WEBVTT 00:00:00.480 --> 00:00:03.320 Please turn with me in your Bibles to Matthew chapter 4. 00:00:07.080 --> 00:00:08.859 And if you don't have a Bible, please raise your hand. 00:00:08.900 --> 00:00:12.700 We'd love to give you a copy you can have and you can use while you're here. 00:00:17.080 --> 00:00:18.760 For those of you who don't know me, my name is Sean. 00:00:18.859 --> 00:00:21.199 I'm one of the pastors of Trinity Cambridge Church. 00:00:23.199 --> 00:00:27.379 And I say every week when I come up here that it is my joy and privilege to preach God's 00:00:27.379 --> 00:00:27.859 word to you. 00:00:28.500 --> 00:00:30.679 And I mean that every single week. 00:00:31.199 --> 00:00:39.039 I think if I were in God's place, I would not let me near anywhere near the precious word 00:00:39.039 --> 00:00:43.780 of God or anywhere near the precious people that God has saved by the blood of his only 00:00:43.780 --> 00:00:44.079 son. 00:00:44.700 --> 00:00:51.799 But it is God's kindness and grace to use imperfect sinners that he has sanctified, consecrated 00:00:51.799 --> 00:00:52.359 for himself. 00:00:53.439 --> 00:00:55.100 So we are in Matthew chapter 4. 00:00:55.100 --> 00:00:59.620 We've been in Matthew for since the beginning of Advent. 00:01:02.439 --> 00:01:05.260 And we're in verses 12 to 25 today. 00:01:06.820 --> 00:01:09.159 Let me pray for the reading and preaching of God's word. 00:01:09.159 --> 00:01:37.359 Heavenly Father, please magnify your son Jesus Christ this morning so that we see his true 00:01:37.359 --> 00:01:47.019 worth, so that we see his glory, so that we see his gracious invitation. 00:01:47.019 --> 00:01:58.500 And we gladly forsake this world and leave everything behind to follow him. 00:01:58.500 --> 00:02:12.460 make true cross-carrying disciples of every single man and woman and child here in this room. 00:02:12.460 --> 00:02:20.960 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:02:21.740 --> 00:02:22.020 Amen. 00:02:22.020 --> 00:02:22.120 Amen. 00:02:23.120 --> 00:02:29.980 If you're able, please stand to honor God's word as we read Matthew chapter 4, verses 12 to 25. 00:02:29.979 --> 00:02:43.500 Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. 00:02:44.500 --> 00:02:50.899 And leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 00:02:51.899 --> 00:02:55.419 so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled. 00:02:55.419 --> 00:03:20.139 From that time, Jesus began to preach, saying, 00:03:20.139 --> 00:03:24.139 Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 00:03:25.599 --> 00:03:32.099 While walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew, his brother, 00:03:32.659 --> 00:03:35.399 casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 00:03:36.319 --> 00:03:37.379 And he said to them, 00:03:37.899 --> 00:03:41.560 Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. 00:03:42.779 --> 00:03:45.359 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 00:03:45.360 --> 00:03:52.060 And going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and John, his brother, 00:03:52.500 --> 00:03:55.060 in the boat with Zebedee, their father, mending their nets. 00:03:55.520 --> 00:03:56.360 And he called them. 00:03:57.420 --> 00:04:01.300 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. 00:04:03.500 --> 00:04:08.320 And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom 00:04:08.320 --> 00:04:11.500 and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. 00:04:11.500 --> 00:04:16.220 So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, 00:04:16.779 --> 00:04:22.220 those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, epileptics, and paralytics, 00:04:22.420 --> 00:04:23.379 and he healed them. 00:04:24.180 --> 00:04:27.839 And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, 00:04:28.199 --> 00:04:31.399 and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan. 00:04:32.019 --> 00:04:34.000 This is God's holy and authoritative word. 00:04:34.060 --> 00:04:34.560 You may be seated. 00:04:34.560 --> 00:04:34.639 Amen. 00:04:34.639 --> 00:04:34.720 Amen. 00:04:34.720 --> 00:04:34.800 Amen. 00:04:34.800 --> 00:04:34.860 Amen. 00:04:34.860 --> 00:04:34.959 Amen. 00:04:34.959 --> 00:04:35.720 Amen. 00:04:35.720 --> 00:04:36.720 Amen. 00:04:36.720 --> 00:04:36.759 Amen. 00:04:41.500 --> 00:04:59.860 Amen. 00:04:59.860 --> 00:05:06.680 in the Gospel of Matthew. Joseph and Mary, the angel who announces his coming, the wise men, 00:05:07.000 --> 00:05:14.280 Herod and John the Baptist in the preceding chapter. But here in chapter 4, verse 17, 00:05:14.699 --> 00:05:24.040 all of that changes. It says, from that time, Jesus began to preach, saying, repent for the 00:05:24.040 --> 00:05:30.600 kingdom of heaven is at hand. That phrase, from that time, occurs at two critical junctures in the 00:05:30.600 --> 00:05:36.460 Gospel of Matthew, here to mark the beginning of Jesus' public ministry, and then in chapter 16, 00:05:36.520 --> 00:05:42.000 verse 21, to mark the beginning of Jesus' journey to the cross, to his suffering and death. 00:05:43.320 --> 00:05:48.259 He says, there, from that time, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem 00:05:48.259 --> 00:05:52.800 and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the 00:05:52.800 --> 00:06:00.379 third day be raised. So today's passage marks the beginning of Jesus' public ministry. And as Jesus 00:06:00.379 --> 00:06:06.500 begins to preach, saying, repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand, one of the first things he does 00:06:06.500 --> 00:06:14.340 is to gather a group of followers. The proclamation of the kingdom produces the people of the kingdom. 00:06:15.300 --> 00:06:21.840 And in every generation since, for the last 2,000 years, over 2,000 years, the proclamation of the 00:06:21.839 --> 00:06:29.539 kingdom has always produced the people of the kingdom. And we, here in this auditorium, are a part of that. 00:06:30.879 --> 00:06:38.979 Jesus' calls to his disciples in this passage applies to us as well for that reason. We are all called, 00:06:39.099 --> 00:06:44.939 and this is the main point of this passage, to follow Jesus, to follow Christ who brings the kingdom of 00:06:44.939 --> 00:06:56.000 heaven. But what does following Jesus entail? What must we do to follow Jesus? And who gets to follow Jesus? 00:06:57.259 --> 00:07:02.060 And we're going to explore all of those questions in turn by first looking at the citizens of the kingdom, 00:07:02.620 --> 00:07:09.100 and secondly, the call of the kingdom, and third, the gospel of the kingdom. It says in verses 12 and 13, 00:07:09.100 --> 00:07:14.980 Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee, and leaving Nazareth, 00:07:15.060 --> 00:07:21.800 he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali. John was arrested 00:07:21.800 --> 00:07:30.120 by Herod Antipas, King Herod that we saw in the earlier chapters of Matthew's son. And this Herod also, 00:07:30.260 --> 00:07:38.020 like his father, feared John the Baptist's popularity. And because he was so popular and he was stirring up 00:07:38.019 --> 00:07:43.039 religious fervor, they were afraid that he would perhaps lead an uprising, a political uprising. 00:07:43.979 --> 00:07:51.560 And for this reason, if Jesus, whose ministry is in line with John the Baptist, it continues John 00:07:51.560 --> 00:07:58.019 the Baptist's ministry and it fulfills John the Baptist's ministry, stays exactly where John was 00:07:58.019 --> 00:08:05.359 based and where he was arrested, it would pose unnecessary risk and danger for Jesus and attract 00:08:05.360 --> 00:08:11.580 too much attention. And so he withdraws into Galilee. It's not that Jesus is afraid of death. 00:08:12.480 --> 00:08:19.259 As I mentioned, starting in Matthew 16, 21, Jesus very deliberately heads toward his death on the cross. 00:08:20.840 --> 00:08:30.199 But it's because Jesus' time for death is not yet. His time has not yet fully come, as it says in John 7, 00:08:30.199 --> 00:08:36.159 verse 8. And so he withdraws into Galilee, to Capernaum by the sea, to territory of Zebulun and Naphtali. 00:08:37.039 --> 00:08:43.240 But even this withdrawal fulfills the scriptures. We see another one of Matthew's characteristic 00:08:43.240 --> 00:08:49.019 fulfillment formulas in verses 14, 16. He's already used half a dozen of them to show us that Jesus is 00:08:49.019 --> 00:08:55.299 the one who fulfills all of the Old Testament prophecies. And then he quotes Isaiah 9, 1 to 2, 00:08:55.299 --> 00:09:02.359 so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled. The land of Zebulun and the land of 00:09:02.359 --> 00:09:08.179 Naphtali, the way of the sea beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people dwelling in 00:09:08.179 --> 00:09:12.859 darkness have seen a great light. And for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death on them, 00:09:12.939 --> 00:09:22.579 a light has dawned. This prophecy is notable because Galilee was decidedly not where the first century Jews 00:09:22.580 --> 00:09:30.220 were expecting the Messiah to come from. We saw in Matthew chapter 2, verses 5 and 6, that the Jewish 00:09:30.220 --> 00:09:37.440 scholars, based on the prophecy of Micah 5, verse 2, expected the Messiah to come from Bethlehem, from 00:09:37.440 --> 00:09:42.720 the village where David was. And they were right about that, because Jesus was born in Bethlehem. 00:09:43.320 --> 00:09:50.920 But because his ministry was based in Galilee, we see in John 7, 52, that many people spoke derisively 00:09:50.919 --> 00:09:58.539 of Jesus and criticized Jesus, saying, search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee. 00:10:00.039 --> 00:10:06.459 Galilee was not where you would expect a prophet of the Lord or the Messianic king to be based. 00:10:07.459 --> 00:10:14.079 Not only that, after the northern kingdom of Israel was conquered by Assyria in 722 BC, 00:10:14.539 --> 00:10:20.299 the Assyrians deported many of the Israelites who lived in Galilee and replaced them with 00:10:20.299 --> 00:10:32.019 pagans from Gentile nations. And so the population in Galilee was mixed. It was not a pure ethnically or 00:10:32.019 --> 00:10:40.419 religiously region. And in fact, it got so bad that during the Maccabean period, some of the Jews 00:10:40.419 --> 00:10:47.939 mobilized an army to go and rescue Jews from Galilee from their pagan oppression and influence. 00:10:47.940 --> 00:10:55.160 And so that's what Isaiah 9, 1-2 is referring to when it says that Isaiah prophesied that Messiah 00:10:55.160 --> 00:11:05.480 would come to Galilee of the Gentiles. And this quotation foreshadows what the direction, 00:11:05.680 --> 00:11:11.800 the trajectory of Jesus' ministry. Because even though during his earthly ministry and most of Matthew, 00:11:11.799 --> 00:11:19.120 Jesus makes it very clear that his mission is to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, to the Jews, 00:11:19.279 --> 00:11:24.379 to God's chosen people from the old covenant, though there are several notable exceptions to that. 00:11:25.059 --> 00:11:31.339 However, after his death and resurrection, Jesus commissions his disciples to go to make disciples 00:11:31.339 --> 00:11:36.259 of all nations, baptizing in the name of the Father and Son and the Holy Spirit. That's where Jesus' 00:11:36.399 --> 00:11:41.459 mission is ultimately headed. Not only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, but also to the lost sheep 00:11:41.799 --> 00:11:47.500 all nations. And God has already made that intention known in that prophecy hundreds of years ago in 00:11:47.500 --> 00:11:56.639 Isaiah 9. The Messiah has come to Galilee of the Gentiles. And this broadening of the reach of the 00:11:56.639 --> 00:12:01.959 gospel and the ministry of Jesus is hinted at also in verse 25, where it says that people came from all 00:12:01.959 --> 00:12:09.219 over the place, including the Decapolis, which is a primarily Gentile region. This inclusion of the 00:12:09.220 --> 00:12:16.779 Gentiles is once again, a demonstration of God's amazing grace that Jesus calls even undeserving, 00:12:17.180 --> 00:12:26.399 pagan, sinful nations. And look also at the kind of people that Jesus is calling. Jesus calls to be 00:12:26.399 --> 00:12:34.540 his disciples a few verses down, Peter, Andrew, James, and John, all, not to be rude, hillbilly, 00:12:34.539 --> 00:12:44.799 Jewish fishermen in Galilee. They will be his first. They will be the first of his 12 apostles. 00:12:45.339 --> 00:12:50.679 They are his lieutenants. James, Peter, and John will make up Jesus's inner circle. 00:12:52.439 --> 00:12:59.379 And I think all of us can agree that they don't exactly look like a world-changing task force. 00:12:59.379 --> 00:13:10.179 And it's just like our God to do that. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 1, 26-29, 00:13:10.179 --> 00:13:15.879 for consider your calling, brothers. Not many of you were wise according to worldly standards. 00:13:16.379 --> 00:13:23.120 Not many were powerful. Not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world 00:13:23.120 --> 00:13:29.580 to shame the wise. God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong. God chose what is low 00:13:29.580 --> 00:13:35.960 and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are. Why? 00:13:36.620 --> 00:13:44.320 So that no human being might boast in the presence of God. God intentionally, and this is very 00:13:44.320 --> 00:13:51.860 characteristic of God all throughout his scriptures, God intentionally saves those who are lowly. 00:13:53.120 --> 00:13:58.860 The foolish, the weak, the despised, so that no human might boast in the presence of God. 00:13:59.379 --> 00:14:05.360 This is why in the second century, a Roman philosopher and a polemist named Calcis mocked 00:14:05.360 --> 00:14:09.340 Christianity and mocked Christians in this way. He said, 00:14:09.879 --> 00:14:16.500 Christians show that they want and are able to convince only the foolish, dishonorable, and stupid, 00:14:16.899 --> 00:14:21.919 only slaves, women, and little children. That was his criticism of Christianity. 00:14:21.919 --> 00:14:27.519 Christianity showing that Christianity from the earliest ages rapidly spread among the marginalized, 00:14:28.179 --> 00:14:34.199 among people who had no power in their society. And this is God's doing. He humbles the pride of man 00:14:34.199 --> 00:14:39.599 and makes it so that no man can boast before him. This pattern continues to this day. 00:14:39.600 --> 00:14:46.379 Some people criticize Christianity as a white man's religion. Some people say that Christianity is a 00:14:46.379 --> 00:14:52.680 colonialist and imperialistic and sexist religion, a religion that people with power use to suppress 00:14:52.680 --> 00:15:01.180 and control people who do not have power. But Christianity is not growing fastest today in North America or 00:15:01.180 --> 00:15:09.180 Europe. It is growing the fastest in Africa, where the number of Christians has grown from less than 10 million 00:15:09.600 --> 00:15:19.779 734 million in a little over a century. The most representative demographic of Christianity today is an African woman. 00:15:21.600 --> 00:15:28.000 The most representative demographic of Christianity today in the U.S. is a black woman. 00:15:28.000 --> 00:15:36.679 Christianity is growing the fastest today in Iran, where millions have come to faith over the last two decades. 00:15:37.360 --> 00:15:45.559 And I bet you also that a large percentage of them are women, as it has been the case wherever Christianity has grown throughout history. 00:15:45.559 --> 00:15:48.559 These are the citizens of the kingdom. 00:15:50.459 --> 00:15:57.739 The Galilee of the Gentiles. We live today, it's a little awkward for me to talk about this, because we live in a city that's full of 00:15:57.739 --> 00:16:02.839 smart and strong and accomplished and high and mighty and admired people. 00:16:05.000 --> 00:16:06.479 And many of you are like that. 00:16:06.480 --> 00:16:15.080 But that is not what defines us in this room, in this auditorium, in this church. 00:16:15.420 --> 00:16:20.920 Because by definition, to be a Christian is to be someone who has been humbled by the grace of God. 00:16:21.879 --> 00:16:26.340 God did not save any of us because we are smart or successful. 00:16:27.639 --> 00:16:35.720 God has saved all of us because we have acknowledged our own sinfulness before God and our own neediness before Him. 00:16:36.480 --> 00:16:39.120 That's the only reason why He has saved us. 00:16:41.440 --> 00:16:47.240 And because we have repented of our sins and we have trusted in Jesus as our Savior. 00:16:48.180 --> 00:16:52.100 God always gives grace to the humble and He exalts the lowly. 00:16:52.440 --> 00:16:55.879 He is the God who comes to the Galilee of the Gentiles. 00:16:57.980 --> 00:17:06.380 And the contrast between our needy and sinful state and Christ's glorious grace is so great that Matthew uses the analogy of light and darkness. 00:17:06.480 --> 00:17:13.299 Because Jesus makes a night and day difference in the lives of people that He saves. 00:17:14.380 --> 00:17:17.440 Jesus has come, it says, to the people dwelling in darkness. 00:17:18.000 --> 00:17:24.860 The great light of Jesus has dawned on Galilee of the Gentiles for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death. 00:17:24.859 --> 00:17:34.339 I want to share an illustration here because I think most of us don't really fear darkness and never really have to deal with darkness very much. 00:17:34.399 --> 00:17:40.359 With all these artificial lights, we can create light at the touch of the button on the phone and everywhere we go there's light. 00:17:40.359 --> 00:17:46.979 But when there was a solar eclipse, there was a total solar eclipse last year. 00:17:47.019 --> 00:17:48.839 I think I've shared some of this story with you guys already. 00:17:49.339 --> 00:17:55.139 In 2024, April 8th, my family traveled to Maidstone, Vermont to see the total eclipse. 00:17:56.439 --> 00:17:59.539 And you've probably never heard of Maidstone, Vermont. 00:18:00.799 --> 00:18:02.159 Sydney, have you heard of Maidstone, Vermont? 00:18:03.099 --> 00:18:04.479 No, and she's from Vermont. 00:18:04.480 --> 00:18:08.120 Yeah, so because it's in the middle of nowhere, right? 00:18:08.460 --> 00:18:16.440 And we passed like half a dozen dilapidated abandoned houses near the campsite as we were going to our campsite. 00:18:16.579 --> 00:18:24.599 Because of the eclipse, all the hotels and the Airbnbs and campsites were booked months ahead of time and years ahead of time. 00:18:24.599 --> 00:18:35.059 And so all I could find for my precious family was this off-grid campsite which had zero reviews on hipcamp.com. 00:18:36.019 --> 00:18:41.379 And we had to use the latitude and longitude coordinates in order to drive there because it was not on the map. 00:18:42.099 --> 00:18:44.179 And it had no address. 00:18:44.180 --> 00:18:56.420 And campsite is too generous of a term because that place had no bathroom, no water, no garbage can, no electricity, and not even a fire pit. 00:18:56.820 --> 00:18:59.400 I had to gather my own rocks to create my own fire pit. 00:19:00.480 --> 00:19:08.940 And getting to the campsite required a 10-minute off-roading over tree branches and rocks and snow and mud. 00:19:09.519 --> 00:19:11.420 And it was literally a wilderness. 00:19:12.360 --> 00:19:13.799 And we were utterly alone. 00:19:13.799 --> 00:19:16.799 In the afternoon, the weather was nice. 00:19:16.879 --> 00:19:18.700 It was a balmy 63 degrees. 00:19:19.480 --> 00:19:21.539 And seeing the total eclipse was amazing. 00:19:21.980 --> 00:19:23.240 It was an experience to cherish. 00:19:24.399 --> 00:19:26.720 And then the sun set. 00:19:27.899 --> 00:19:29.379 And then everything changed. 00:19:31.279 --> 00:19:34.539 The temperature dropped precipitously, 42 degrees. 00:19:34.720 --> 00:19:36.079 It became 21 degrees. 00:19:36.200 --> 00:19:36.980 It felt colder. 00:19:38.079 --> 00:19:38.859 We were freezing. 00:19:38.859 --> 00:19:47.079 The solar eclipse is also, you might know, only occurred during the new moon, which means there is no visible moon in the sky. 00:19:47.079 --> 00:19:49.119 So it's really, really dark. 00:19:49.699 --> 00:19:51.299 And it's like pitch black out. 00:19:51.379 --> 00:19:56.720 And there's no artificial light anywhere in sight, in the horizon, as far as I can see. 00:19:56.720 --> 00:20:01.180 And it's cold, right? 00:20:01.180 --> 00:20:01.720 As I mentioned. 00:20:01.720 --> 00:20:04.400 So we put the kids to bed. 00:20:04.400 --> 00:20:07.360 And Hannah and I are trying to stay cuddle close to keep warm. 00:20:07.359 --> 00:20:14.799 And as we're trying to sleep, we hear this noise, this animal noise, right outside of our tent. 00:20:15.619 --> 00:20:16.199 Thump, thump. 00:20:17.679 --> 00:20:21.079 And at that point, Hannah was so scared. 00:20:21.319 --> 00:20:23.000 She's just grabbing and holding onto me. 00:20:23.419 --> 00:20:28.299 And we try to stay silent because maybe the animal will just leave us alone. 00:20:28.799 --> 00:20:30.700 And then we hear it again, thump, thump. 00:20:31.399 --> 00:20:34.139 And at that point, Hannah is in full panic mode. 00:20:34.240 --> 00:20:37.859 And she's shaking me and saying, we are going to die today, aren't we? 00:20:38.159 --> 00:20:39.419 We are going to die today. 00:20:39.440 --> 00:20:41.299 That is literally what she said. 00:20:42.899 --> 00:20:48.099 And she tells me to say that that's the most, that's the second most scared she's ever been in her whole life. 00:20:48.099 --> 00:20:52.039 And the first time was when she almost passed out while giving birth and she thought she was dying. 00:20:52.480 --> 00:20:54.440 So that was a pretty scary experience for her. 00:20:54.440 --> 00:21:03.140 And, you know, eventually, I mean, we try to get the car to beep and then we hear the thump, thump again. 00:21:03.460 --> 00:21:07.920 And so eventually, I work up the courage to go outside with my little pocket knife. 00:21:10.200 --> 00:21:13.680 To engage in a fight to the death with this monstrous bear. 00:21:14.880 --> 00:21:16.200 Because that's what we're imagining. 00:21:16.779 --> 00:21:19.059 Because the place we're on is called Bear Hill. 00:21:19.059 --> 00:21:25.379 But when I go outside, there is no animal to be seen. 00:21:25.919 --> 00:21:26.720 It is already gone. 00:21:28.359 --> 00:21:30.240 Hannah wanted to leave the campsite immediately. 00:21:31.440 --> 00:21:36.559 And then I thought about that dangerous off-roading that I just came through and I knew we wouldn't make it at night. 00:21:37.659 --> 00:21:39.000 And so we're stuck there. 00:21:39.579 --> 00:21:40.659 And we're cold. 00:21:41.059 --> 00:21:44.839 And between the cold and the fear, we didn't sleep one wink. 00:21:44.839 --> 00:21:50.199 And around 6 a.m., the sun started to rise. 00:21:51.799 --> 00:22:01.619 And let me tell you, I have never been so glad and grateful to see the sun come up in my entire life. 00:22:04.779 --> 00:22:06.259 Because it changes everything. 00:22:06.259 --> 00:22:28.480 And it gave way to life. 00:22:28.480 --> 00:22:32.319 And isn't that what Jesus has done for us? 00:22:34.640 --> 00:22:38.460 Apart from God, we were a people dwelling in darkness. 00:22:38.940 --> 00:22:42.620 Groping about in the dark and unable to make any progress for ourselves. 00:22:43.500 --> 00:22:51.720 But the despair and the darkness and death of our sinful world have given way to the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ. 00:22:53.360 --> 00:22:56.420 We who once were blind now can see. 00:22:56.420 --> 00:23:05.100 We who once lived with this cold and hardened and frozen hearts have been melted by the warmth of the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:23:06.140 --> 00:23:12.259 We who once lived under the shadow of death now live with the light of life from Jesus shining. 00:23:13.200 --> 00:23:17.300 That's the amazing thing that this Isaiah 9 is prophesying about. 00:23:18.380 --> 00:23:20.019 We are the citizens of the kingdom. 00:23:20.019 --> 00:23:27.559 But unless we first admit that we are living in sin and darkness, we cannot see the light of Christ. 00:23:28.200 --> 00:23:31.819 That's why Matthew summarizes Jesus' core message this way in verse 17. 00:23:32.519 --> 00:23:37.660 From that time, Jesus began to preach, saying, repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 00:23:38.519 --> 00:23:38.920 Repent. 00:23:39.160 --> 00:23:40.000 We've seen this before. 00:23:40.079 --> 00:23:44.259 This is the exact same message that John the Baptist proclaimed in Matthew 3, verse 2. 00:23:44.259 --> 00:23:49.859 So we know that Jesus is continuing John the Baptist's ministry and bringing it to its intended fulfillment. 00:23:50.619 --> 00:23:54.900 Mark 1, 15 also similarly summarizes Jesus' message this way. 00:23:54.980 --> 00:23:57.619 The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand. 00:23:58.140 --> 00:24:00.279 Repent and believe in the gospel. 00:24:01.559 --> 00:24:04.240 Repentance is not a peripheral aspect of Jesus' message. 00:24:04.359 --> 00:24:09.099 It is the central aspect of Jesus' message, his proclamation of the gospel of the kingdom. 00:24:10.480 --> 00:24:12.160 And to repent means to turn. 00:24:12.160 --> 00:24:17.800 It means to turn around, to do a U-turn, because we are all going and living in the wrong direction. 00:24:18.759 --> 00:24:20.440 And that's an offensive message. 00:24:20.860 --> 00:24:24.960 Because as prideful humans, we don't want to be told that we are doing something wrong. 00:24:25.800 --> 00:24:33.300 But we must all stop living in sin and rebellion against God and turn toward him in humble submission. 00:24:34.759 --> 00:24:39.620 And the window of opportunity for repentance and to follow King Jesus is now. 00:24:39.619 --> 00:24:46.879 The word translated at hand is in the perfect tense, meaning the kingdom of heaven has drawn near. 00:24:46.939 --> 00:24:48.019 It has already come. 00:24:48.679 --> 00:24:54.239 Jesus the Christ, the Messianic King, has already begun to usher in the kingdom of heaven. 00:24:54.479 --> 00:24:58.159 And he beckons us to pledge our allegiance to him as king. 00:24:58.160 --> 00:25:04.440 The first people that Jesus calls are Peter and Andrew. 00:25:05.279 --> 00:25:06.519 He says in verse 18, 00:25:06.680 --> 00:25:14.820 While walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew, his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 00:25:15.720 --> 00:25:19.019 Simon was one of the most common names in first century Israel. 00:25:19.259 --> 00:25:22.320 We'll meet four more Simons in this gospel alone. 00:25:22.319 --> 00:25:25.339 And one of them is another one of the twelve apostles of Jesus. 00:25:25.539 --> 00:25:29.799 So Matthew kindly tells us that he had a nickname, Peter, which means rock. 00:25:31.200 --> 00:25:37.579 From this verse alone, we might get the impression that this was the first time that these brothers, Peter and Andrew, met Jesus. 00:25:37.779 --> 00:25:42.059 And that they are just decided to follow this perfect stranger into the great unknown. 00:25:42.539 --> 00:25:44.859 But most likely, that's not what is happening. 00:25:44.859 --> 00:25:54.079 We know from John chapter 1, verse 35-42, that Andrew already knew of Jesus and his ministry because he was a disciple of John the Baptist. 00:25:54.699 --> 00:26:00.019 And when John the Baptist pointed to Jesus saying, Behold the Lamb of God, Andrew actually started following Jesus. 00:26:00.699 --> 00:26:02.779 And then Jesus said, Hey, what are you doing? Why are you following me? 00:26:03.219 --> 00:26:07.379 And eventually he became a disciple of Jesus when Jesus called him to follow him. 00:26:07.380 --> 00:26:16.040 And Andrew, we know from John 1 also, that went to his brother Peter and told him, Hey, we have found the Messiah. 00:26:16.940 --> 00:26:20.500 And so they have some, there's some background, there's some relational connection already. 00:26:20.860 --> 00:26:23.060 And so they know who Jesus is, they know him. 00:26:23.980 --> 00:26:29.640 But this does seem to be the first time that Jesus calls them officially to become his disciples. 00:26:30.640 --> 00:26:35.800 And he says to them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. 00:26:35.799 --> 00:26:40.259 Here's another way to describe the call of the kingdom. 00:26:40.839 --> 00:26:43.019 We are to repent, turn away. 00:26:43.159 --> 00:26:44.659 That's one way to describe it. 00:26:44.700 --> 00:26:49.779 Another way to say to stop following your own way and start following Jesus. 00:26:51.000 --> 00:26:54.779 Jesus' command, translated literally, is come after me. 00:26:55.480 --> 00:26:56.700 Come behind me. 00:26:57.500 --> 00:27:00.299 That's the language of discipleship in the New Testament. 00:27:00.299 --> 00:27:06.240 Jesus' Jewish disciples were expected to follow their teacher or rabbi literally from behind them. 00:27:06.339 --> 00:27:13.220 They were meant to walk physically behind them and watch everything that they do and follow them and learn from them. 00:27:16.159 --> 00:27:19.680 1 Peter 2.21 describes Christian discipleship this way. 00:27:19.680 --> 00:27:36.039 To follow Jesus is to follow the pattern that Jesus has set for us. 00:27:36.039 --> 00:27:43.980 And that pattern that Jesus has set for us is death and resurrection through death. 00:27:45.799 --> 00:27:49.920 Jesus will unpack the meaning of this later in Matthew 16, 24 to 26. 00:27:49.920 --> 00:28:17.259 To follow Jesus is to forsake the world in order to gain our souls. 00:28:17.259 --> 00:28:23.039 To follow Jesus is to lose our lives and our own desires and dreams. 00:28:23.400 --> 00:28:25.779 To make Jesus our greatest treasure. 00:28:26.200 --> 00:28:28.759 To make Jesus our dream and our desire. 00:28:29.779 --> 00:28:34.420 It means we stop following our own way and we start following Jesus' way. 00:28:35.700 --> 00:28:38.460 The word follow is repeated three times in this passage. 00:28:38.579 --> 00:28:39.259 Verse 20 says, 00:28:39.259 --> 00:28:54.299 Matthew is teaching us that that is what we all ought to do. 00:28:54.759 --> 00:28:55.859 Follow Jesus. 00:28:56.079 --> 00:28:58.079 Follow the Christ who brings the kingdom of heaven. 00:28:58.079 --> 00:29:02.939 But the way Jesus calls his disciples is quite unusual. 00:29:03.899 --> 00:29:11.079 The proper etiquette in first century Jewish rabbinical culture is that the students seek out the rabbi. 00:29:12.839 --> 00:29:17.799 The students choose for themselves a teacher that they want to apprentice under and learn from. 00:29:18.460 --> 00:29:22.220 But here, Jesus, the teacher, takes the initiative. 00:29:22.220 --> 00:29:26.819 And then he's the one who calls his students to follow him. 00:29:27.980 --> 00:29:29.839 And it's not really a request. 00:29:30.120 --> 00:29:30.779 It's a command. 00:29:31.600 --> 00:29:32.500 Follow me. 00:29:33.019 --> 00:29:34.279 Come after me. 00:29:35.200 --> 00:29:38.240 And that's because Jesus is much more than a Jewish rabbi. 00:29:39.220 --> 00:29:41.940 This is the summons of the king. 00:29:44.000 --> 00:29:47.500 People don't just volunteer to enter into the service of the king. 00:29:47.500 --> 00:29:50.720 They have to be selected. 00:29:51.359 --> 00:29:52.299 They have to be chosen. 00:29:53.019 --> 00:29:54.079 They have to be appointed. 00:29:55.839 --> 00:30:02.059 People don't just volunteer to become the secretary of state or to become an ambassador. 00:30:02.660 --> 00:30:03.779 Josh is nodding his head. 00:30:04.539 --> 00:30:06.119 You have to be chosen. 00:30:07.140 --> 00:30:08.339 You have to be appointed. 00:30:14.400 --> 00:30:16.539 Likewise, no one chooses Jesus first. 00:30:17.500 --> 00:30:22.259 The initiative and prerogative always lie with Jesus. 00:30:23.539 --> 00:30:26.619 That's why Jesus says to his disciples in John 15, verse 16, 00:30:27.019 --> 00:30:35.640 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, 00:30:36.000 --> 00:30:39.359 so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 00:30:39.920 --> 00:30:42.980 That, again, reveals God's gracious character. 00:30:42.980 --> 00:30:46.099 It says in 1 John 4, 00:30:46.099 --> 00:30:55.120 In this is love, not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his son to be the propitiation for our sins. 00:30:55.440 --> 00:30:59.420 We love because he first loved us. 00:31:00.660 --> 00:31:02.880 God loved us first. 00:31:02.880 --> 00:31:05.720 While we were still his enemies. 00:31:06.000 --> 00:31:11.500 God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world, it says in Ephesians 1, 4. 00:31:11.500 --> 00:31:17.440 Before we were born and had done nothing, either good or bad, it says, Romans 9, 11. 00:31:17.680 --> 00:31:21.539 God set his eyes on us and put his favor upon his people. 00:31:22.779 --> 00:31:26.259 My Christian brothers and sisters, isn't that what we were just singing earlier with that song, 00:31:26.339 --> 00:31:27.319 All I Have is Christ? 00:31:27.779 --> 00:31:32.960 And if you had not loved me first, I would refuse you still. 00:31:32.960 --> 00:31:37.900 That is exactly what we would have done. 00:31:38.840 --> 00:31:43.720 To rebel against him and spurn him and mock him, reject him. 00:31:44.860 --> 00:31:49.200 We are saved only because God loved us first. 00:31:49.660 --> 00:31:51.779 Because God chose us first. 00:31:52.360 --> 00:31:54.680 We love God because he loved us first. 00:31:54.680 --> 00:32:01.600 The Christ, the King of Kings, has summoned every single one of his people to follow him. 00:32:02.960 --> 00:32:07.259 So the way Jesus called his disciples is highly unusual. 00:32:07.460 --> 00:32:10.220 But what he calls them to do is also highly unusual. 00:32:11.299 --> 00:32:15.279 In verse 19, Jesus says, follow me and I will make you fishers of men. 00:32:16.920 --> 00:32:22.900 Their vocation will no longer be about catching fish, but it will be about catching men. 00:32:23.700 --> 00:32:29.079 And this is the call of every single Christian, man and woman. 00:32:29.079 --> 00:32:34.099 We're often tempted to make our jobs our calling. 00:32:35.519 --> 00:32:42.159 But that is not where we are supposed to find our ultimate meaning and purpose and fulfillment in life. 00:32:43.740 --> 00:32:51.460 That's why our jobs become disappointing and dissatisfying when we try to get it to be that ultimate thing for us. 00:32:51.460 --> 00:32:59.319 Our job is the context in which we live out our Christian calling. 00:33:01.019 --> 00:33:03.259 That's why 1 Corinthians 7.24 says, 00:33:03.420 --> 00:33:09.579 So brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God. 00:33:09.579 --> 00:33:18.199 Our jobs and everything else we do that we might identify with that count as our identity or vocation. 00:33:18.539 --> 00:33:23.259 They are merely the condition we are in as we live out our Christian call. 00:33:24.279 --> 00:33:28.699 The call of the kingdom is to follow Christ as fishers of men. 00:33:31.019 --> 00:33:34.279 Pastor and Bible commentator R. Kent Hughes puts it this way, 00:33:34.279 --> 00:34:04.259 quote, 00:34:04.279 --> 00:34:10.699 It's proclaiming Jesus a priority in your life. 00:34:14.699 --> 00:34:21.440 Sometimes it can be tempting for us as Christians to think that we can follow Jesus and also follow our own way. 00:34:23.279 --> 00:34:25.360 But that cannot be because Jesus says, 00:34:25.619 --> 00:34:28.900 Let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 00:34:29.699 --> 00:34:33.579 Christian discipleship requires self-denial. 00:34:33.579 --> 00:34:37.960 Look at the response of Peter and Andrew and James and John. 00:34:38.039 --> 00:34:43.599 We can see in their response the urgency of the call of the kingdom and the priority of the call of the kingdom. 00:34:44.000 --> 00:34:45.659 First, we see the urgency. 00:34:46.000 --> 00:34:46.599 It says in verse 20, 00:34:47.000 --> 00:34:49.360 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 00:34:50.500 --> 00:34:51.699 Again, in verse 22, 00:34:52.000 --> 00:34:54.920 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. 00:34:54.920 --> 00:34:56.340 Matthew is not like Mark. 00:34:56.340 --> 00:34:57.440 Matthew is not like Mark. 00:34:57.639 --> 00:35:00.200 Mark is the gospel writer who uses the word immediately, 00:35:00.639 --> 00:35:02.820 like very liberally, over 30 times. 00:35:03.340 --> 00:35:04.619 Matthew is not like that. 00:35:04.840 --> 00:35:07.139 So when he says immediately, he means immediately. 00:35:07.420 --> 00:35:09.019 Like this really happened immediately. 00:35:09.019 --> 00:35:15.460 No hesitation or delay. 00:35:16.239 --> 00:35:17.159 No excuses. 00:35:18.820 --> 00:35:19.820 I'm too young. 00:35:20.380 --> 00:35:21.900 Still in the prime of my life. 00:35:23.320 --> 00:35:26.619 After I've enjoyed my life and when I'm a little older, 00:35:26.820 --> 00:35:29.519 and then I will really be a full disciple of Jesus. 00:35:29.519 --> 00:35:33.639 After I'm done with my schooling, 00:35:34.219 --> 00:35:36.679 then I will really follow Christ in earnest. 00:35:37.579 --> 00:35:39.420 When I'm less busy in my life, 00:35:39.539 --> 00:35:42.300 my career is just at a very, very stressful juncture, 00:35:42.480 --> 00:35:44.039 and when I'm more established, 00:35:44.400 --> 00:35:46.059 then I will follow Christ. 00:35:47.219 --> 00:35:49.300 Once I'm married and have bought a home, 00:35:49.460 --> 00:35:52.480 and then I'll really feel like I can seriously give to him 00:35:52.480 --> 00:35:55.599 and submit to him and follow him in every area of my life. 00:35:55.599 --> 00:35:59.860 The disciples of Jesus make no such excuse. 00:36:01.619 --> 00:36:04.139 Immediately, they respond, 00:36:04.339 --> 00:36:05.900 because what they're gaining, 00:36:06.739 --> 00:36:08.519 entry into the kingdom of heaven 00:36:08.519 --> 00:36:11.679 and being enlisted into the service of Christ the king 00:36:11.679 --> 00:36:13.139 is priceless. 00:36:16.599 --> 00:36:18.559 Their response also demonstrates 00:36:18.559 --> 00:36:20.360 the priority of the call of the kingdom. 00:36:21.299 --> 00:36:22.880 They were all in the middle of fishing, 00:36:23.880 --> 00:36:25.579 mending their nets or throwing out their nets 00:36:25.579 --> 00:36:26.960 to catch fish, 00:36:27.199 --> 00:36:31.079 but they leave their nets to go and follow Jesus. 00:36:31.500 --> 00:36:34.500 That is an economically crazy thing to do 00:36:34.500 --> 00:36:36.840 for these first century disciples. 00:36:38.000 --> 00:36:41.659 Galilee had a thriving commerce 00:36:41.659 --> 00:36:44.219 in selling dry fish, 00:36:45.019 --> 00:36:48.319 and these men were leaving behind 00:36:48.319 --> 00:36:51.719 a stable and possibly even lucrative career 00:36:51.719 --> 00:36:55.019 to go and follow an itinerant preacher 00:36:55.019 --> 00:36:56.899 who doesn't even have a place 00:36:56.899 --> 00:36:58.539 to lay his own head 00:36:58.539 --> 00:37:00.639 by his own confession in Matthew 8.20. 00:37:05.839 --> 00:37:08.359 Do you expect following Jesus 00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:11.699 to not affect how you spend your money? 00:37:13.559 --> 00:37:15.179 Do you expect following Jesus 00:37:15.179 --> 00:37:16.579 to not make a dent 00:37:16.579 --> 00:37:19.119 on all that you want to do 00:37:19.119 --> 00:37:20.619 with the money you have earned? 00:37:25.500 --> 00:37:27.059 Following Jesus is also socially 00:37:27.059 --> 00:37:29.599 and culturally crazy thing to do. 00:37:30.380 --> 00:37:32.279 Later in Matthew 8.21-22, 00:37:32.539 --> 00:37:34.279 a would-be disciple says to Jesus 00:37:34.279 --> 00:37:35.900 that he wants to follow Jesus, 00:37:35.960 --> 00:37:37.880 but that he wants to first go and bury his father. 00:37:37.880 --> 00:37:39.700 But Jesus tells him, 00:37:40.039 --> 00:37:41.780 follow me and leave the dead 00:37:41.780 --> 00:37:43.059 to bury their own dead. 00:37:44.200 --> 00:37:45.180 Shocking statement. 00:37:47.860 --> 00:37:48.920 Again and again, 00:37:49.059 --> 00:37:50.000 Jesus will teach 00:37:50.000 --> 00:37:51.780 that following him takes precedence 00:37:51.780 --> 00:37:54.019 over even one's own family, 00:37:54.140 --> 00:37:55.000 and that's why here, 00:37:56.119 --> 00:37:57.460 James and John, 00:37:57.519 --> 00:37:57.820 it says, 00:37:58.300 --> 00:38:00.400 leave their both and their father, 00:38:01.160 --> 00:38:03.880 and they immediately go and follow Jesus. 00:38:05.900 --> 00:38:07.559 Jesus says in Matthew 10.37, 00:38:07.559 --> 00:38:09.840 whoever loves father or mother more than me 00:38:09.840 --> 00:38:11.659 is not worthy of me, 00:38:11.739 --> 00:38:13.980 and whoever loves son or daughter more than me 00:38:13.980 --> 00:38:15.619 is not worthy of me. 00:38:16.400 --> 00:38:18.079 In Matthew 12.46-50, 00:38:18.179 --> 00:38:19.000 Jesus says that it's not 00:38:19.000 --> 00:38:20.840 his biological mother and brothers 00:38:20.840 --> 00:38:23.139 who are his true spiritual family, 00:38:23.460 --> 00:38:24.719 but that whoever does 00:38:24.719 --> 00:38:26.299 the will of my father in heaven 00:38:26.299 --> 00:38:27.400 is my brother and sister 00:38:27.400 --> 00:38:28.599 and mother in the kingdom of heaven. 00:38:30.739 --> 00:38:31.619 Jesus is, 00:38:32.059 --> 00:38:32.799 I want to be clear 00:38:32.799 --> 00:38:34.920 that Jesus is not anti-family. 00:38:36.279 --> 00:38:37.179 Far from it. 00:38:37.179 --> 00:38:38.639 As he's dying on the cross, 00:38:38.779 --> 00:38:39.879 Jesus will command 00:38:39.879 --> 00:38:41.019 his beloved disciple, 00:38:41.219 --> 00:38:41.539 John, 00:38:41.619 --> 00:38:43.159 to take care of his mother 00:38:43.159 --> 00:38:44.460 that he leaves behind. 00:38:45.339 --> 00:38:47.039 In John 19.26-27. 00:38:47.799 --> 00:38:49.859 In Matthew 15.3-6, 00:38:49.980 --> 00:38:51.719 Jesus rebukes the Pharisees 00:38:51.719 --> 00:38:52.480 and the scribes 00:38:52.480 --> 00:38:53.859 for paying lip service 00:38:53.859 --> 00:38:54.659 to God's word, 00:38:54.960 --> 00:38:55.899 and instead of honoring their, 00:38:56.039 --> 00:38:57.059 and instead just honoring 00:38:57.059 --> 00:38:58.139 their man-made traditions, 00:38:58.500 --> 00:38:59.839 and refusing to honor 00:38:59.839 --> 00:39:00.739 their father and mother, 00:39:00.819 --> 00:39:02.379 and refusing to provide for them. 00:39:02.380 --> 00:39:07.260 In 1 Timothy 5.8, 00:39:07.320 --> 00:39:08.079 we're told that if anyone 00:39:08.079 --> 00:39:09.820 does not provide for his relatives, 00:39:09.920 --> 00:39:10.800 and especially for members 00:39:10.800 --> 00:39:11.500 of his household, 00:39:11.840 --> 00:39:13.180 he has denied the faith 00:39:13.180 --> 00:39:14.880 and is worse than an unbeliever. 00:39:16.500 --> 00:39:17.960 Jesus is not anti-family, 00:39:18.019 --> 00:39:19.960 and the Bible is not anti-family, 00:39:20.200 --> 00:39:22.019 but then why does Jesus say 00:39:22.019 --> 00:39:24.380 these kinds of shocking things? 00:39:24.380 --> 00:39:28.420 because he's trying 00:39:28.420 --> 00:39:29.840 to emphasize for us 00:39:29.840 --> 00:39:31.440 and to drive home the point 00:39:31.440 --> 00:39:34.740 that following him 00:39:34.740 --> 00:39:36.740 should take radical priority 00:39:36.740 --> 00:39:38.180 over everything 00:39:38.180 --> 00:39:39.740 and every commitment 00:39:39.740 --> 00:39:41.380 and every relationship 00:39:41.380 --> 00:39:42.800 we have in life. 00:39:44.780 --> 00:39:45.960 To teach us 00:39:45.960 --> 00:39:46.920 that we must seek 00:39:46.920 --> 00:39:48.000 his kingdom first. 00:39:49.220 --> 00:39:50.220 When you become 00:39:50.220 --> 00:39:51.119 a follower of Christ, 00:39:51.599 --> 00:39:52.780 the center of your life 00:39:52.780 --> 00:39:54.079 is no longer you, 00:39:54.380 --> 00:39:56.160 no longer your boyfriend 00:39:56.160 --> 00:39:56.640 or girlfriend, 00:39:56.760 --> 00:39:57.920 no longer your spouse, 00:39:58.039 --> 00:39:59.260 no longer your son 00:39:59.260 --> 00:39:59.760 or daughter, 00:39:59.840 --> 00:40:00.880 no longer your brother 00:40:00.880 --> 00:40:01.260 or sister, 00:40:01.320 --> 00:40:02.720 no longer your boss, 00:40:02.820 --> 00:40:03.960 no longer your parent, 00:40:04.420 --> 00:40:06.099 no longer your professor 00:40:06.099 --> 00:40:06.780 or advisor. 00:40:07.019 --> 00:40:08.519 The center of your life 00:40:08.519 --> 00:40:09.340 is Jesus. 00:40:12.460 --> 00:40:14.119 Your purposes and priorities 00:40:14.119 --> 00:40:15.960 revolve around Jesus. 00:40:16.380 --> 00:40:17.140 Your decisions 00:40:17.140 --> 00:40:19.559 are made to serve Jesus. 00:40:19.559 --> 00:40:22.200 Your life belongs to Jesus. 00:40:24.880 --> 00:40:26.519 And that makes all of us 00:40:26.519 --> 00:40:27.920 better fathers 00:40:27.920 --> 00:40:28.420 and mothers 00:40:28.420 --> 00:40:28.900 and brothers 00:40:28.900 --> 00:40:29.380 and sisters 00:40:29.380 --> 00:40:30.300 and sons and daughters. 00:40:35.880 --> 00:40:36.700 That's the meaning 00:40:36.700 --> 00:40:37.780 of Christian discipleship. 00:40:37.840 --> 00:40:38.420 That's why we can't 00:40:38.420 --> 00:40:40.140 compartmentalize our lives 00:40:40.140 --> 00:40:40.440 and say, 00:40:40.640 --> 00:40:42.740 well, this much is God's. 00:40:43.079 --> 00:40:43.920 The rest is mine. 00:40:43.920 --> 00:40:51.079 Two hours on Sunday morning 00:40:51.079 --> 00:40:51.680 is God's. 00:40:52.079 --> 00:40:52.800 The rest of the week 00:40:52.800 --> 00:40:53.200 is mine. 00:40:55.840 --> 00:40:57.039 Ten percent of my income 00:40:57.039 --> 00:40:57.659 is God's. 00:40:58.159 --> 00:40:59.180 The rest of it is mine. 00:41:05.820 --> 00:41:06.659 These relationships 00:41:06.659 --> 00:41:07.320 I have in church 00:41:07.320 --> 00:41:08.320 belong to God. 00:41:08.880 --> 00:41:09.880 These are the relationships. 00:41:10.099 --> 00:41:10.519 They're mine. 00:41:10.519 --> 00:41:10.559 They're mine. 00:41:10.700 --> 00:41:10.720 They're mine. 00:41:10.720 --> 00:41:10.760 They're mine. 00:41:10.760 --> 00:41:10.800 They're mine. 00:41:10.800 --> 00:41:10.840 They're mine. 00:41:10.840 --> 00:41:11.240 They're mine. 00:41:11.240 --> 00:41:12.639 They're mine. 00:41:12.639 --> 00:41:14.139 They're mine. 00:41:14.139 --> 00:41:15.179 There's no such thing 00:41:15.179 --> 00:41:17.460 as my time 00:41:17.460 --> 00:41:18.960 or my money 00:41:18.960 --> 00:41:20.539 or my relationship. 00:41:21.420 --> 00:41:22.699 When you pledge allegiance 00:41:22.699 --> 00:41:23.219 to Jesus 00:41:23.219 --> 00:41:24.219 and submit to him 00:41:24.219 --> 00:41:25.159 and come under his lordship, 00:41:25.239 --> 00:41:26.079 every single one 00:41:26.079 --> 00:41:26.960 of those things 00:41:26.960 --> 00:41:28.559 belongs to him. 00:41:30.859 --> 00:41:31.819 This is why 00:41:31.819 --> 00:41:33.400 in Matthew 19, 27, 00:41:33.599 --> 00:41:35.159 Peter confesses to Jesus, 00:41:35.619 --> 00:41:35.799 see, 00:41:36.299 --> 00:41:38.199 we have left 00:41:38.199 --> 00:41:39.379 everything 00:41:39.379 --> 00:41:41.219 and followed you. 00:41:42.639 --> 00:41:44.239 and Jesus commends 00:41:44.239 --> 00:41:44.859 them for it. 00:41:45.559 --> 00:41:46.739 Have you left 00:41:46.739 --> 00:41:47.859 everything 00:41:47.859 --> 00:41:49.400 to follow Jesus? 00:41:52.400 --> 00:41:54.379 What is that one thing 00:41:54.379 --> 00:41:56.519 or what is that one person? 00:41:56.659 --> 00:41:58.079 What is that one aspect 00:41:58.079 --> 00:41:58.859 of your life 00:41:58.859 --> 00:41:59.619 that you 00:41:59.619 --> 00:42:01.480 are just not willing 00:42:01.480 --> 00:42:02.179 to leave behind 00:42:02.179 --> 00:42:03.980 to follow Jesus? 00:42:03.980 --> 00:42:10.579 Then in verses 23, 25, 00:42:10.719 --> 00:42:11.780 we see Jesus modeling 00:42:11.780 --> 00:42:12.820 for his disciples 00:42:12.820 --> 00:42:13.400 what it means 00:42:13.400 --> 00:42:14.639 to be fishers of men. 00:42:15.320 --> 00:42:17.039 He says in verses 23, 25, 00:42:17.159 --> 00:42:17.740 and he went 00:42:17.740 --> 00:42:18.679 throughout all Galilee, 00:42:18.800 --> 00:42:19.880 teaching in their synagogues 00:42:19.880 --> 00:42:20.480 and proclaiming 00:42:20.480 --> 00:42:21.420 the gospel of the kingdom 00:42:21.420 --> 00:42:23.240 and healing every disease 00:42:23.240 --> 00:42:24.119 and every affliction 00:42:24.119 --> 00:42:24.840 among the people. 00:42:25.360 --> 00:42:26.659 So his fame spread 00:42:26.659 --> 00:42:27.639 throughout all Syria 00:42:27.639 --> 00:42:28.679 and they brought him 00:42:28.679 --> 00:42:29.539 all the sick, 00:42:29.980 --> 00:42:30.539 those afflicted 00:42:30.539 --> 00:42:31.440 with various diseases 00:42:31.440 --> 00:42:32.019 and pains, 00:42:32.119 --> 00:42:32.599 those oppressed 00:42:32.599 --> 00:42:33.239 by demons, 00:42:33.380 --> 00:42:34.400 those having seizures 00:42:34.400 --> 00:42:35.639 and paralytics 00:42:35.639 --> 00:42:36.400 and he healed them. 00:42:37.880 --> 00:42:38.839 And great crowds 00:42:38.839 --> 00:42:39.380 followed him 00:42:39.380 --> 00:42:39.980 from Galilee 00:42:39.980 --> 00:42:40.679 and the Decapolis 00:42:40.679 --> 00:42:41.380 and from Jerusalem 00:42:41.380 --> 00:42:41.839 and Judea 00:42:41.839 --> 00:42:42.699 and from beyond the Jordan. 00:42:43.480 --> 00:42:44.539 Matthew uses words 00:42:44.539 --> 00:42:45.960 like all and every 00:42:45.960 --> 00:42:46.599 many times 00:42:46.599 --> 00:42:47.440 in these few verses. 00:42:47.699 --> 00:42:48.079 Jesus went 00:42:48.079 --> 00:42:49.339 throughout all Galilee. 00:42:49.440 --> 00:42:49.900 His fame spread 00:42:49.900 --> 00:42:50.839 throughout all Syria. 00:42:50.980 --> 00:42:51.539 They brought him 00:42:51.539 --> 00:42:52.440 all the sick 00:42:52.440 --> 00:42:52.960 and he healed 00:42:52.960 --> 00:42:54.079 every disease 00:42:54.079 --> 00:42:55.259 and every affliction. 00:42:55.659 --> 00:42:56.599 It leads me to think 00:42:56.599 --> 00:42:57.599 that Matthew 00:42:57.599 --> 00:42:59.079 is generalizing here 00:42:59.079 --> 00:43:00.119 and not probably 00:43:00.119 --> 00:43:01.059 being literal. 00:43:01.059 --> 00:43:03.000 with that said, 00:43:03.099 --> 00:43:03.820 Jesus still 00:43:03.820 --> 00:43:04.739 nonetheless 00:43:04.739 --> 00:43:06.320 performed real miracles 00:43:06.320 --> 00:43:08.259 and that fact 00:43:08.259 --> 00:43:09.039 is not really 00:43:09.039 --> 00:43:10.539 even historically disputed. 00:43:12.159 --> 00:43:13.679 The earliest skeptics 00:43:13.679 --> 00:43:14.460 and challengers 00:43:14.460 --> 00:43:15.659 to Christianity 00:43:15.659 --> 00:43:17.039 like the one 00:43:17.039 --> 00:43:17.639 I mentioned earlier, 00:43:17.759 --> 00:43:18.119 Celsus, 00:43:18.239 --> 00:43:18.940 the second century 00:43:18.940 --> 00:43:19.739 Roman philosopher, 00:43:20.759 --> 00:43:22.659 they took for granted 00:43:22.659 --> 00:43:23.219 that Jesus 00:43:23.219 --> 00:43:24.099 performed miracles. 00:43:25.739 --> 00:43:27.360 Instead of conceding 00:43:27.360 --> 00:43:27.880 that Jesus 00:43:27.880 --> 00:43:28.759 performed those miracles 00:43:28.759 --> 00:43:29.900 by the power of God, 00:43:29.900 --> 00:43:31.400 they tried to argue, 00:43:31.800 --> 00:43:32.599 Celsus, for example, 00:43:32.700 --> 00:43:32.860 says, 00:43:32.940 --> 00:43:33.180 well, no, 00:43:33.260 --> 00:43:34.380 he was able 00:43:34.380 --> 00:43:35.000 to do those things 00:43:35.000 --> 00:43:36.280 because he learned magic 00:43:36.280 --> 00:43:37.519 when he was in Egypt 00:43:37.519 --> 00:43:38.559 as he was growing up. 00:43:40.240 --> 00:43:41.340 But the fact 00:43:41.340 --> 00:43:42.519 that Jesus did miracles 00:43:42.519 --> 00:43:43.660 is not disputed 00:43:43.660 --> 00:43:44.099 historically 00:43:44.099 --> 00:43:45.940 by the earliest documents. 00:43:46.599 --> 00:43:47.079 Consistently, 00:43:47.200 --> 00:43:47.940 Jesus is shown 00:43:47.940 --> 00:43:48.619 healing 00:43:48.619 --> 00:43:50.460 the sick 00:43:50.460 --> 00:43:51.920 and casting out demons. 00:43:53.660 --> 00:43:55.119 And these miracles 00:43:55.119 --> 00:43:56.119 are a sign 00:43:56.119 --> 00:43:57.780 of the inbreaking 00:43:57.780 --> 00:43:58.580 of the kingdom 00:43:58.580 --> 00:43:59.040 of heaven. 00:43:59.760 --> 00:44:01.019 Wherever Jesus goes 00:44:01.019 --> 00:44:01.780 and wherever 00:44:01.780 --> 00:44:03.360 Christ the king reigns, 00:44:03.620 --> 00:44:04.620 divine order 00:44:04.620 --> 00:44:05.420 is restored 00:44:05.420 --> 00:44:06.600 and new creation 00:44:06.600 --> 00:44:07.840 that Jesus brings about 00:44:07.840 --> 00:44:09.340 begins to peek through. 00:44:11.140 --> 00:44:12.900 20th century German theologian 00:44:12.900 --> 00:44:13.840 Jürgen Moltmann 00:44:13.840 --> 00:44:14.760 writes this way, 00:44:14.760 --> 00:44:17.040 when Jesus expels demons 00:44:17.040 --> 00:44:18.100 and heals the sick, 00:44:18.420 --> 00:44:19.300 he is driving out 00:44:19.300 --> 00:44:19.860 of creation 00:44:19.860 --> 00:44:21.120 the powers of destruction 00:44:21.120 --> 00:44:22.280 and is healing 00:44:22.280 --> 00:44:22.960 and restoring 00:44:22.960 --> 00:44:24.080 created beings 00:44:24.080 --> 00:44:24.640 who are hurt 00:44:24.640 --> 00:44:25.180 and sick. 00:44:25.980 --> 00:44:27.420 The lordship of God 00:44:27.420 --> 00:44:28.580 to which the healings 00:44:28.580 --> 00:44:29.260 witness 00:44:29.260 --> 00:44:30.860 restores creation 00:44:30.860 --> 00:44:31.540 to health. 00:44:32.400 --> 00:44:33.980 Jesus' healings 00:44:33.980 --> 00:44:36.040 are not supernatural miracles 00:44:36.040 --> 00:44:37.220 in a natural world. 00:44:37.980 --> 00:44:38.980 They are the only 00:44:38.980 --> 00:44:40.620 truly natural thing 00:44:40.620 --> 00:44:41.500 in a world 00:44:41.500 --> 00:44:42.600 that is unnatural, 00:44:42.599 --> 00:44:43.559 demonized 00:44:43.559 --> 00:44:44.360 and wounded. 00:44:48.420 --> 00:44:50.059 But Jesus' healing, 00:44:50.400 --> 00:44:51.319 as important as it is, 00:44:51.360 --> 00:44:52.819 is not the most important thing 00:44:52.819 --> 00:44:53.360 he does 00:44:53.360 --> 00:44:54.139 in his ministry. 00:44:54.599 --> 00:44:55.360 The first thing 00:44:55.360 --> 00:44:56.019 that Jesus is set 00:44:56.019 --> 00:44:56.500 to be doing 00:44:56.500 --> 00:44:57.880 in verse 23 00:44:57.880 --> 00:44:58.319 is this, 00:44:58.380 --> 00:44:59.159 he was teaching 00:44:59.159 --> 00:45:00.179 in their synagogues 00:45:00.179 --> 00:45:01.339 and proclaiming 00:45:01.339 --> 00:45:01.860 the gospel 00:45:01.860 --> 00:45:02.460 of the kingdom. 00:45:03.819 --> 00:45:04.679 The proclamation 00:45:04.679 --> 00:45:05.559 of the gospel 00:45:05.559 --> 00:45:07.059 is the most important thing 00:45:07.059 --> 00:45:08.179 about Jesus' ministry 00:45:08.179 --> 00:45:10.119 and it's the most important thing 00:45:10.119 --> 00:45:11.619 about our church's ministry. 00:45:12.599 --> 00:45:14.159 Because all of the miracles 00:45:14.159 --> 00:45:15.819 and all of the healings, 00:45:15.920 --> 00:45:17.779 they function as signs. 00:45:18.420 --> 00:45:19.639 Signs that point 00:45:19.639 --> 00:45:20.819 to who Jesus is. 00:45:21.179 --> 00:45:22.119 Signs that point 00:45:22.119 --> 00:45:22.860 to the person 00:45:22.860 --> 00:45:23.460 and work 00:45:23.460 --> 00:45:24.599 of Jesus Christ. 00:45:25.239 --> 00:45:26.219 It says in John 20, 00:45:26.299 --> 00:45:26.920 30 to 31 00:45:26.920 --> 00:45:28.000 that the many signs 00:45:28.000 --> 00:45:28.739 that Jesus did 00:45:28.739 --> 00:45:29.400 that were recorded 00:45:29.400 --> 00:45:30.460 in the gospel of John 00:45:30.460 --> 00:45:31.579 were recorded there 00:45:31.579 --> 00:45:33.319 so that you may believe 00:45:33.319 --> 00:45:35.139 that Jesus is the Christ, 00:45:35.219 --> 00:45:36.039 the son of God 00:45:36.039 --> 00:45:37.099 and that by believing 00:45:37.099 --> 00:45:38.039 you may have life 00:45:38.039 --> 00:45:39.179 in his name. 00:45:39.839 --> 00:45:40.699 That's the point 00:45:40.699 --> 00:45:41.360 of the healings. 00:45:41.360 --> 00:45:42.820 That's the point, 00:45:42.960 --> 00:45:44.059 the reason for the miracles. 00:45:44.180 --> 00:45:44.980 There are signs 00:45:44.980 --> 00:45:46.039 that point to Jesus. 00:45:48.840 --> 00:45:49.740 And if we make 00:45:49.740 --> 00:45:50.680 those signs 00:45:50.680 --> 00:45:51.760 and the good works 00:45:51.760 --> 00:45:52.380 that we do 00:45:52.380 --> 00:45:53.180 as God's people 00:45:53.180 --> 00:45:54.680 more central 00:45:54.680 --> 00:45:55.360 to our ministry 00:45:55.360 --> 00:45:56.500 than the message, 00:45:56.640 --> 00:45:57.099 the proclamation 00:45:57.099 --> 00:45:57.740 of the gospel, 00:45:57.860 --> 00:45:58.340 then we're missing 00:45:58.340 --> 00:45:58.840 the point. 00:45:59.920 --> 00:46:00.700 It's kind of like 00:46:00.700 --> 00:46:02.200 going to Acadia National Park 00:46:02.200 --> 00:46:04.980 and then being more excited 00:46:04.980 --> 00:46:07.000 about the sign 00:46:07.000 --> 00:46:07.599 that says 00:46:07.599 --> 00:46:08.860 Acadia National Park. 00:46:08.860 --> 00:46:12.360 then the coastal scenery 00:46:12.360 --> 00:46:15.180 and the beautiful lighthouses 00:46:15.180 --> 00:46:17.000 and Cadillac Mountain 00:46:17.000 --> 00:46:21.860 and it makes no sense. 00:46:25.680 --> 00:46:26.960 That's why Jesus says 00:46:26.960 --> 00:46:27.800 in Luke 10, 20, 00:46:27.920 --> 00:46:29.120 do not rejoice in this 00:46:29.120 --> 00:46:29.860 that the spirits 00:46:29.860 --> 00:46:31.539 are subject to you 00:46:31.539 --> 00:46:32.440 but rejoice 00:46:32.440 --> 00:46:33.260 that your names 00:46:33.260 --> 00:46:34.340 are written in heaven. 00:46:34.340 --> 00:46:36.780 to this day, 00:46:36.880 --> 00:46:38.000 God uses his people 00:46:38.000 --> 00:46:39.220 to cast out demons 00:46:39.220 --> 00:46:40.800 and he uses his people 00:46:40.800 --> 00:46:42.019 to heal diseases 00:46:42.019 --> 00:46:43.160 as he pleases 00:46:43.160 --> 00:46:45.940 but the good works 00:46:45.940 --> 00:46:46.480 that we do 00:46:46.480 --> 00:46:47.720 are not the main thing. 00:46:48.420 --> 00:46:49.519 The good news 00:46:49.519 --> 00:46:50.340 that we proclaim 00:46:50.340 --> 00:46:50.900 is 00:46:50.900 --> 00:46:53.940 our good works 00:46:53.940 --> 00:46:54.539 are meant 00:46:54.539 --> 00:46:55.420 to adorn 00:46:55.420 --> 00:46:56.320 the gospel. 00:46:56.519 --> 00:46:57.760 It says in Titus 2, 10. 00:46:57.760 --> 00:47:01.640 We must not mistake 00:47:01.640 --> 00:47:02.940 the ornaments 00:47:02.940 --> 00:47:04.200 for the tree. 00:47:07.560 --> 00:47:08.460 The gospel 00:47:08.460 --> 00:47:09.000 that we are 00:47:09.000 --> 00:47:10.400 to be most excited about, 00:47:10.480 --> 00:47:11.040 this gospel 00:47:11.040 --> 00:47:12.020 that is part and parcel 00:47:12.020 --> 00:47:13.160 of our Christian calling, 00:47:13.280 --> 00:47:13.760 this gospel 00:47:13.760 --> 00:47:14.760 that is part 00:47:14.760 --> 00:47:16.240 of our very vocation 00:47:16.240 --> 00:47:17.680 as fishers of men 00:47:17.680 --> 00:47:19.560 is simply the good news 00:47:19.560 --> 00:47:20.900 that Jesus is the Christ, 00:47:21.000 --> 00:47:21.460 the king 00:47:21.460 --> 00:47:22.860 who lays down his life 00:47:22.860 --> 00:47:23.340 for us 00:47:23.340 --> 00:47:24.140 on the cross. 00:47:25.340 --> 00:47:26.240 And I want to close 00:47:26.239 --> 00:47:26.879 with this. 00:47:26.959 --> 00:47:27.819 I want you to just think 00:47:27.819 --> 00:47:28.599 about that image 00:47:28.599 --> 00:47:29.819 of fishers of men 00:47:29.819 --> 00:47:30.339 for a minute. 00:47:33.839 --> 00:47:34.759 Imagine the sea 00:47:34.759 --> 00:47:35.599 and you guys 00:47:35.599 --> 00:47:36.000 are swimming 00:47:36.000 --> 00:47:36.799 your fish 00:47:36.799 --> 00:47:37.679 and 00:47:37.679 --> 00:47:40.019 and then here comes a net 00:47:40.019 --> 00:47:42.319 and it's 00:47:42.319 --> 00:47:43.879 gathering you in. 00:47:44.500 --> 00:47:45.399 What are you feeling? 00:47:49.000 --> 00:47:49.779 What did you say? 00:47:51.039 --> 00:47:51.519 Panic. 00:47:52.579 --> 00:47:53.559 That's what you're 00:47:53.559 --> 00:47:54.459 supposed to feel. 00:47:54.460 --> 00:47:56.280 That's what you're 00:47:56.280 --> 00:47:57.099 supposed to feel 00:47:57.099 --> 00:47:57.860 when fish 00:47:57.860 --> 00:47:58.619 is getting caught 00:47:58.619 --> 00:47:59.280 by the net. 00:48:01.619 --> 00:48:02.740 So this is kind of 00:48:02.740 --> 00:48:03.880 actually a shocking image 00:48:03.880 --> 00:48:04.880 that Jesus is using 00:48:04.880 --> 00:48:06.199 because throughout 00:48:06.199 --> 00:48:07.280 the Old Testament, 00:48:08.139 --> 00:48:08.840 look at places 00:48:08.840 --> 00:48:10.300 like Jeremiah 16, 16 00:48:10.300 --> 00:48:11.940 and places in Ezekiel, 00:48:12.380 --> 00:48:13.880 the image of fishing 00:48:13.880 --> 00:48:15.920 and fishing for men 00:48:15.920 --> 00:48:17.559 is used to refer 00:48:17.559 --> 00:48:18.740 to God's judgment. 00:48:18.739 --> 00:48:22.859 Imagine a net, 00:48:23.299 --> 00:48:24.359 a drag net 00:48:24.359 --> 00:48:25.899 just coming around you 00:48:25.899 --> 00:48:26.519 and you're 00:48:26.519 --> 00:48:27.899 swinging frantically 00:48:27.899 --> 00:48:28.699 trying to get away 00:48:28.699 --> 00:48:29.779 and there's no way 00:48:29.779 --> 00:48:30.299 you can go 00:48:30.299 --> 00:48:31.099 because the wrath 00:48:31.099 --> 00:48:31.639 of God, 00:48:31.839 --> 00:48:33.139 the net is closing in 00:48:33.139 --> 00:48:34.679 closer and closer 00:48:34.679 --> 00:48:35.639 and closer 00:48:35.639 --> 00:48:36.979 until you're going 00:48:36.979 --> 00:48:37.699 to be swallowed up 00:48:37.699 --> 00:48:38.139 by it. 00:48:40.619 --> 00:48:41.639 That's what you 00:48:41.639 --> 00:48:42.279 should think of 00:48:42.279 --> 00:48:42.759 when you hear 00:48:42.759 --> 00:48:43.699 fishers of men. 00:48:43.779 --> 00:48:44.679 So why in the world 00:48:44.679 --> 00:48:45.719 is this good news? 00:48:45.719 --> 00:48:49.779 It's because 00:48:49.779 --> 00:48:51.299 Jesus 00:48:51.299 --> 00:48:53.619 bore that wrath 00:48:53.619 --> 00:48:55.279 that every little fish 00:48:55.279 --> 00:48:55.819 deserved 00:48:55.819 --> 00:48:56.699 to be caught 00:48:56.699 --> 00:48:57.539 and consumed 00:48:57.539 --> 00:48:58.679 by the fire 00:48:58.679 --> 00:48:59.879 of the wrath of God. 00:49:00.459 --> 00:49:00.779 Instead, 00:49:01.019 --> 00:49:02.399 Jesus bears that wrath 00:49:02.399 --> 00:49:03.759 and he goes to the cross 00:49:03.759 --> 00:49:04.679 and he dies 00:49:04.679 --> 00:49:05.279 for the sins 00:49:05.279 --> 00:49:05.899 of his people 00:49:05.899 --> 00:49:07.379 so that instead of 00:49:07.379 --> 00:49:08.779 catch and kill, 00:49:08.939 --> 00:49:10.179 now we fishers of men, 00:49:10.179 --> 00:49:11.179 we catch alive 00:49:11.799 --> 00:49:12.799 and release 00:49:12.799 --> 00:49:14.659 from the waters 00:49:14.659 --> 00:49:15.219 of judgment 00:49:15.219 --> 00:49:16.199 to the waters 00:49:16.199 --> 00:49:16.779 of baptism 00:49:16.779 --> 00:49:17.500 from the waters 00:49:17.500 --> 00:49:18.000 of judgment 00:49:18.000 --> 00:49:19.059 to the waters 00:49:19.059 --> 00:49:19.699 of freedom, 00:49:19.839 --> 00:49:20.319 the waters 00:49:20.319 --> 00:49:21.059 of the spirit 00:49:21.059 --> 00:49:21.739 of God, 00:49:22.279 --> 00:49:23.059 the living water 00:49:23.059 --> 00:49:23.659 of life. 00:49:24.699 --> 00:49:25.500 That's why 00:49:25.500 --> 00:49:27.639 it's good news 00:49:27.639 --> 00:49:29.339 that Jesus 00:49:29.339 --> 00:49:30.299 comes to fish 00:49:30.299 --> 00:49:32.119 and he commissions 00:49:32.119 --> 00:49:32.719 us to go 00:49:32.719 --> 00:49:33.819 as fishers of men. 00:49:38.759 --> 00:49:39.259 So, 00:49:39.339 --> 00:49:39.779 brother and sister, 00:49:39.899 --> 00:49:41.119 we have a great call. 00:49:45.219 --> 00:49:47.480 let's go fishing. 00:49:48.480 --> 00:49:49.179 Let's pray.