Nothing Changed!

Matthew 18:21-35

It seems Peter is always trying to impress the Teacher. Why not? That’s what good students should do.

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?

Forgiving seven times must have seemed pleasingly extravagant to Peter. The religious teaching of the day called for a maximum of three times. Peter doubles it and adds one!

Surely, the Teacher will give him special recognition for this!

But He isn’t impressed - I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times!

The story that follows is about a man who simply doesn’t get this lesson at all! The king forgives this man’s enormous debt, but what does he do?

But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded.

The king reacts - You wicked servant! Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you? The king then revokes his forgiveness. Reinstates the debt!

What’s the problem? Why couldn’t he forgive just a little, after being forgiven so much?

Perhaps, because he never really received the king’s forgiveness in the first place! Oh, technically his debt was cancelled but his heart was unchanged.

He didn’t receive the king’s grace at all. If he had, there would have been a degree of graciousness in his own heart.

So how do we know if the King has truly forgiven us?

We too forgive. If we can’t, nothing changed!

Untapped Resource

Matthew 18:12-20

I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it
will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come
together in my name, there am I with them.

Here is an untapped resource! Perhaps, not many take Jesus seriously about this. Actually, I don’t know how many sit down with one or two others and agree in prayer about something they hope to change?

If not many, then perhaps it’s because we fail to see why it should work this way. What’s so special about prayers in agreement?

Maybe it taps into a principle related to the very nature of God Himself.

The Father, Son and Spirit are in perfect relationship. Complete harmony! In everything, agreement!

Unity, harmony, agreement! These are eternal principles, for God is in them. They are as real in the spiritual realm as gravity in the physical world. Perhaps even more enduring.

Maybe this is why there is special power in prayers born out of agreement. This is how things work – have always worked – in the kingdom of heaven!

Guardian Angel

Matthew 18:1-11

What about it? Did you have one when you were a kid? I didn’t! One wasn’t enough to keep me out of trouble!

Probably had several working in shifts!

Yes, there are ministering angels – for kids and adults. Although I don’t pretend to know their complete job description!

Anyway, here the Teacher is focusing on children. He’s calling attention to the one of their natural attributes - Humility.

He’s right. Ever hear a four-year-old brag? Hope not. It usually takes a few more years hanging around adults before kids learn how.

Of course, that’s the Teacher’s point. Adults are silly when they seek greatness other than through humility. They miss the kingdom!

I think the Teacher also wants us to think about how adults get that way. They were humble children once. What happened? Some proud grown-ups in their world impacted their lives and not in a good way.

Jesus is saying, look out! Pay attention to what you are doing to these impressionable little children. Be careful not to lead them in the wrong way!

Cut off your hand, gouge out your eyes! Whatever it takes to be a good influence on the children in your life! They are that significant!

Because their angels always behold the face of my Father!

Mountain Movers

Matthew 17:14-23

The Teacher says - A little faith can move a mountain. He even says - Nothing will be impossible for you.

I confess sometimes I don’t get what the Teacher is talking about. Mustard seeds and moving mountains!

Doesn’t describe my life! My faith! I guess I’m not much of a Mountain-Mover! Maybe I could start with mole-hills and work up!

The words of an old song express my weaker faith –

Lord don’t move that mountain. Give me strength to climb it. Please don’t
move that troublesome mount. Lead me Lord around it!

The lyrics of the song make sense to me. Instead of asking to move the mountain, I ask God to help me deal with it, overcome it, get around it. What’s wrong with that?

Maybe it shows a lack of faith. And a waste of effort if a little faith would move it right out of the way!

I have a question: Does the Teacher really believe a little mustard-seed-kind-of-faith will move a mountain?

Sorry. I know they say there are no dumb questions, but that was close! Of course! Jesus has that kind of faith and He seems to think His students should too.

So here’s the real question: Is mustard seed faith possible for us?
Maybe not if we haven’t even begun to believe what the Teacher says about it!

Glimpse of Glory

Matthew 17:1-13

That’s what happened to three of Jesus’ students that day on the mountain top…

They looked over at their friend - their teacher – and saw his clothes began to glow.

They looked at his face - a face they had seen a hundred times before. Now they had to blink to catch a glint of His glory.

His face was shining as bright as the sun on a cloudless day.

Jesus told them this would happen. He said that if they denied themselves, picked up their crosses and followed him, they would not be disappointed.

Six days later they got a glimpse of glory!

Just a peek and then off the mountain and back into the valley!

In old age, Peter still remembered…

We were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to Him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well-pleased.” We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with Him on the sacred mountain.

My Cross

Matthew 16:21-28

If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whosoever loses his life for me will find it.

I’ve got one. So do you. According to Jesus, everyone does.

Identifying our cross and bearing it? Now that’s another question altogether!

What is our cross? We begin by asking about Jesus’ cross.

His cross was a literal one. Rough timbers of wood and nails of iron! Simply stated His cross is what stood between Him and fulfilling His destiny. He had to carry it and suffer on it to do God’s Will.

Our cross is also very real. It is whatever stands between us and fulfilling our destiny. What we have to bear, give up, sacrifice in order to do God’s Will in our lives.

Our destiny is to become like our Teacher. Our cross is whatever stands in our way.

Jesus cross cost His life. So does ours. When we deny ourselves whatever worldly pleasure or gain that stands in our way, it costs us.

But the Teacher says this is the way to truly find our life. That’s what He knows…from experience!

Aha Moment!

Matthew 16:13-20

It’s a turning point in Peter’s life. In an Aha! moment the truth about Jesus finally sinks in - You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God!

This change of heart leads to a turning point in Jesus’ relationship with his students. From this point forward, Jesus talks frankly with them about His impending death and resurrection.

Of course, they don’t comprehend what He means until – in another Aha! moment - Jesus appears to them after His resurrection.

For now, He says - I will build my church.

Google it! Thousands of pages about the church! What is it? How can we identify it?

I still like the explanation contained in the little Sunday School rhyme, complete with hand movements:

Here’s the Church, Here’s the Steeple

Open the doors, See all the People!

The church is people! The ones who’ve had an Aha! moment – Jesus is the Son of God!

This is the Rock Jesus is talking about. A foundation of faith in the heart! The turning point that changes everything!

So the church Jesus is building is neither a building nor a set of teachings! It’s His students!

Later He will tell them, Go make students of all nations, baptizing them…