than a thief; and how Jesus changed his life!

So on a relational level, he wasn’t very popular with the Jewish people.

Now, as someone who became a follower of Jesus, he writes about all the teaching of Jesus. So that his people so to speak may know how Jesus life changed his.

He tells them what Jesus would do in the end times; Not necessarily a popular topic. However, in light of his personal experience with Jesus, and having already seen him die, rise again, and ascended into heaven, he wants them to know that there will be a time, based on the teachings of Jesus, He will return. Matthew tells them about how He is the shepherd and when he sits on his throne, he will separate the sheep from the goats.

The Jewish people understood the concept of shepherds, since they were a nomadic people and many of them made their living from herding sheep. They understood the concept of separating the good from the bad, the healthy from the unhealthy.

Matthew could speak as one who had been raised knowing that there would be a coming Messiah; savior, someone to save his people from Roman oppressions. As one who had come to know Jesus personally and how much Jesus loved him.

Matthew, is telling them about one of Jesus teaching moments and how when He does return a second time… we are all going to have to stand before him and be judged for our actions based on our faith.

No one really wants to be one of the ‘Goats’, but he is saying, fact is fact. There is a difference between sheep and goats. From what I understand, Not always easily distinguished.

So he is saying to them, when you stand before Jesus, you will be judged for what you did about his teachings.

Bonnie asked me one night as we drove by a ‘Kingdom Hall’ where Jehovah Witnesses worship, and asked what they believe. So being the brilliant theologian that I am I said to her… Google it. So she did. I knew some of the things they believed, but one of the things that stood out was that they believe Jesus was God’s created Son and that he is not part of the trinity. They do no believe, as Jesus teaches us in the Bible, that He and the Father are one. He who has seen Jesus, has seen the Father. Jesus said, “I and the Father are one.”

So what do we do with what Jesus teaches us? either we accept it or reject it. The fact is, His teachings are not something where we can accept what you like, but not all of them. Either you believe in all he said about himself and how to live, or you pick and choose what you want. Matthew chose to believe all that Jesus taught and passed it on to others. He did so because he witnessed Jesus living what he taught… He witnessed Jesus death… he witnesses he Resurrection... and His Ascension. The rest of the Gospel accounts affirm what Jesus taught. There might be variations in how they are written because they were written to different audiences, but not in what is meant. (i.e. … Young and old; church and unchurched)

So at this point Jesus is teaching about his return; separating the people like a shepherd separates sheep and goat; and they will be judged according to how they follow the teachings of Jesus as the Son of God.

II. Secondly, how do we treated other people based on what Jesus taught?

He uses the illustration of those on his right and those on his left. He talks about how some provided him with food, some with drink, and some with clothing. Once again the Jewish people could understand this concept, because from sheep, one could be provided others with food, drink, and clothing. The problem was, they didn’t know when they did these things, it was as if they were doing it for Jesus.

So Matthew is telling them this story that Jesus told... Simply pointing out that what you did to the least of these you did for me. In other words, you did it too and for Jesus.

Earlier in his writings, Matthew said, “Anyone who breaks on of the least of these commandments and teaches other to do the same will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the Kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 5:19 NIV

Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Another key teachings of Jesus is that we are to “LOVE GOD with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. And love your neighbor as your self.

Matthew 22:36–39 NIV

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

We are all on a journey… That is why we are here today. We are here, listening to the teachings of Jesus… being challenged by him as to what you have done with them up to this point and what will you do with them after today.

Another way of looking at this is to know that it was Jesus who said, You will stand before me someday and you will have to give account for how you lived your life… What Matthew and other writers of the Gospels are telling us about the death and resurrection of Jesus, is that He, himself was unselfish and thought only of the spiritual needs of those God created.

The second things he talks about is how we actually treat or respond to others. Another way of looking at this is to know that Jesus said, You will stand before me someday and you will have to give account for how you lived your life… What Matthew and other writers of the Gospels are telling us about the death and resurrection, is that Jesus himself was unselfish and thought only of the spiritual needs of those God created.

Jesus wasn’t wishy washy in his teachings. When he taught of love, he meant that it was to be given freely. When he taught of obey his teachings, he didn’t say, obey what you like and forget about the rest. His taught only what God his Father had given him to teach. He was clear in terms of how we are to live in obedience to God the Father.

We will all stand before God and have to give account of how we loved God and loved others. This is a very sobering and humbling thought provoking teaching of Jesus that Matthew is sharing with us.

Here is what will make the difference in your life...

III. What do we do with the Resurrection?

Matthew clearly reveals to us eye witness accounts of those who saw Jesus die, put in a tomb, and later found the tomb empty.

When Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb () they found it empty… When they were told what to do, they went and told the rest of the disciples.

The Gospels tell us that Peter and John ran to the tomb after they were told and found it empty. Then they, along with the other disciples went to Galilee just like Jesus had said and waited to see him. () Look at verse 17 - Some doubted...

Once again, the question is, What do we do with the teachings of Jesus, The way we treat other people, and “The Resurrection” of Jesus? Do we listen and obey his teachings? Do we love others as Jesus loves us? Have we accepted the truth of His resurrection and if so, what difference has it made in our lives; does it make in our lives?

don’t just take my word about the resurrection and teachings of Jesus. Pick up a Bible this week, or go on the internet and look up the Holy Bible on Bible Gateway or YouVersion bible and start to read about the teachings of Jesus and his resurrection.

If you read the Gospel of Luke, He gave up his practice as a Physiasian and followed a man by the name of Paul, who became a believer and follow of Jesus. Paul wrote about 13 letters to different churches while he went around telling people of his own conversion experience. Luke wrote these two introductions to books he wrote in the Bible

Luke 1:1–3 NIV

Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,

Luke 1:1–2 NIV

Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word.

Luke 1:1–4 NIV

Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

Acts 1:1–3 NIV

In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.

When we Hear about Jesus and read about him, he will change your life. He will change your perspective on how you are to treat others; how to love yourself; how to trust him even in the most difficult situations. He will change your life in terms of how you view eternity...

Nick Gamble shares the story about an 87 year old lady who believe in Jesus and his resurrection; also that when she died she would go to be with him in heaven… the story goes as follows...

He name was Flory Shore, who underwent serious surgery. Flory had been told that her prospects of recovery were very slim.

Thankfully she survived the surgery. As she opened her eyes, one of the first things she saw was the blurred image of her doctor, dressed in his white jacket.

She smiled and said, “Hello God! I’m Flory Shore.’

Nick then went on to say, this demonstrated two things.

First it showed Flory’s humility. She did not expect God to know who she was. Second, it showed her absolute certainty about the resurrection and where she was going when she died.

Her certainty about the resurrection was based on the cornerstone of Christianity: The resurrection of Jesus Christ on the first Easter Day. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead now lives in your through the Holy Spirit. . One day, you too will be raised and be able to say hello God. The question is, Do yo believe? if you do, then you have the hope of eternal life with God. If you are uncertain, God gave us the resurrection for us to turn to him this morning and say, Jesus, Yes, I do believe. I want to make it clear that ‘YES’ I not only believe but I’m going to take your teachings seriously; I’m going to trust you and encourage others to do the same. I’m going to treat others with the same love that you have shown me. I believe!