Come As You Are

Introduction

Explanation of Maundy Thursday w/Christine.

Miracle in the Usual.

LOOK at the passage

(Observe - What do you SEE?)

LISTEN to the context

(Understand - What does it MEAN?)

LEARN what the passage says about God

(Uncover - What truth is REVEALED?)

LIVE differently based on the truths you’ve learned.

(Apply - What must I DO?)

Matthew 11:25–30 (ESV)

25 At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.

Whenever Jesus defines himself in relation to the Trinity, he does so as the role of a child — the Son.

LISTEN

Children in the 1st Century were not considered important

isn’t it interesting that Jesus comes to His Father as a child? An adult child but still a child.

Submissive to the Fathers will, hungry for his fathers attention, needy (if that could be said if Jesus) for his fathers resources. (Cf. A Praying Life p44)

Jesus was dependent on His Father. How should we expect to be any less so?

That’s how we started - John 15:5 dependence - Jesus inviting us into the life he lived.

Come to God as His child. (25-26)

What does it mean for us to come to God as His child?

Authenticity

Kids generally say what they mean

ILLUST - Caleigh trying to keep a secret — “ I didn’t tell her it was a watch!”

Don’t come to God with a pretense in prayer

Don’t bring God a mask to fix, just talk

You don’t need to worry about getting it right; just speak with your Father.

Luke 18:9–14 (ESV)

9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Humility

Luke 18:15–17 (ESV)

15 Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 17 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”

We should recognize it is our Father who gives us everything.

Humility is how we approach God in prayer because it is the way we approach God’s kingdom

We come in humility because we remember how immature we are as a child.

“When we slow down to pray, we are immediately confronted with how unspiritual we are, with how difficult it is to concentrate on God. We don’t know how bad we are until we try to be good. Nothing exposes our selfishness and spiritual powerlessness like prayer.”

— Paul E. Miller ( A Praying Life, p. 31)

Expectancy

Luke 11:11–13 (ESV)

11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Dependence

Jesus willfully depended on his Father for all things.

God is not a supplement for your desires — He is your life.

27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

The Jews did not know who Jesus really was. The disciples did not know fully who Jesus was and what he came to do. But God knew.

Come to God as Jesus reveals Him. (27)

Seeing Jesus we see the Father.

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Come simply as you are and surrender to where Jesus wants to lead you. (28-30)

2 parts - Come and Take = come and surrender

COME, you weary

The criteria for coming to Christ is a weariness — a recognition of your inability to do things on your own.

If that is the understanding necessary to come to God initially through the gospel, why do we think that we somehow need to be all put together in order to come to God after we have received the gospel?

The outcome of the coming to Christ is rest - not ease but rest for soul.

Rest for refreshing.

TAKE my yoke.

In the New Testament yoke is always used metaphorically and signifies bondage or submission to authority of some kind. “The yoke of the law” and kindred expressions are common among the Jews (e.g., “He that takes upon himself the yoke of the Law, from him shall be taken away the yoke of the kingdom and the yoke of worldly care,”

Morris, L. (1992). The Gospel according to Matthew (p. 296). W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press.

“Come” is the word used for discipleship

Matthew 4:19 ESV

19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Matthew 22:4 ESV

4 Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.” ’

Matthew 25:34 ESV

34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

When you work and walk in the way of Jesus, you find rest — not necessarily a life of ease, but rest for your soul.