Matthew 13:53-14:12 Jesus Rejected at Nazareth

Both Jesus and John the Baptist suffered the rejection of their own people. Jesus’ homecoming was characterized by judgmental comments about him being just the carpenter’s son. How can he claim to be the Son of God? They took offense at Jesus and he could not perform many miracles there due to their unbelief. Jesus like many other prophets of the Old Testament, including John, saw firsthand the unbelief of his own people to his message.

Herod thought that Jesus was John the Baptist resurrected. John the Baptist had been imprisoned for pointing out Herod’s sin of adultery, taking his brother Philip’s wife: Herodias. At Herod’s birthday party Herodias’ daughter pleased Herod with a dance and promised to do anything for her. Herodias coached her daughter to ask for John’s head and so Herod, reluctantly, ordered his execution. John enjoyed some support from the people, but not enough to keep him alive.

I am not above my master. If he was rejected, I should expect the same treatment from the world. At times, those closest to me will be the ones who have more difficulty listening to the message of reconciliation because they know me too well. After my conversion, it took many years for my sister, and then my mother to come to the Lord. After thirty years, my father still wrestles with the Gospel I share with him. Maybe, in part, it is because a prophet does not enjoy honor in his own land. To follow Jesus is to suffer rejection especially by those closest to us.

Father, help me be strong in the midst of rejection especially from those closest to me in the family. Grant me perseverance and endurance to be your messenger until the end.

Matthew 8:18-22 The Cost of Following Jesus

Following Jesus has a cost. We do well to understand that cost before we engage in following Jesus and as a constant reminder of the commitment we have made to this journey. 

In the narrative passages of Matthew, you find he mentions a specific follower with the crowd or crowds in the background. Here Matthew mentios a scribe and a disciple with the crowd. The crowd is a group of people who have heard of Jesus’ fame and is after his gifts. This kind of follower is interested in getting something - a healing, a feeding, a thrill. Following Jesus requires stepping out of that crowd and moving towards Jesus with a different attitude. It requires taking a risk as you identify yourself as a true follower. You will no longer blend in with the crowd. The scribe comes to Jesus and says: “I will follow you wherever you go.” A true follower is willing to go wherever the following takes him/her. Jesus spoke of a narrow gate:

Matthew 7:13 
“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.
14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”

                                               

The characteristics of this path is twofold: few find it and the way is hard.

20 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” Jesus’ reply makes clear to the wannabe follower that the following will cost him. While animals and birds in nature have a resting place on earth, the Son of Man doesn’t, implying that all his followers will suffer the same fate. While on earth, Jesus’ followers will not have a place they can call home (Eph.2:19). It also implies that the following is not one of comfort and ease, but challenging and difficult. The title Son of Man comes from the book of Daniel (7:13-14) and speaks of the Messiah to come as one having a dominion, glory, and kingdom that are not of this earth, but in the heavenlies. When a person enters the kingdom, (s)he becomes a citizen of heaven (Phil.3:20) and at the same time a stranger and an alien upon the earth. No disciple is greater than his master. If Jesus was hated and persecuted, so will his disciples.

21 Another of the disciples said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 22 And Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.” Jesus also makes clear that the follower would have to reset priorities. While the family is worthy of loyalty and priority, Jesus demands a higher loyalty and priority than family. Jesus has nothing against family or funerals, but the priorities of a Jesus’ follower cannot be in them. We have to go beyond being involved, like the chicken, to being committed, like the pig, to this ham and eggs breakfast.

Jesus calls us to follow, counting the cost, with unqualified commitment.

Acts 18:1-17 Paul in Corinth

While in Corinth, Paul seeks a Jewish couple, Aquila and Priscilla, who came out of Rome due to the persecution. They were tentmakers like himself and joined forces to work in the area. It is important to keep in contact with good relationships while in the field. It is also important to seek partnerships that bring strength to the cause. Paul did not hesitate to partner with this couple to strengthen his work and influence there. There is greater effectiveness when one partners with people who share the same goal and have a certain affinity. Teamwork is always better than working alone because of the synergy that it creates.

After Silas and Timothy join him in Corinth, Paul experiences a turning point in his ministry. Due to the opposition and revile of the Corinthians, Paul decides to turn to the Gentiles completely. This turning point brings about decisions concerning location - he moved to a home, next door to the synagogue, and strategy. There are moments in ministry when I must reconsider what I am doing. A slow response to the Gospel is different to a hostile response to the Gospel. Where are people responding to the Gospel? Where are people hostile to the Gospel? It is important to see where God is at work and join him!

I don't think I've ever thought of Paul as one to fear anything. But the Lord speaks to him encouraging words: "Do not be afraid... for I am with you." When the Lord sets out to encourage someone it is for a reason. Paul may have struggled with continuing to preach in Corinth due to the opposition and he may have feared for his life and maybe was planning to leave. Even the strongest Christian needs reassuring words at times. The Lord reassured him that he would not be harmed and he ends up staying there for a year and a half. As a Church, we should make a point of ministering to all our International Workers and missionaries. Encouraging words go a long way to revitalize a missionary on the field.

The one beaten this time was Sosthenes, not Paul. The truth is that the world will hate those who bring the good news of the Gospel. At times, that means being at the receiving end of attacks, even beatings. It is the cost associated with preaching the Gospel. It is the cost of being a true disciple. It is the price to pay for the calling God has placed upon his people. Am I willing to pay the price? I must count the cost!

Father,  Help me find those partners that will enhance the ministry of the Gospel where I am. Teach me to make the turning points necessary to keep the Gospel moving forward. May I encourage those around me with my words. May I be willing to count the cost and pay the price. Amen

Matthew 4:18-25 Jesus Calls the First Disciples

Jesus begins his ministry calling specific people to follow him. The purpose of the following is clear: to become fishers of men. I'm sure he used that image to connect with the disciples since they were fishermen. The reaction to the call was complete abandonment of the current lifestyle to embrace a new one. Literally, they dropped what they were doing to follow Jesus.

All believers are called to follow Jesus. All Christians are to drop their past lifestyle and embrace a new one. We are all called for the purpose of becoming fishers of men. We can't follow Jesus while holding on to the past life. We need to let go of our past life, especially anything that hinders our walk with God. We may not have to resign our jobs to follow Jesus, but what if we have to? Are we willing?

Of course, there is a call to follow Jesus in ministry. It is to heed the call to devote our mind, heart, spirit and soul to the cause of the Gospel.  It was very hard for me to accept that I had to resign my full-time job to become a Pastor. It took some time, but the Lord convinced me that if I was to serve him in this capacity I had to let go of the past lifestyle and dedicate myself to him and his kingdom. Many people wrestle with the call because of the cost.

The focus of a ministry can be lost so easily. The Lord is clear in his call that it is for the purpose to make them fishers of men. Am I becoming a better fishermen for the kingdom? There are so many needs in this world, that one can be engulfed by those needs and forget the true purpose of the calling. It is to become fishers of men.

Lord, help me heed your call day by day. To continue to count the cost and gladly follow you. May I never lose sight of the purpose of my calling. Make me a better fishermen for the kingdom day by day.