Our Forever Family

Matthew 12:38-50

While Jesus was still talking to the crowd…someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.”

He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers? Pointing to his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

Jesus loved His physical family.

No doubt. Even during His agony on the cross, His thoughts focused on the care and welfare of His mother. He asked John to take her home with him.

As wonderful and permanent as family seems to be, a time comes when physical kinship is interrupted. Death comes.

Jesus’ death severed His family ties too. Yet, His death created the possibility of a more enduring spiritual family! One encompassing more than blood relatives! Open to everyone!

This more permanent family is what Jesus is talking about here. It is God’s forever family, because it continues for all eternity. Our relation to Jesus never ends!

So, how do we get related to Jesus?

The Teacher says this family circle is reserved for whoever does the will of my Father in heaven. According to Matthew, Jesus pointed to His disciples – His spiritual relatives - as He spoke about this.

If being a member of God’s Forever Family is our goal, then becoming a good student of the Teacher must be our primary objective. Because following Him leads home!

Heart Talk

Matthew 12:25-37

For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.

Jesus’ enemies had some very harsh words for Him. But their condemning words didn't indict Jesus as much as they exposed their own heart trouble.

Jesus didn’t need an echocardiogram to diagnose the condition of their hearts. He simply listened to them. Their own words provided a perfect diagnostic!

The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.

Many times we are reluctant to go to the doctor for fear of what we’ll find out. There is an uneasy comfort in not knowing what might be wrong with us.

But the Teacher insists on a checkup! He demands we pay attention to our words, because they are indicators of our spiritual health. The lips may be moving but it’s really the heart talking!

Thankfully, our Teacher can heal and transform our hearts. But first we need to spend some time listening to ourselves. A self-administered heart examination!

As we pinpoint specific areas of weakness, we turn to Jesus for treatment. Then we continue to monitor the progress of our recovery by simply checking our words.

Don’t be afraid to get a checkup. Early detection and proper treatment can save lives.

For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.

Time Out!

Matthew 12:15-24

Sometimes, it’s a game changer! In a fast-paced game, the coach observes something from the sidelines his players don’t see. He calls a time out, huddles up to make sure they understand what’s going on.

Here Matthew signals a time out and huddles up with his readers.

He wants to make absolutely certain we aren’t so caught up in the fast pace of his storyline - brilliant teaching and dazzling miracles – we fail to see into the heart of Jesus.

Time Out!!!

Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out...

Ok, so what do we see as we join Matthew for a sideline view of our Star Player? Let’s make sure we’re all on the same page here.

Jesus has the Spirit of God. Check, me too!
Jesus has the love of God. Check!
Jesus has the approval of God. Check!
Jesus is proclaiming the truth. Check!

Coach, you wasted a time out. We already know all that!

Now listen up, team! Our Teacher didn’t quarrel. Was so gentle and kind he wouldn’t break a bruised reed or snuff out a smoking wick.

Ohhh!

Didn’t see that! Thanks for the heads up. Now we can get back into the game with a new approach…

We’ll try to respond to every desperately broken and damaged heart, every down and out life, with the gentle compassion and hopefulness of our Team Leader!

Gotcha!

Matthew 12:1-14

Oddly enough, it was the religious leaders who were constantly trying to trap Jesus in some scriptural inconsistency. They were masters of the Gotcha Religion!

Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, they asked him, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?"

In their traditional but twisted view of things, healing a man would be a violation of the rule against working on the Sabbath. So, they must have secretly hoped Jesus would heal the man.

Then… Gotcha!

Jesus didn’t disappoint them…

"Stretch out your hand." So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other.

What was their reaction?

A careful and open-minded re-thinking of their understanding of the Sabbath! Respect for the power of God displayed in Jesus’ act! Happiness for the man who was healed!

Hardly!

But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.

What were they thinking? I’m not sure, except to say they were absolutely certain they were right and Jesus was wrong.

Respect for truth is important. But it isn’t possible to see the truth – even when it’s standing right in front of us - unless we first allow God to fill our hearts with love, mercy and humility.

In the name of truth, these leaders remained blind to greater truth. This is the problem with a Gotcha Religion.

Simple Christianity

Matthew 11:25-30

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

I’m sorry, but much of what passes for Christianity today doesn’t seem at all restful. And yet, the Teacher says if we come directly to Him we will find rest for our souls.

How? The Teacher only says, Learn from me!

Isn’t He is describing the work of a student?

The Teacher is not asking us to move mountains, part the sea or make everything right with the world. Or even in our own lives. He simply says, Learn from me!

We can do this.

He encourages us by reminding that He is a Teacher who is gentle and humble in heart.

A friend of mine says Jesus grades on the curve. That’s good. We don’t have to make a perfect score on every test in life in order to make a passing grade with this Teacher.

This is because He already made the grade for us - did something for us we couldn’t do for ourselves. He passed the tests of life with flying colors. Lived a perfect life, died on the cross and rose from the dead for His students.

So coming to Him we find rest. And in this freedom from anxiety about our eternal destiny we simply learn from Him.

We enter the University of Jesus. Become His attentive student. As we learn, we change – He changes us - to become more like Him.

Progressively, we experience simple Christianity.

And we find rest for our souls.

Repent Anyone?

Matthew 11:16-24

Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent.

I don’t get it! How could they fail to repent? Jesus was teaching and working miracles right there in their own hometowns!

Jesus mentions three towns by name - Korazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum. Why did Jesus single them out?

The people of Korazin probably heard the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus healed a blind man and fed the 5,000 at Bethsaida. Capernaum saw Jesus perform many miracles.

In the very presence and power of Jesus and still they didn’t repent!

Jesus says the people of Sodom will be better off in the Judgment than they will be!

What would Jesus say about this generation? My hometown! Me?

Sobering really, because we have some advantages they didn’t. We know much more about Jesus!

What was it about them He condemned?

Oh yeah, they didn't repent.

I Doubt It

Matthew 11:2-15

Things are not working out like he planned. John is in serious trouble. In fact, he’s in prison.

Is it any wonder doubt creeps into his mind?

So he sends two of his friends to Jesus with a question: Are you really the One?

I don’t blame John. I’ve been there. Perhaps, we all have.

Jesus doesn’t blame him either.

He doesn’t say - John, how can you possibly doubt me? Remember what God told you about me? Remember when you baptized me? You were so sure then. What’s wrong with you now?

No, the teacher understands it’s our nature to doubt when things aren’t going well in our lives. In fact, He goes on to say that as far as He’s concerned nobody is greater than John!

Jesus doesn’t condemn him for his doubts. Instead, He gives a gentle message of assurance - simply go tell John everything you have heard and seen me do. The evidence will speak for itself.

Is Jesus really our Savior? In the bad times we may be tempted to doubt it.

That’s ok with Jesus, I think. At least as long as we do what John did. Seek the answer to our questions from the Teacher Himself.

When we do, like John, we will receive the gentle answer we need to renew our trust in Him.