Jesus has come!

[0:00] Let's share our prayer together. Heavenly Father, we humbly bow in your presence.

[0:13] ! May your word be our rule, your spirit our teacher,! and your great glory our supreme concern, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

[0:28] ! Well, it's the new year. 2025 has dawned. And on day five, it's beginning to feel not very new already. The time for waiting and for planning for 2025 is over.

[0:46] Now is the time. It is here. We are to live in this year now. I'm sure we all know someone.

[0:59] Someone who has saved up for a new car. Or perhaps they've saved up for a new three-piece suite. And it's been delivered. And it's got plastic over the seats.

[1:12] Or over the cushions of the three-piece suite. And they've decided, we're just going to leave the plastic on for a wee while. To keep it good. Because that's what you do with things.

[1:23] You don't want to waste them. You keep them good. And so you keep the plastic cover. And you end up sitting in your front room, not on your new three-piece suite, but on the plastic cover, which is still on your new three-piece suite.

[1:36] We've bought the thing. We've paid for the thing. We've waited for the thing. Now's the time to get the plastic covers off.

[1:49] And start using the thing. The time is now. Not only are we on the 5th of January 2025 living after Christmas.

[2:04] After the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are living after Easter. After the crucifixion and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

[2:15] We are living after Pentecost. The ascended Lord Jesus Christ has poured out his Holy Spirit upon us. We are living in the now time.

[2:30] There is nothing else we are waiting for. Jesus has shouted, Go! It's time to go! Now is the time for us to live as disciples of Jesus.

[2:45] And that means mission. Now is the time for us to follow Jesus. To serve Jesus. To serve others in mission.

[2:58] Now is the time. To be a disciple of Jesus means that we are to be living today. And that means mission.

[3:09] But what is mission. But what is mission? Well in the passage that Rosemary read for us earlier. In verse 27. Jesus passed on from there.

[3:23] And that's mission. Passing on. Going. Being sent. In the gospels. In the gospels we read of the life of Jesus.

[3:36] How he went from town to town. Sometimes in the city. Sometimes in the country. We are reading in Matthew's gospel. If we had gone to Mark's gospel in chapter 1.

[3:49] Jesus is in a town. He heals someone in the synagogue. He heals Peter's mother-in-law. When he goes back for lunch. At the evening. All the folks who have unwellness.

[4:00] Are brought to the door. And Jesus heals them all. And the next morning. Jesus gets up. While it's still dark. And leaves the town. The disciples go looking for him.

[4:13] Everybody's looking for you. They want you to stay. And Jesus says. But I have to go on. To the other towns. And the other villages. And share the good news.

[4:25] With them. Jesus speaks. Of his being sent. By his father. To share the good news.

[4:36] To be the good news. Which is shared with others. Quite simply. Mission. Is being sent. The disciples of Jesus.

[4:49] In our turn. Are sent by Jesus. We are sent by Jesus. Into the world. To do his works. Of grace.

[4:59] Of grace. And mercy. What did this look like. In real life. For Jesus. Again. In the passage.

[5:09] That we read this morning. Jesus met. Two blind men. And he helped them. He healed them. And they could. See again. Jesus.

[5:20] Made a man. Oppressed. By a demon. demon. And he broke. That oppression. And removed the demon. From him. So in this passage.

[5:30] Which we have this morning. Before us. Mission looks like. Meeting people. And helping them. At their point of need.

[5:41] Jesus has been sent. By God the Father. Into the world. Which God loves. A world filled with need. So that God.

[5:52] Might bless. People. And meet them. Where they are in need. There are other passages. And in a few weeks.

[6:03] We'll get to them. In Matthew chapter 10. Where mission. Is speaking to others. Telling others. What the good news is. And talking about Jesus.

[6:15] Somehow. The idea. Has got about. In the church. That that's all. Mission is. Always. Mission is. Only ever. Talking. But that's not.

[6:27] What we read. In our passage. This morning. When we look at. Jesus. And his being. Saint. When we read. Of Jesus.

[6:37] And his mission. Yes. Sometimes. It's about talking. But sometimes. It's about doing things. Helping others. Doing what needs.

[6:49] To be done. So that others. Might be blessed. The core definition. Of mission. Is being. Saint. For the disciples.

[7:00] Of Jesus. We are sent. By Jesus. To serve. The mission. Of God. To bless. To bless. Others. Whatever. Comes under.

[7:11] The heading. Of blessing. People. In the name. Of God. That right. There. Is mission. Now. That the Holy Spirit. Is poured out.

[7:21] Upon us. Now. Is the time. For us. To follow. Jesus. Into mission. We are being. Saint. To bless. To bless. All people.

[7:32] To love. Our neighbor. To love. One another. To meet. Jesus. Known. As savior. And king. Now. Is the time. When we are being.

[7:43] Saint. In mission. Mission. Is being. Sent. By Jesus. To bless. Others. How are we. Able to do this.

[7:54] What has happened. That enables us. To achieve. This mission. Of God. In our lives. Well. Here's another. Anniversary.

[8:05] For 2025. It will be. 80 years. Since the end. Of World War II. Back in. 1940. 41.

[8:16] The German. High command. Issued a statement. Explaining. Their. Objectives. For the new. German. Empire. Which they were sure. Would come about.

[8:27] They declared. That the peoples. Of all the conquered. Nations. Would be. Educated. To the level. Of understanding. The road signs. It's not a great.

[8:41] Aim. To educate. People. To a sufficient. Level. To understand. Only the road signs. And so. Today. 80 years.

[8:52] After. An allied. Victory. In the war. The freedoms. Which we enjoy. The educational. Opportunities. That we enjoy. Are a result.

[9:03] Of a victory. A victory. Which we. Did not win. But a victory. The benefits. Of which. We enjoy.

[9:13] Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. Has already. Won. I want to sit down. After that sentence. And just leave you. With that.

[9:24] Jesus. Has already. Won. When Jesus. Was tempted. By the devil. And overcame him. That's the victory.

[9:35] Jesus. Has already. Won. When Jesus. Died on the cross. And rose again. From the grave. That's the victory. Jesus. Has already.

[9:46] Won. He has already. Triumphed over. And defeated. Every. Enemy. In particular. In the passage.

[9:56] Today. Jesus. Has overcome. The enemy. Of sickness. Jesus. Has overcome. The enemy. Of demonic. Oppression. God.

[10:07] Did not. Create. Humans. That we. Should be blind. Or. Lame. Or sick. Or frail. These things. Are enemies. Of the goodness.

[10:18] Of God. Our creator. The all new kingdom. Of God. Is a reality. Without sickness. In the kingdom. Of God. The leaves.

[10:28] Of the trees. Are for the healing. Of the nations. When he came. Among us. The Lord. Jesus Christ. The king. Of all kings. He exercised.

[10:40] His kingly power. In his victory. By overcoming. Sickness. There is a devil. There are demons.

[10:51] They continue to oppress. God's people. What we read in this passage. Is that Jesus has defeated. Every devil. Every demon.

[11:04] All opposition to God. Has already been overcome. By Jesus. The conqueror. The devil. And his demons. Continue to tempt us.

[11:15] To deny Jesus. They continue to tempt us. To reject God. Our father. If possible. They seek to oppress us. And afflict us.

[11:27] But Jesus. Has already won. The victory. Has already been achieved. And so. We are sent.

[11:37] By Jesus. Into the world. To take his victory. And make it real. In our lives. And in the lives.

[11:47] Of others. Jesus mission. Of overcoming. All the enemies. Of God. Satanists. And devils. And demons. Those who mock. The gospel. Those who deny.

[11:58] And despise. The Lord Jesus. Our mission. Is to oppose them. And to share in the victory. Of Jesus. Over them.

[12:09] Our mission. Is to gather. Others. Into the benefits. And blessings. Of the victory. That Jesus. Has already won. We live.

[12:21] The way we do. Because Jesus. Has already won. Jesus won. Before we were born. His mission.

[12:32] Calls us. To share his victory. With others. We declare in our words. We declare in our lives. The triumph of Jesus.

[12:44] We display in our words. And our lives. The compassion. And mercy of God. For all creation. Which flows from. And is empowered by.

[12:56] The victory of Jesus. Over all enemies. Mission is being sent. By Jesus. In the power of his great victory.

[13:08] Over all the enemies of God. Why. Do we do. Mission. A preacher.

[13:19] One time said it negatively. Mission happens. Because worship doesn't. And you can say it negatively. If you want. But we can do better than that.

[13:30] We can say it positively. Mission happens. Because Jesus has won. Mission happens. Because Jesus already has a victory.

[13:42] We are sent on mission. Because Jesus is on mission. Our life as disciples of Jesus. Is to follow him.

[13:52] If Jesus is walking. Into mission. Into mission. If Jesus is being sent. By God the father. In mission.

[14:03] And we are following him. It's not possible for us. To end up. Anywhere else. Than following Jesus. Into mission service.

[14:14] The same mission. Which the Lord Jesus. Was sent to accomplish. He now sends. Us. To accomplish. As soon as we become.

[14:27] Disciples of Jesus. We are immediately. Sent on mission. We should be intentional. About this.

[14:38] We should confess this. To ourselves. And to one another. I am a disciple of Jesus. I am on mission. Serving Jesus.

[14:49] To bless others. With every breath. That I take. Because I am following Jesus. I am looking. For opportunities.

[15:00] For mission. I am watching. For chances. To engage. In the mission. Which Jesus leads me into. Because I am a disciple.

[15:11] Of Jesus. I am not. A selfish. Disciple. Me and my salvation. Are not the only things. That matter.

[15:22] My salvation. Includes. My being. Sent by Jesus. To bless. Others. This year.

[15:33] It is time. To be. The disciples. That Jesus. Has called us. To be. Jesus. Is calling us. To serve him.

[15:44] By serving. Others. When he. Sends us. We need. To go. We are sent.

[15:56] On mission. Because. Others. Are in need. We are sent. On mission. Because. Others. Are in need. And God.

[16:07] Loves them. And wants. To bless them. The mission. Of God. Achieved. In the victory. Of Jesus. Was announced. To Abram.

[16:18] Two thousand. Years. Before Jesus. The Lord. Said. To Abram. Go. He sent him. Go. From your country. And your kindred. And your father's house.

[16:28] To the land. I will show you. I will make you. A great nation. And will bless you. And make your name. Great. So that you will be. A blessing. I will bless those.

[16:39] Who bless you. And the one who dishonors you. I will curse. And in you. All the families. Of the earth. Will be blessed. That's the great statement.

[16:50] Of the mission. Purpose of God. In you. All the families. Of the earth. Will be blessed. God. God has a plan.

[17:02] To bless. All people. And God's plan. Is to send. Those who already. Know him. To be his blessing. To others.

[17:13] That means. You and me. Those of us. Who are disciples. Of Jesus. We are God's. Only plan.

[17:24] To bring his blessing. Into all the world. There is no plan B. There is no one else.

[17:35] God will send. But you and me. The blessing of God. Is to be brought. To our neighbors. Our friends. Our family. Through us.

[17:46] Being sent. In mission. Yes. The Lord Jesus Christ. The King. In God's kingdom. Already. Has won. But all the enemies.

[17:58] Are not yet. Overcome. There are many. Poor. Who need food. There are many. Homeless ones. Who need. Homes. And in the short term.

[18:11] Need somewhere. Warm. To stay. On a day. Like this. There are many. Who don't have. Clothing. Who are. Healthcare. Poor. There are.

[18:22] Billions. In our world. Who do not. Have clean. Water. We are sent. To bless them. Where they are. In need.

[18:35] There are many. Who are sick. And need. Comforted. Many. Who need. Healing. Many. Who need. The presence. And power. Of Jesus. In their lives. We are sent.

[18:45] On mission. To bless them. There are many. Far too many. Who know nothing. About Jesus. At all.

[18:57] Less than 5% of the people living in Edinburgh. Have any living relationship with Jesus. At all. Less than 5%. That makes Scotland.

[19:08] A mission. Needy. Country. That's why. Our brothers and sisters. From Latin America. And Africa. And Asia.

[19:18] Are sending missionaries here. That's why. They are praying for us. After decades. And centuries. Of us sending.

[19:29] And praying for them. We are being sent. On mission. To the 95% of the people. Who live round about us.

[19:39] Who don't know Jesus. And if we don't tell them. Nobody else will. And so here's the question. From the beginning.

[19:50] Of this new year. What are you doing. To be the blessing of God. For others. What are you doing. To serve God's mission.

[20:03] To bring his blessing. To others. What mission agencies. Are you supporting. And praying for. What time.

[20:14] In your busy week. Are you giving. To serve. And bless. Others. When was the last time. You spoke to someone. In the 95%.

[20:25] Who don't know Jesus. About your faith. In Jesus. What are you doing. What are you doing. To be the blessing of God. In the service.

[20:37] Of others. These next weeks. Up to Easter time. We're going to be reading. In the gospel of Matthew. You cannot read.

[20:49] The gospel of Matthew. Or Mark. Or Luke. Or John. And not end up. Being sent. On mission. It's a necessary outcome.

[20:59] Of reading. The gospel text. That we hear Jesus. Call us. And send us. To be his blessing.

[21:10] To our neighbours. Our friends. And our family. You simply cannot. Follow Jesus. And not be led by him. Into mission. And now is the time.

[21:22] Now is the day. Jesus has shouted. Go. And we need to go. Jesus has already come.

[21:34] And won the victory. It's time for us. To follow him. Into that victory. To live in his victory. And to see his blessing.

[21:45] Come to others. As we serve in mission. Let's pray together. God our father.

[21:59] I pray. That you would quieten. Every word. In our minds. Right now. Accept your call. To service. Let us hear you speak to us.

[22:13] Let us hear the voice of Jesus. Calling us. To go. To serve. To do what we can. To bless others.

[22:24] In your name. We pray. That you would open our eyes. To see the world of need. Around us. Which you would answer. With your blessing.

[22:38] Open our eyes. That we might see. How we are your answer. We are your blessing. Empower us. By your spirit.

[22:48] To go. Help us to pray. For ourselves. And for one another. Help us to encourage. One another. That we would be.

[22:59] A people of mission. Serving Jesus. The king. Who already has won. That all people. Might be blessed. In your great name.

[23:13] Amen.