WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.620 Let me give you all a very warm welcome to our church service this morning. 00:00:07.219 --> 00:00:12.439 I realise this week that it's now four years since we've been here in Buclew. 00:00:13.140 --> 00:00:22.359 Rather a strange way to celebrate the anniversary, but it's a pleasure to be able to serve by sharing God's Word with you. 00:00:23.620 --> 00:00:29.359 A few things before we begin. First of all, we're back again. Our service is on at 5.30 on YouTube. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:37.380 Looking at Daniel chapter 2, really interesting. We're going to see a King's crisis leading to God's glory being seen. 00:00:37.939 --> 00:00:42.120 God's power, God's wisdom being revealed. So tune back in if you can. 00:00:42.939 --> 00:00:51.939 Monday, as ever, at 8pm, praying together on Zoom for our church, for our community, for our country, for the nations of the world. 00:00:52.920 --> 00:00:55.320 We need prayer. Please join us for that. 00:00:55.320 --> 00:01:06.680 Wednesday, 7.30, our community discipleship groups meet, as ever, using the Word One-to-One material to study through John's Gospel. 00:01:07.200 --> 00:01:14.299 And let me say, if you're tuning in and you've never been in the habit of reading the Bible and you'd like to read the Bible with someone else, 00:01:14.379 --> 00:01:16.859 then absolutely feel free to get in touch with us. 00:01:16.859 --> 00:01:22.359 We'd love to put you in touch with a group or indeed to read the Bible one-to-one with a friend. 00:01:22.680 --> 00:01:27.299 So if you need any details, the website or a vanto, the place you need to go. 00:01:28.180 --> 00:01:39.280 Now, our call to worship this morning reminds us that Jesus, the Word, became flesh and made his dwelling among us. 00:01:39.280 --> 00:01:50.799 We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. 00:01:50.840 --> 00:01:58.640 And we look forward to discovering more of Jesus' glory and grace and truth as we study God's Word together. 00:01:58.640 --> 00:02:02.859 Now, we're going to read in our Bibles together. 00:02:02.980 --> 00:02:10.539 So if you've got a Bible, either physically or on device, it will be in Matthew chapter 9 again. 00:02:11.460 --> 00:02:16.340 We're going to read from verse 9 to verse 26. 00:02:17.139 --> 00:02:22.900 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. 00:02:23.780 --> 00:02:25.000 Follow me, he told him. 00:02:25.439 --> 00:02:27.620 And Matthew got up and followed him. 00:02:27.620 --> 00:02:35.120 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. 00:02:35.879 --> 00:02:38.280 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, 00:02:38.879 --> 00:02:41.280 Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners? 00:02:42.080 --> 00:02:43.620 On hearing this, Jesus said, 00:02:43.980 --> 00:02:46.659 It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but those who are ill. 00:02:47.439 --> 00:02:49.060 But go and learn what this means. 00:02:49.319 --> 00:02:51.439 I desire mercy, not sacrifice. 00:02:51.439 --> 00:02:54.800 For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners. 00:02:55.740 --> 00:02:57.460 Then John's disciples came and asked him, 00:02:57.620 --> 00:03:01.680 How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast? 00:03:02.500 --> 00:03:03.420 Jesus answered, 00:03:03.500 --> 00:03:06.319 How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? 00:03:06.819 --> 00:03:09.560 The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them. 00:03:09.759 --> 00:03:10.920 Then they will fast. 00:03:10.919 --> 00:03:28.799 While he was saying this, a synagogue leader came and knelt before him and said, 00:03:28.800 --> 00:03:43.219 My daughter has just died. 00:03:43.219 --> 00:03:46.540 But come and put your hand on her and she will live. 00:03:46.539 --> 00:03:50.039 Jesus got up and went with him and so did his disciples. 00:03:51.120 --> 00:03:56.219 Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. 00:03:56.739 --> 00:03:57.560 She said to herself, 00:03:57.659 --> 00:03:59.840 If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed. 00:04:00.859 --> 00:04:02.159 Jesus turned and saw her. 00:04:02.419 --> 00:04:03.340 Take heart, daughter. 00:04:03.459 --> 00:04:03.759 He said, 00:04:03.799 --> 00:04:05.099 Your faith has healed you. 00:04:05.719 --> 00:04:07.620 And the woman was healed at that moment. 00:04:07.620 --> 00:04:13.219 When Jesus entered the synagogue leader's house and saw the noisy crowd and the people playing pipes, 00:04:13.319 --> 00:04:13.659 he said, 00:04:13.860 --> 00:04:16.240 Go away, the girl is not dead but asleep. 00:04:16.800 --> 00:04:17.819 But they laughed at him. 00:04:18.600 --> 00:04:21.180 After the crowd had been put outside, 00:04:21.819 --> 00:04:25.019 he went in and took the girl by the hand and she got up. 00:04:25.720 --> 00:04:30.540 News of this spread through all that region. 00:04:30.540 --> 00:04:34.460 Now we've been looking for the last number of weeks, 00:04:34.560 --> 00:04:35.920 six or seven weeks, I guess, 00:04:36.120 --> 00:04:38.819 as Jesus has been travelling. 00:04:39.360 --> 00:04:43.360 And what we've seen is a powerful king who's been on the move, 00:04:44.040 --> 00:04:45.980 transforming lives. 00:04:47.580 --> 00:04:54.220 I've just picked up the second of Hilary Mantel's trilogy of books on Henry VIII. 00:04:55.360 --> 00:04:59.840 And it's been interesting to see the details of Henry's summer marches in the summer, 00:04:59.839 --> 00:05:00.459 if you're a king. 00:05:01.119 --> 00:05:02.659 You sort of go hunting. 00:05:03.419 --> 00:05:09.379 You go to various expensive, fancy houses and you enjoy lots of hospitality and good times. 00:05:09.459 --> 00:05:14.979 But you're also sort of showing yourself to the massed crowds, to the public. 00:05:14.979 --> 00:05:21.959 And Mantel describes crowds who are in awe of Henry's size and his strength. 00:05:22.219 --> 00:05:25.419 They know his reputation in battle, the way he rides his horses. 00:05:25.819 --> 00:05:28.019 But the commoners are very much distant. 00:05:28.019 --> 00:05:30.560 Still there is poverty. 00:05:31.279 --> 00:05:32.459 Still there is suffering. 00:05:33.539 --> 00:05:36.959 As Henry and his court live in a sort of wealthy elite bubble. 00:05:38.079 --> 00:05:41.459 You know, that's not true of King Jesus. 00:05:41.620 --> 00:05:44.279 We've seen that over the last number of weeks. 00:05:44.359 --> 00:05:48.019 If you've been with us, let's just very quickly recap. 00:05:48.019 --> 00:05:51.379 To recap, Jesus' march of glory. 00:05:51.500 --> 00:05:54.339 In chapter 8 and verse 1, Jesus comes down from a mountain. 00:05:54.439 --> 00:05:55.000 And what does he do? 00:05:55.060 --> 00:05:56.759 He heals a leper. 00:05:57.240 --> 00:06:00.879 In chapter 8 and verse 5, he enters his hometown of Capernaum. 00:06:01.180 --> 00:06:04.459 And he meets a centurion, an outsider, a Roman. 00:06:04.579 --> 00:06:06.459 And he heals the centurion's servant. 00:06:06.459 --> 00:06:10.959 Chapter 8 and verse 14, he then travels to Peter's mother-in-law's house. 00:06:10.959 --> 00:06:14.819 And he heals her and then all the ill in her community. 00:06:15.339 --> 00:06:17.799 And then Jesus gets into a boat with his disciples. 00:06:18.000 --> 00:06:19.299 Chapter 8, verse 23. 00:06:19.819 --> 00:06:24.139 And out there as a storm whips up, Jesus stops the storm. 00:06:24.899 --> 00:06:26.819 He arrives on the other side of the lake. 00:06:26.879 --> 00:06:28.859 And he's met by a man possessed by demons. 00:06:28.959 --> 00:06:31.099 And he drives out the demons. 00:06:31.100 --> 00:06:36.860 And then in chapter 9 and verse 1, he comes back to his hometown of Capernaum. 00:06:37.640 --> 00:06:39.280 He meets a paralysed man. 00:06:39.400 --> 00:06:41.160 He forgives his sin. 00:06:42.160 --> 00:06:44.300 And then he heals him from his paralysis. 00:06:45.500 --> 00:06:53.760 In Jesus, we have met time and time again a king with absolute awesome power. 00:06:54.200 --> 00:07:00.000 All those destructive, all those depressing powers that seem to have such a grip 00:07:00.000 --> 00:07:04.540 on the universe and people's lives, they flee at the presence of King Jesus. 00:07:06.060 --> 00:07:11.519 And we've seen a king with compassion, especially to the excluded, to the weak, to the outsider. 00:07:12.480 --> 00:07:19.660 We've seen a king of wonderful grace who comes to show God's love and favour. 00:07:20.660 --> 00:07:27.800 Not as something that people have to earn, but as a free and loving gift from the King of Grace. 00:07:27.800 --> 00:07:32.060 And so we're going to see these again in Matthew's life. 00:07:33.379 --> 00:07:39.460 And I hope as we do so that we'll see hope for our own lives, whoever we are, wherever we're at today. 00:07:40.840 --> 00:07:46.819 But before we get into that, I think it's important for us to introduce Matthew, the tax collector. 00:07:46.900 --> 00:07:50.460 Now we don't know a lot about him, in a sense, from our text. 00:07:50.459 --> 00:07:52.839 But we know a lot about him from the job that he has. 00:07:54.039 --> 00:08:02.539 My first job after leaving university was working in an inland revenue office in Glasgow. 00:08:03.299 --> 00:08:10.359 Now, I don't mention that to be popular because you know as well as I do that taxes, 00:08:10.819 --> 00:08:15.919 people who collect taxes by extension are not always the most popular. 00:08:15.920 --> 00:08:21.720 What about for a tax collector in Israel in the first century? 00:08:21.840 --> 00:08:28.680 Well, we know about them that they are working for the occupying Roman Empire. 00:08:29.300 --> 00:08:33.080 So they're regarded by their fellow countrymen as traitors. 00:08:34.600 --> 00:08:40.759 We know that they are cheating their countrymen by extortion. 00:08:40.759 --> 00:08:46.600 They are taking money under the table that's going into their own pocket. 00:08:46.740 --> 00:08:49.759 So they are regarded as outcasts. 00:08:51.179 --> 00:08:56.720 Because they're siding with Roman, because they are breaking God's law, they are religiously unclean. 00:08:58.659 --> 00:09:03.960 But perhaps the biggest and most significant fact is this one. 00:09:04.840 --> 00:09:07.639 Matthew chose this life. 00:09:07.639 --> 00:09:17.399 And maybe, like me, you're thinking, why in the world would anyone choose that to face so much hostility and exclusion? 00:09:17.939 --> 00:09:20.360 And the simple answer is money. 00:09:21.799 --> 00:09:28.000 He was willing to sacrifice family, friends, religion for money. 00:09:28.000 --> 00:09:31.799 Jesus said, watch out for greed. 00:09:31.919 --> 00:09:33.080 Greed is a subtle thing. 00:09:34.559 --> 00:09:39.740 Money can very easily but very subtly become the place we look to for our sense of identity. 00:09:40.039 --> 00:09:41.200 I am because I have. 00:09:41.299 --> 00:09:42.620 I am because I can spend. 00:09:43.419 --> 00:09:46.820 We can look to our money to give us security. 00:09:47.539 --> 00:09:52.139 That's one way why our current crisis is such a challenge to so many of us. 00:09:52.139 --> 00:09:58.379 Jesus said money can function as a counterfeit God, as a false God. 00:09:58.860 --> 00:10:00.740 In that it grabs our heart. 00:10:00.899 --> 00:10:04.299 It controls us both by our desires and by our anxieties. 00:10:05.580 --> 00:10:10.899 It becomes something that would seek to control us. 00:10:10.899 --> 00:10:16.620 So Jesus is going to meet Matthew and this is the situation that he's in. 00:10:16.659 --> 00:10:19.000 So let's see what happens. 00:10:20.779 --> 00:10:23.500 The first thing we need to recognise is the king's authority. 00:10:23.740 --> 00:10:26.399 And we see that in Jesus' call. 00:10:27.500 --> 00:10:31.399 Now Matthew's gospel, as we've already said a little, is building up a profile of Jesus. 00:10:32.559 --> 00:10:38.279 Helping us to see Jesus is God's promised king with God's authority establishing God's kingdom. 00:10:38.279 --> 00:10:43.659 In chapters 5 to 7 we see the authority of Jesus in the way that he teaches. 00:10:44.159 --> 00:10:47.659 In chapters 8 to 9 we see the authority of Jesus in his miracles. 00:10:47.959 --> 00:10:49.839 They are sort of a badge of authenticity. 00:10:50.919 --> 00:10:53.159 Proof of his identity and his mission. 00:10:54.120 --> 00:10:55.860 Well it's this king, King Jesus. 00:10:56.579 --> 00:11:00.720 We read in verse 9, who saw Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. 00:11:01.699 --> 00:11:04.259 And he told him, follow me. 00:11:04.399 --> 00:11:05.339 He issues a command. 00:11:05.419 --> 00:11:07.799 And this isn't a one-off thing. 00:11:07.799 --> 00:11:08.679 This isn't a one-time. 00:11:08.819 --> 00:11:11.179 This is, Matthew come and follow me for the day. 00:11:11.219 --> 00:11:12.899 Or come and follow me down the street to where I'm going. 00:11:12.959 --> 00:11:14.439 This is an all-of-life call. 00:11:15.139 --> 00:11:18.699 This is a call to put his faith and his trust in Jesus. 00:11:19.620 --> 00:11:23.599 This is a call to become a disciple of Jesus. 00:11:24.839 --> 00:11:31.679 And what's amazing when we think about all we've learned about Matthew is that in verse 9 he immediately leaves it behind. 00:11:32.279 --> 00:11:33.279 He leaves his job. 00:11:33.459 --> 00:11:35.019 He leaves his money behind. 00:11:35.019 --> 00:11:37.779 In verse 10, what do we see? 00:11:37.860 --> 00:11:39.699 We see him having a feast. 00:11:39.840 --> 00:11:45.759 He gladly is now using his money to throw a feast for some of his tax collector friends and others. 00:11:45.899 --> 00:11:48.779 Gone is the stockpiling, the hoarding, the exploiting. 00:11:49.840 --> 00:11:54.240 Now he's sharing and having joy as he does so. 00:11:54.240 --> 00:11:57.460 So how in the world has this happened? 00:11:57.960 --> 00:11:58.860 We might ask. 00:11:59.159 --> 00:12:02.360 And the answer is the gift of faith. 00:12:02.360 --> 00:12:14.580 This isn't the same thing that happened to Elon Musk, the owner of Tesla, who's become tired of all the abuse that he's getting for being a billionaire. 00:12:14.840 --> 00:12:18.779 So he's made it his plan to try and give his money away. 00:12:18.779 --> 00:12:25.539 Nor is it the case that Matthew woke up with a sudden impulse for social and economic reform. 00:12:25.539 --> 00:12:35.179 He hadn't been listening to Nicola Sturgeon talking about recreating the kaleidoscope of society to make it more just and fair. 00:12:35.179 --> 00:12:42.199 No, he's quite happily taking more money into his back pocket until he encounters Jesus. 00:12:42.339 --> 00:12:50.120 The only explanation is that he's received the gift of faith and that by faith he sees Jesus as the one true God. 00:12:50.979 --> 00:12:57.199 All of a sudden his eyes are opened to the greater value of knowing God than getting gold. 00:12:58.519 --> 00:13:03.099 His former God had been money and he'd been obeying the call of money. 00:13:03.100 --> 00:13:05.980 Get more. You need me. 00:13:06.639 --> 00:13:08.960 You're worth something because you have some. 00:13:09.840 --> 00:13:10.960 He'd been trusting it. 00:13:11.540 --> 00:13:14.480 You don't need family. You don't need friends. You've got finance. 00:13:15.920 --> 00:13:17.940 Money had been his identity. 00:13:20.080 --> 00:13:24.580 He has said to himself, I'm going to get rich or I'm going to die trying. 00:13:24.580 --> 00:13:35.560 But now, in this encounter, it's as if he's placing Jesus and money in the balance and he realises that there's no context. 00:13:35.700 --> 00:13:40.560 There's a greater weight of glory in who Jesus is and what Jesus offers. 00:13:40.720 --> 00:13:44.580 Jesus offers the end of exclusion and God's embrace. 00:13:44.580 --> 00:13:48.940 Jesus offers a joy that can't be lost. 00:13:49.700 --> 00:13:51.220 A joy that can't be used up. 00:13:52.340 --> 00:13:55.000 Jesus is offering life with God and his love. 00:13:55.520 --> 00:13:59.400 He's offering him an invitation to become a citizen in the kingdom of God. 00:14:00.520 --> 00:14:02.280 With hope for now and for eternity. 00:14:02.820 --> 00:14:05.940 So Matthew, instantly, he's all in. 00:14:06.600 --> 00:14:07.820 He's leaving his own life behind. 00:14:07.900 --> 00:14:09.120 He's not living for money anymore. 00:14:09.120 --> 00:14:12.639 He gladly uses it to share his joy, to extend hope to others. 00:14:12.759 --> 00:14:16.779 Here is a transformed life and he is all in. 00:14:18.139 --> 00:14:28.340 Perhaps appropriately, C.S. Lewis compares faith and paying taxes. 00:14:28.340 --> 00:14:37.659 He says, when it comes to faith, we are in fact very like honest but reluctant taxpayers. 00:14:39.120 --> 00:14:42.659 You know, we can approach God in the way we approach taxes. 00:14:42.860 --> 00:14:44.259 We want to give. 00:14:46.539 --> 00:14:48.200 But we want to give in moderation. 00:14:48.899 --> 00:14:52.120 We want to hold some parts of our life back. 00:14:53.220 --> 00:15:00.580 But Matthew understands that when Jesus calls us, he calls us to all of life discipleship. 00:15:00.799 --> 00:15:02.019 He wants to have all of our life. 00:15:02.820 --> 00:15:05.759 Not just on Sundays, not just sort of the religious segment. 00:15:05.759 --> 00:15:11.740 He wants our work to be for him, our family to be for him, our leisure and pleasure to be for him. 00:15:11.799 --> 00:15:14.460 He wants us to count the cost. 00:15:14.779 --> 00:15:16.259 As Matthew had to count the cost. 00:15:16.679 --> 00:15:21.700 But he was glad because he realised the greater worth of treasure in heaven. 00:15:21.840 --> 00:15:22.899 Now what do we get? 00:15:24.340 --> 00:15:28.120 What do we get in hearing and responding to Jesus' call? 00:15:28.120 --> 00:15:32.080 We get God himself. 00:15:33.279 --> 00:15:36.860 The greatest treasure in the whole world. 00:15:37.039 --> 00:15:38.240 Peace with God. 00:15:39.080 --> 00:15:47.820 Getting to know and enjoy him through his son, by his spirit, to have him as our father for now and for eternity. 00:15:48.639 --> 00:15:52.279 So Jesus comes with the authority of the king and he issues his call. 00:15:52.279 --> 00:15:59.519 I also want to see with you the king's compassion in his welcome. 00:16:00.480 --> 00:16:08.939 Now in the first century in the Middle East, a meal at the time of Jesus was a sign of acceptance. 00:16:10.419 --> 00:16:12.600 It was a sign of friendship. 00:16:13.959 --> 00:16:17.419 It was an invitation to sharing life. 00:16:17.419 --> 00:16:25.199 Now let's have a look at the guest list for the feast we have in verse 10. 00:16:25.679 --> 00:16:33.659 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. 00:16:33.779 --> 00:16:40.539 So Matthew invites his fellow outsiders, the unclean, the unwanted, the notorious, and they all come and they're all glad to spend time with Jesus. 00:16:41.079 --> 00:16:41.319 Why? 00:16:41.419 --> 00:16:43.240 Because Jesus shows them hospitality. 00:16:44.599 --> 00:16:46.139 Jesus welcomes them in. 00:16:46.139 --> 00:16:55.699 Jesus eats with joy with them because he wants to extend the mercy and the compassion of God to them. 00:16:56.240 --> 00:16:58.639 You get a telling picture in verses 10 and 11. 00:16:58.860 --> 00:17:04.119 You see there's a meal going on at the inside in the house with Matthew and with the disciples and with Jesus. 00:17:04.319 --> 00:17:05.000 There's joy. 00:17:06.299 --> 00:17:07.139 There's laughter. 00:17:09.700 --> 00:17:10.900 There's celebration. 00:17:10.900 --> 00:17:12.080 There's a meal going on at the outside. 00:17:12.080 --> 00:17:15.480 But on the outside there's the religious leaders. 00:17:16.519 --> 00:17:19.100 They're angry and they're judgmental. 00:17:20.080 --> 00:17:21.580 And they're starved of joy. 00:17:23.180 --> 00:17:25.600 They're shocked by Jesus. 00:17:26.900 --> 00:17:33.940 Jesus has single-handedly torn down dividing walls that they have set up. 00:17:33.940 --> 00:17:39.519 They saw themselves as the gatekeepers to God. 00:17:40.380 --> 00:17:42.380 And by their reckoning, how did you get to God? 00:17:42.420 --> 00:17:43.860 You had to be pure and good like them. 00:17:44.080 --> 00:17:45.200 You had to meet their standard. 00:17:45.340 --> 00:17:49.299 You had to avoid others who were less than them. 00:17:49.299 --> 00:17:52.799 Jesus gives his verdict on that kind of thinking. 00:17:53.680 --> 00:17:54.859 He said to them in verse 13, 00:17:54.960 --> 00:17:55.879 Go and learn what this means. 00:17:55.980 --> 00:17:57.779 I desire mercy, not sacrifice. 00:17:58.180 --> 00:17:59.740 You don't understand God's heart. 00:17:59.799 --> 00:18:00.819 You don't have God's heart. 00:18:00.899 --> 00:18:01.759 God loves mercy. 00:18:03.500 --> 00:18:04.899 Not a religious performance. 00:18:06.500 --> 00:18:07.720 In actual fact, Jesus said to them, 00:18:07.779 --> 00:18:11.720 You're failing to love God because you don't love him in your heart. 00:18:11.759 --> 00:18:15.379 And you're failing to love your neighbour because you're not showing any mercy. 00:18:15.380 --> 00:18:19.080 But this is not true of King Jesus. 00:18:20.580 --> 00:18:23.000 He is the King of glory. 00:18:23.900 --> 00:18:27.160 But unlike, let's say, the court of Henry VIII, 00:18:27.560 --> 00:18:28.960 or any other king for that matter, 00:18:29.080 --> 00:18:32.100 where typically it's the great and the good, the brilliant and the best 00:18:32.100 --> 00:18:34.160 are included in that sort of inner circle, 00:18:34.600 --> 00:18:35.440 who does Jesus welcome? 00:18:36.200 --> 00:18:38.680 Jesus welcomes the lost, the lonely. 00:18:39.660 --> 00:18:42.280 He welcomes the hurting and the hopeless. 00:18:42.279 --> 00:18:48.660 He welcomes the rejected, the ones who feel shame 00:18:48.660 --> 00:18:52.920 and those who are denied welcome. 00:18:54.299 --> 00:18:55.940 And he brings them into a feast. 00:18:56.700 --> 00:19:00.440 And feasting in the Old Testament and in the New Testament 00:19:00.440 --> 00:19:03.359 then becomes a really powerful symbol, 00:19:03.519 --> 00:19:05.899 a picture of God's kingdom. 00:19:05.900 --> 00:19:10.780 Picturing eternal life of joy 00:19:10.780 --> 00:19:12.800 in the presence of God, 00:19:12.860 --> 00:19:15.120 in the presence of Jesus. 00:19:17.560 --> 00:19:20.380 This would be a Sunday where, as a church, 00:19:20.440 --> 00:19:22.420 we would usually share the Lord's Supper. 00:19:23.280 --> 00:19:26.019 The Lord's Supper is a meal that we share 00:19:26.019 --> 00:19:28.500 where Jesus is the host. 00:19:28.500 --> 00:19:31.579 And that meal, when we take the bread and the wine, 00:19:32.119 --> 00:19:34.079 they symbolise Jesus' body and blood. 00:19:34.680 --> 00:19:39.099 They show the cost to us of this invitation. 00:19:40.140 --> 00:19:43.740 For us to enjoy this feast, 00:19:44.299 --> 00:19:46.440 to be in the presence of God requires Jesus 00:19:46.440 --> 00:19:48.039 to lay down his life for us. 00:19:48.920 --> 00:19:50.039 But that feast that we share, 00:19:50.119 --> 00:19:51.240 the Lord's Supper that we share, 00:19:51.359 --> 00:19:54.539 also helps us as Christians to anticipate 00:19:54.539 --> 00:19:57.700 that great feast that's still to come. 00:19:57.700 --> 00:20:01.120 But here in this meal that Matthew shares with his friends, 00:20:01.240 --> 00:20:03.600 there's a little window into heaven. 00:20:04.000 --> 00:20:06.000 Here is Jesus, gladly welcoming 00:20:06.000 --> 00:20:09.860 and sharing friendship with those who do not deserve it. 00:20:10.680 --> 00:20:11.860 How can this be? 00:20:12.420 --> 00:20:15.380 And how can we come to enjoy this? 00:20:16.900 --> 00:20:18.840 One last thing that we need to see 00:20:18.840 --> 00:20:20.799 is the King's grace. 00:20:21.660 --> 00:20:24.259 To think about his mission. 00:20:25.240 --> 00:20:26.940 Perhaps in these closing words, 00:20:26.940 --> 00:20:29.799 we can see two pictures of Jesus and his mission. 00:20:30.799 --> 00:20:31.860 In verse 12, 00:20:32.440 --> 00:20:36.500 Jesus responding to the tax collectors, 00:20:36.740 --> 00:20:40.420 to the religious leaders who are so judgmental. 00:20:40.920 --> 00:20:41.340 He said, 00:20:41.420 --> 00:20:43.140 it's not the healthy who need a doctor, 00:20:43.680 --> 00:20:46.240 but those who are ill. 00:20:47.120 --> 00:20:49.480 Jesus as surgeon. 00:20:49.480 --> 00:20:53.099 Now we have seen in our media, 00:20:53.900 --> 00:20:57.400 and some have seen it up close and personal in their own lives 00:20:57.400 --> 00:20:59.079 or in their family lives, 00:20:59.279 --> 00:21:03.299 devastating pictures of medical teams 00:21:03.299 --> 00:21:08.420 battling to save lives against this deadly virus. 00:21:08.420 --> 00:21:17.220 We have seen them acting with courage and compassion in confronting disease for the sake of their patients. 00:21:17.220 --> 00:21:27.140 And it's right that we are thankful for our NHS and we pray for them and for other medical professionals around the world. 00:21:27.140 --> 00:21:35.320 But what's Jesus' message in verse 12 to 13 as he comes to us as a surgeon, as a heart surgeon? 00:21:35.319 --> 00:21:42.679 He's saying this deadly virus of sin is in all of us. 00:21:42.680 --> 00:21:46.480 The germ of sin is within us, 00:21:46.539 --> 00:21:51.640 this deadly destructive force that separates us from God, 00:21:52.220 --> 00:21:55.440 that causes pain to others, 00:21:55.820 --> 00:21:59.400 that leads to the suffering that we see in our world, 00:21:59.539 --> 00:22:05.440 that leads ultimately to eternal judgment and separation from God 00:22:05.440 --> 00:22:09.000 and all that is good if we don't turn from sin and trust in Jesus. 00:22:09.000 --> 00:22:12.779 That virus is in all of us, 00:22:13.779 --> 00:22:15.700 but not everyone sees it. 00:22:17.180 --> 00:22:20.700 Some, like the religious leaders say, 00:22:20.779 --> 00:22:24.019 well, I'm healthy, I'm good, I'm religious. 00:22:25.079 --> 00:22:29.019 I don't need Jesus to save me, I don't need him to die for me. 00:22:31.640 --> 00:22:36.059 We need humility and we need honesty 00:22:36.059 --> 00:22:43.039 to judge ourselves and not comparing to our neighbours or to family, friends or colleagues, 00:22:43.379 --> 00:22:45.899 to compare ourselves with God's standard, 00:22:46.059 --> 00:22:47.700 to see that in God's eyes, 00:22:48.339 --> 00:22:49.500 no one is righteous, 00:22:49.740 --> 00:22:51.359 no one can claim goodness, 00:22:51.519 --> 00:22:55.279 no one can claim that we deserve a place in God's kingdom. 00:22:55.619 --> 00:22:58.500 Rather, we all stand in need of grace. 00:22:58.899 --> 00:23:00.059 As we thought about last week, 00:23:00.059 --> 00:23:04.639 we all need the sin-forgiving power of Jesus. 00:23:05.879 --> 00:23:10.099 We need to trust that when Jesus died on the cross for sin, 00:23:10.200 --> 00:23:12.539 he died for my sin in my place, 00:23:12.619 --> 00:23:14.819 taking the punishment that I deserve, 00:23:14.899 --> 00:23:16.019 he took it on himself 00:23:16.019 --> 00:23:17.960 as the only way 00:23:17.960 --> 00:23:20.879 to bring anyone back to God. 00:23:20.880 --> 00:23:27.940 But there's also another image that we can perhaps think of, 00:23:28.000 --> 00:23:28.880 Jesus the surgeon, 00:23:29.020 --> 00:23:32.060 but also Jesus the shepherd king. 00:23:32.780 --> 00:23:34.660 Because he closes in verse 13, 00:23:35.080 --> 00:23:35.300 saying, 00:23:35.460 --> 00:23:38.960 For I have not come to call the righteous, 00:23:39.380 --> 00:23:40.400 but sinners. 00:23:40.520 --> 00:23:41.520 Jesus in his teaching 00:23:41.520 --> 00:23:43.580 described in different ways 00:23:43.580 --> 00:23:45.860 that he comes searching for 00:23:45.860 --> 00:23:48.680 lost and straying ones. 00:23:48.680 --> 00:23:50.799 So in John chapter 10, 00:23:51.560 --> 00:23:53.480 he talks about himself as the good shepherd. 00:23:53.620 --> 00:23:53.860 He says, 00:23:53.940 --> 00:23:55.380 I know my sheep and my sheep know me. 00:23:55.460 --> 00:23:56.259 There's relationship, 00:23:56.480 --> 00:23:56.920 there's love, 00:23:57.019 --> 00:23:57.560 there's trust. 00:23:58.320 --> 00:23:58.759 And he says, 00:23:58.840 --> 00:24:00.019 I have other sheep 00:24:00.019 --> 00:24:02.100 and I must go 00:24:02.100 --> 00:24:03.580 and I must bring them in 00:24:03.580 --> 00:24:06.420 and they will listen to my voice. 00:24:07.400 --> 00:24:08.740 Which is just what we see with Matthew. 00:24:08.840 --> 00:24:10.200 He heard the call of Jesus, 00:24:10.340 --> 00:24:10.740 his shepherd, 00:24:10.840 --> 00:24:11.940 and he came to follow. 00:24:12.980 --> 00:24:13.720 Or you can think about, 00:24:13.720 --> 00:24:14.779 in Luke's gospel, 00:24:14.900 --> 00:24:16.200 the parable of the lost sheep. 00:24:16.320 --> 00:24:16.779 Remember that 00:24:16.779 --> 00:24:18.600 the shepherd who had a hundred sheep 00:24:18.599 --> 00:24:19.539 and one goes wandering 00:24:19.539 --> 00:24:21.039 and he leaves the 99 00:24:21.039 --> 00:24:21.799 and he goes off 00:24:21.799 --> 00:24:22.879 and he goes searching and searching 00:24:22.879 --> 00:24:23.819 and when he finds it, 00:24:24.679 --> 00:24:25.419 puts it on his shoulders 00:24:25.419 --> 00:24:26.199 and he has joy 00:24:26.199 --> 00:24:27.939 and he invites his neighbours 00:24:27.939 --> 00:24:29.579 to come and share in that joy 00:24:29.579 --> 00:24:32.419 because he's brought his sheep home. 00:24:32.980 --> 00:24:33.559 And Jesus says, 00:24:33.659 --> 00:24:35.079 that's just like the joy 00:24:35.079 --> 00:24:36.659 God in heaven has 00:24:36.659 --> 00:24:39.019 when a sinner repents 00:24:39.019 --> 00:24:40.299 and trusts in Jesus. 00:24:40.299 --> 00:24:46.720 Jesus has joy in calling sinners home 00:24:46.720 --> 00:24:48.799 to life with God. 00:24:49.419 --> 00:24:52.099 Jesus came to save, 00:24:52.359 --> 00:24:53.159 to welcome, 00:24:53.559 --> 00:24:54.299 to restore, 00:24:54.559 --> 00:24:55.500 to bring back 00:24:55.500 --> 00:24:56.559 and all of that's a gift 00:24:56.559 --> 00:24:57.659 of God's grace. 00:24:58.579 --> 00:24:59.460 Because Jesus, 00:24:59.579 --> 00:25:00.419 when he talked about himself 00:25:00.419 --> 00:25:01.259 as the good shepherd, 00:25:01.379 --> 00:25:01.700 he said, 00:25:02.159 --> 00:25:03.139 the good shepherd 00:25:03.139 --> 00:25:05.240 lays down his life 00:25:05.240 --> 00:25:06.259 for the sheep. 00:25:06.859 --> 00:25:08.139 That's how it happens. 00:25:08.140 --> 00:25:10.340 You and I can know grace 00:25:10.340 --> 00:25:11.980 and welcome. 00:25:12.580 --> 00:25:15.080 We can enter into God's feast 00:25:15.080 --> 00:25:17.280 only because 00:25:17.280 --> 00:25:19.940 Jesus in sheer love and grace 00:25:19.940 --> 00:25:22.340 came to lay down his life 00:25:22.340 --> 00:25:24.259 for the sheep. 00:25:26.500 --> 00:25:28.580 I have not come to call 00:25:28.580 --> 00:25:29.940 the righteous 00:25:29.940 --> 00:25:31.980 my but sinners. 00:25:32.680 --> 00:25:34.200 As we come to the end of 00:25:34.200 --> 00:25:35.460 our studies 00:25:35.460 --> 00:25:36.620 in this little section 00:25:36.620 --> 00:25:37.180 of Matthew, 00:25:38.620 --> 00:25:39.400 have you 00:25:39.400 --> 00:25:41.180 been hearing 00:25:41.180 --> 00:25:43.059 the call of Jesus 00:25:43.059 --> 00:25:44.360 to faith? 00:25:45.779 --> 00:25:47.840 Have you come to realise 00:25:47.840 --> 00:25:50.080 Jesus is God's son, 00:25:51.080 --> 00:25:52.559 God's promised king, 00:25:53.620 --> 00:25:55.059 and that he is the saviour 00:25:55.059 --> 00:25:55.880 for sinners, 00:25:56.279 --> 00:25:57.460 and that he is the saviour 00:25:57.460 --> 00:25:58.140 that you need? 00:25:59.539 --> 00:26:00.819 Perhaps it's been this 00:26:00.819 --> 00:26:01.200 crisis 00:26:01.200 --> 00:26:01.840 crisis 00:26:01.840 --> 00:26:03.640 that's been making you 00:26:03.640 --> 00:26:04.759 rethink your life 00:26:04.759 --> 00:26:06.420 to the extent 00:26:06.420 --> 00:26:07.319 that you want 00:26:07.319 --> 00:26:08.880 to know God personally. 00:26:09.700 --> 00:26:10.759 You want 00:26:10.759 --> 00:26:12.220 a relationship 00:26:12.220 --> 00:26:12.940 with Jesus. 00:26:14.360 --> 00:26:14.539 Well, 00:26:14.620 --> 00:26:15.980 if Jesus is calling you 00:26:15.980 --> 00:26:16.460 today, 00:26:17.640 --> 00:26:19.240 how should you respond? 00:26:20.580 --> 00:26:21.279 Maybe you have 00:26:21.279 --> 00:26:21.960 that question, 00:26:22.100 --> 00:26:23.400 I believe, 00:26:23.519 --> 00:26:24.559 I want this, 00:26:25.160 --> 00:26:26.180 what do I do now? 00:26:26.180 --> 00:26:29.700 Can I suggest 00:26:29.700 --> 00:26:30.700 that you pray 00:26:30.700 --> 00:26:31.920 to God? 00:26:31.980 --> 00:26:32.500 What you need is 00:26:32.500 --> 00:26:33.680 to pray and talk 00:26:33.680 --> 00:26:34.680 to God. 00:26:35.460 --> 00:26:36.440 Maybe three words 00:26:36.440 --> 00:26:37.160 to help you. 00:26:39.060 --> 00:26:40.039 Say sorry 00:26:40.039 --> 00:26:40.759 to God. 00:26:40.920 --> 00:26:41.340 Sorry for 00:26:41.340 --> 00:26:42.320 ignoring him, 00:26:43.240 --> 00:26:44.440 for rejecting him 00:26:44.440 --> 00:26:45.380 up until this point, 00:26:46.160 --> 00:26:46.560 for 00:26:46.560 --> 00:26:48.700 sinning, 00:26:49.000 --> 00:26:49.820 for breaking 00:26:49.820 --> 00:26:51.380 God's law, 00:26:51.980 --> 00:26:52.840 as we all do. 00:26:53.440 --> 00:26:54.259 So we need to say 00:26:54.259 --> 00:26:54.740 sorry 00:26:54.740 --> 00:26:55.980 to God. 00:26:57.900 --> 00:26:59.079 Say thank you 00:26:59.079 --> 00:26:59.720 to him 00:26:59.720 --> 00:27:01.120 for sending 00:27:01.120 --> 00:27:01.620 Jesus 00:27:01.620 --> 00:27:02.279 to be the 00:27:02.279 --> 00:27:02.700 saviour 00:27:02.700 --> 00:27:03.380 that you need. 00:27:04.799 --> 00:27:05.400 To have him 00:27:05.400 --> 00:27:06.259 live as your 00:27:06.259 --> 00:27:07.299 perfect substitute. 00:27:08.039 --> 00:27:08.539 To have him 00:27:08.539 --> 00:27:09.339 die as your 00:27:09.339 --> 00:27:10.460 perfect sacrifice. 00:27:10.700 --> 00:27:11.099 To have him 00:27:11.099 --> 00:27:12.519 rise as your 00:27:12.519 --> 00:27:13.759 perfect saviour 00:27:13.759 --> 00:27:15.240 so that you 00:27:15.240 --> 00:27:15.920 might be forgiven 00:27:15.920 --> 00:27:17.039 and have eternal life. 00:27:18.140 --> 00:27:18.660 And then say 00:27:18.660 --> 00:27:19.319 please, 00:27:20.059 --> 00:27:20.799 please will you 00:27:20.799 --> 00:27:21.480 forgive me? 00:27:22.559 --> 00:27:23.279 Please will you 00:27:23.279 --> 00:27:23.900 send me 00:27:23.900 --> 00:27:24.519 your spirit? 00:27:25.579 --> 00:27:26.220 Please will you 00:27:26.220 --> 00:27:26.720 be my 00:27:26.720 --> 00:27:27.339 Lord and 00:27:27.339 --> 00:27:27.539 King? 00:27:27.640 --> 00:27:28.140 Please will you 00:27:28.140 --> 00:27:28.759 make me a 00:27:28.759 --> 00:27:29.720 child of God? 00:27:31.980 --> 00:27:32.740 And you know, 00:27:32.819 --> 00:27:34.079 God promises 00:27:34.079 --> 00:27:37.000 that he 00:27:37.000 --> 00:27:37.980 will save 00:27:37.980 --> 00:27:39.819 those who 00:27:39.819 --> 00:27:41.000 call on him. 00:27:42.900 --> 00:27:43.980 That those who 00:27:43.980 --> 00:27:45.059 believe in Jesus 00:27:45.059 --> 00:27:45.839 will have 00:27:45.839 --> 00:27:46.700 eternal life. 00:27:47.160 --> 00:27:47.680 He will 00:27:47.680 --> 00:27:48.519 receive you. 00:27:48.519 --> 00:27:49.519 God bless you. 00:27:49.519 --> 00:27:50.240 If that's 00:27:50.240 --> 00:27:50.700 where you're 00:27:50.700 --> 00:27:51.079 at, 00:27:51.519 --> 00:27:53.559 you can of 00:27:53.559 --> 00:27:54.319 course also 00:27:54.319 --> 00:27:55.460 get in touch 00:27:55.460 --> 00:27:56.799 with me 00:27:56.799 --> 00:27:57.779 through the 00:27:57.779 --> 00:27:58.359 website, 00:27:58.759 --> 00:27:59.539 through Facebook, 00:27:59.940 --> 00:28:00.799 or get in touch 00:28:00.799 --> 00:28:01.500 with a Christian 00:28:01.500 --> 00:28:02.460 friend or family 00:28:02.460 --> 00:28:04.059 member that you 00:28:04.059 --> 00:28:05.539 know to talk 00:28:05.539 --> 00:28:06.000 about this 00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:06.400 further. 00:28:06.500 --> 00:28:07.019 Begin reading 00:28:07.019 --> 00:28:07.839 your Bible and 00:28:07.839 --> 00:28:08.279 praying and 00:28:08.279 --> 00:28:09.180 connecting regularly 00:28:09.180 --> 00:28:10.680 to church 00:28:10.680 --> 00:28:11.740 teaching. 00:28:11.740 --> 00:28:13.599 because the 00:28:13.599 --> 00:28:14.099 great desire 00:28:14.099 --> 00:28:15.120 for us as a 00:28:15.120 --> 00:28:15.559 church, 00:28:16.339 --> 00:28:17.039 for me as a 00:28:17.039 --> 00:28:17.400 minister, 00:28:18.000 --> 00:28:18.640 is that we 00:28:18.640 --> 00:28:19.620 would all hear 00:28:19.620 --> 00:28:20.980 the King's 00:28:20.980 --> 00:28:21.460 call, 00:28:22.460 --> 00:28:23.059 so that we 00:28:23.059 --> 00:28:23.599 would all 00:28:23.599 --> 00:28:25.480 enjoy the 00:28:25.480 --> 00:28:26.299 King's welcome, 00:28:27.299 --> 00:28:27.759 that we would 00:28:27.759 --> 00:28:29.740 all share in 00:28:29.740 --> 00:28:31.059 God's great 00:28:31.059 --> 00:28:31.480 feast.