Can I Give Them Your Name?

Matt. 12:15-21

SBS: Next Week-“The Unforgiveable Sin!”

Prayer

We live in a fallen world in which we hear lots of bad news.  Gas prices are up, food quantities are down, inflation is up, the dollar is down, we are at war, are going to war, and have been at war.  When you hear these kinds of things on the news over, and over, and over again, at some point you want to say “How about a little Hope!” 

Some have found a strange kind of hope recently with the exhumation and display of the body of former Roman Catholic Priest Padre Pio in San Giovanni Rotondo.  The Priest, famous for his bleeding hands to match the wounds of Christ’s, has spawned a cottage industry.  Padre Pio's image features on everything from cigarette lighters to babies' bibs. Devotees can buy Padre Pio perfume, a scent similar to the smell of roses the saint was said to have emitted, and brown fingerless gloves, just like the ones he wore to cover his bleeding stigmata wounds.

Nuala Slevin has been traveling this same place in Italy for 18 years in a row. She says, "It'll be different this year because we'll have the privilege of praying at his body. It'll be very nice to put a face on this man we've been praying to over the years.”   I hate to break it to Ms. Slevin, but I have bad news for her, he is still dead.

The passage in today’s section of Matthew begins with bad news, but progresses on to hope. 

IN THE MIDST OF ALL OF THE BAD NEWS THERE IS HOPE, NOT B/C OF US, BUT B/C OF WHAT GOD HAS DONE THROUGH CHRIST. 

The bad news is in v. 15.  Jesus knew that the Pharisees were going to try to kill him.  He leaves the area knowing that eventually this killing will take place.  That is bad news.

GOD SENDS GOOD NEWS FROM AN OLD MAN- The Prophet Isaiah-this is the longest quotation in the book of Matthew.  Isaiah predicted and Matthew reminds us that:

I.                     THE FATHER HAS IDENTIFIED A SERVANT. V. 18A

a.        He is chosen by the father.

b.       He is beloved by the father.  This text was alluded to at the Baptism, and will be at the Transfig.

II.                   THE FATHER HAS ANOINTED A SERVANT. V. 18B-This will help in his defense that he is empowered by Satan in the next passage.

III.                 THE FATHER HAS ENABLED A SERVANT. VV.19FF

a.        He brings hope by not quarreling. V. 19a

b.       He brings hope by not building himself up. V. 19b  There are some people who think of nothing but themselves.  A Milwaukee teacher took her first-grade class to a dairy where a guide showed the children through the entire plant, explaining the whole process. The tour over, the guide asked if anyone had any questions. One little girl raised her hand and said, “Did you notice that I’ve got on my new snowsuit?”  STATUS-KING LEAR v. 18b

c.        He brings hope to the most hopeless.

                                                               i.      The broken reed is useless, it cannot be repaired.

                                                              ii.      The smoking flax is of no value it should be thrown away.  In our culture we take great pride in the fall of many other people.  When Martha Stewart went to Prison, many cheered; when we find that a financial advisor has gone broke we feel good; when a famous minister falls into sin, there is a part of us that says “well, at least I am better than him.”  Jesus looks to heal, rather than to jeer.

 The Last verse of the quotation, v, 21 is the great verse.  Literally translated it reads “All the nations will hope in his name.”  That is where real hope comes from.  Not from news reports or economic projections.  It does not come from us.  It will do no good for me to give you my name to hope in or for you to give someone your name to hope in.  There is only one name given under earth by which we must be saved, Christ Jesus.

.- In one Peanut’s cartoon Lucy and Linus were sitting in front of the television set when Lucy said to Linus, "Go get me a glass of water." Linus looked surprised, "Why should I do anything for you? You never do anything for me." "On your 75th birthday," Lucy promised, "I’ll bake you a cake." Linus got up, headed to the kitchen and said, "Life is just much more pleasant when you have something to look forward to."
WE HAVE A NEW CITY TO LOOK FORWARD TO.  A new heaven and a new earth in which people from every tribe and every tongue will gather together and sing worthy is the one who was slain for us.