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December 26 - Matthew 2 - "Jesus Respected?"

MPC 26^th December 2010.

Mitch Smart

The population of Mitchelton is about 8,000. Yesterday about 350 people came to church in this building. Where was everyone?

For many Australians the pleasures of this life are sufficiently satisfying that religion offers nothing of great appeal...

That's the view of Tom Frame in his book Losing my Religion: Unbelief in Australia. Frame says that while Australians are still interested in God, spirituality and even perhaps Jesus, they're not interested in committing to an active faith. Nothing's of great appeal.

According to a Nielsen phone-poll, some two-thirds of us believe in a God we can know. In fact over 50% of people say they're Christian. And even though only around half claim being Christian, a significantly higher 63% believe Australia is better off with Christianity.

There is something attractive about Jesus. In fact in another survey by the Centre for Public Christianity, 9 out 10 people believe Jesus is a real and respected figure of history.

Respect Jesus, but don't be too religious. It seems to be the order of the day. Maybe it's right. It certainly seems that's what lots think, I mean at yesterday's service only about this much of Mitchelton were here.

And so Tom Frame's analysis hits the nail on the head:

Other than a committed minority, Australians are not conscientious church members or enthusiastic participants in worship services. The incidence of regular churchgoing in Australia is, in fact, among the lowest in the Western world.

Overwhelmingly, Australia has some affection or respect for Jesus, but it's an arms' length relationship. A sought of "check him out from a distance" type thing.

From the very beginning Jesus has this effect of attracting people's attention and curiosity. Right from his birth people like the Magi, the wise men, are venturing from a distant land to see Jesus.

You see that in Matthew's account of Jesus, chapter 2:1-2:

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him."

Not only the wise men, but the provincial ruler, King Herod, joins the conga line of people who throughout history will be somewhat captivated by Jesus:

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."

No sooner was that manger cradling the newborn than minds were being sparked by the figure of Jesus. fanatic, or distant fan, billions and billions have had some place for Jesus in their life. And still today 9 out of 10 people have a place for Him.

This morning I want to skim over Matthew's account of Jesus to see some of the traits that have earned Jesus such respect. But then, I want to take us a step further to see why respect isn't the end of the story. We're heading to the one thing that moves some from respect to allegiance, affection to action.

When some of my friends talk about Jesus it's His great teaching, love and powerful example of sacrifice that they recognise. Their regard comes from His teaching, love and sacrifice.

Jesus' teachings are recorded at length by Matthew and they still litter our ethics today.

An eye for an eye, don't judge others, judge yourself first. Don't worry about tomorrow, it'll worry about itself. And many others. It's all good stuff that's stood the test of time.

Lots of it has a kind of undercurrent of putting wrong right, or justice. A theme of the unrecognised being recognised.

I can resonate with that. Who doesn't love the story of a poor mum winning a holiday, or a tireless charity worker getting a TV renovation job?

When those people are pushed to the front and thanked, it's just so right.

In some of Jesus' most repeated words he recognises the unrecognised. And speaks of a time when the humble will be lifted up, and the poor made rich.

Just eight sentences from Jesus speak to our heart's desire for justice and fairness.

Let me read some from Matthew 5:3-10:

3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."
8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God."

And aren't they good words? Teaching that's glided through the halls of history.

The second thing that keeps Jesus on the stage is his take on love.

Jesus joins countless people who've had a go at capturing the power of the virtue of love:

About two and half thousand years ago the philosopher Plato said: "He whom love touches not walks in darkness."

One of America's most influential writers in the early 20th century Henry Mencken says: "Love is the triumph of imagination over intelligence."

And one of my personal favourite takes on love from leading English poet Lord Byron: "Like the measles, love is most dangerous when it comes late in life."

The kind of love we meet in Jesus though crosses all the racial and class barriers. Jesus takes time out for the poor, the helpless, the diseased, the kids, the rich, the famous, the not so rich and the not so famous. Jesus' heart overflows with love and care for everyone.

If you distil Jesus' message, many see the kernel of love.

But it's Jesus' discussion with one of the legal officers of His day that carries the most memorable words on love. Talking to a Sadducee, Jesus is asked what the most important commands are.

His reply is, Love. Love others like yourself. If your neighbour is hungry, feed her. Sick? Take her to a doctor. Broke? Give him your money. Just like you would for yourself.

So in Matthew 22:37-40

Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbour as yourself.'

Love your neighbour. That is a phrase that most of the western world is familiar with, and it comes from the lips of Jesus.

Over 2000 years on we hear Jesus' teaching of justice, see Jesus' love that has no barrier and thirdly we can admire Jesus' example of sacrifice.

66 year old Thomas Vander-Whoude is another man with a story of stunning sacrifice.

Thomas is a former war pilot, farmer, athletic director, volunteer coach, parishioner, handy neighbour, father, grandfather and husband. And on the first Sunday in September Thomas paid the ultimate price for his sacrificial heart.

He was doing something he always did, working with his 20 year old Down's syndrome effected son Joseph in the backyard. Suddenly Joseph fell through the cover of the yard's septic tank.

Thomas tried to pull him out, but couldn't. Jumping into the murky pit, he propped his son's head above the surface. Thomas sought occasional breaths, but his head was under.

By the time emergency services arrived 66 year old Thomas Vander-Whoude's lungs were filled. He had no hope of being revived.

The costliest sacrifice for the son he loved.

Humans will often sacrifice for those the love, in times of war, and disaster, times of sickness. Countless sacrifices that are forgotten over time.

But in Jesus, we have a sacrifice being remembered a couple of millennia later. A sacrifice that He knew was coming and talked about publicly. A death for many. The ultimate price for the disciples who would abandon him.

In the moments leading up to his sacrifice, Jesus had dinner with these friends. With words that give us a sharp insight into what Jesus is doing. His sacrifice, his blood, is being poured out, so his followers' blood wouldn't be poured out for their rejection of God.

Jesus' death instead of theirs. Driven by his sacrificial heart Jesus speaks of his coming sacrifice over dinner in Matthew 26:26-28:

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body." Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins."

As the hour of the sacrifice approached, disciple Judas hands Jesus to the executors. As Jesus stands before the court, close friend Peter pretends he doesn't know Jesus.

And as the sun was setting on Jesus' life, he looked out at his accusers and asked that they be forgiven. "Forgive them father for they don't know what they're doing."

See, 66 year old Thomas Vander-Whoude valiantly died for a boy who loved him and whom he loved, a very precious sacrifice. But Jesus died for a crowd who hated him.

Whatever you understand of Jesus sacrifice, it's selflessness strikes a chord that inspires us in the moments when we are called to give up ourselves.

Three things that endear us to Jesus: A great teacher, amazing love and selfless sacrifice.

Whatever you think about churches, or Christians, all in all Jesus is a good man, who himself has made a positive contribution to history.

Even though Jesus himself is still held in relatively high regard, in Tom Frame's book he recognises that Jesus is now someone we hold at arms' length. Someone to learn from, but not be too obsessed.

Tom openly wonders if it's worth the kind of commitment that he and many other people make to Jesus. When this many respect Jesus but only this many seem to be committed, you wonder if maybe you're over the top.

In some of Tom's closing reflections he reveals:

In darker moments I confess that religious faith torments my mind, mocks my judgments and burdens my spirit.

Ever feel like that? Tormented? Burdened? Perhaps you are a little too carried away. Maybe it is enough to just respect him.

Well, it's only enough if you want to ignore the whole Jesus. If you just want to peel off his good virtues, then all He is an example to be admired.

But as you see as you read the entirety of Matthew's account of Jesus, it's not just respect Jesus gets, but worship.

Worship.

A word that when Matthew uses it means to flatten yourself in front of someone and admit you are in their service. Lying face first confessing your absolute dependence on the one you bow before.

Look what happens after Jesus' resurrection; Jesus greets the women who discovered His empty tomb in 28:9:

Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.

And the disciples, who days ago scattered like traitors, see the risen Jesus in 28:17:

When they saw him, they worshiped him...

Not respect, not admiration, nor reverence, nor praise. Worship.

There's something about Jesus that's worthy of more than arms' length admiration.

Earlier in Matthew, chapter 4, Jesus is facing his adversary Satan. Satan offers Jesus a throne, on one condition: Jesus has to fall on his face before Satan, worship him.

Jesus throws the offer in the devil's face. Worship, says Jesus, worship belongs to the true God only. Matthew 4 from verse 9:

"All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'"

Worship God only.

Add that up:

According to Jesus only God can be worshipped.

When Jesus is resurrected, he allows people to worship him.

Tom Frame tells us why he commits his entire life to Jesus:

I am a Christian because I have encountered Jesus Christ and believe that he is not dead but risen... My religious faith is not ultimately based on arguments but grounded in a person whom I believe is God incarnate.

History has lots of teachers. Many who love. Millions who've sacrificed.

Only one who is God. And the only right response is worship.

This is the full picture of Jesus. God in the flesh. And sure, his teaching, love and sacrifice teach us valuable lessons, but his divinity is what counts.

If you think looking at Jesus example of love is showing him respect, but you refuse to worship him as God, it's actually disrespectful. You're not understanding Jesus the way he understood himself.

A Jesus who is anything short of God is not the Jesus we meet from history. It's not the Jesus whose words we read, it's not the one we learn about in Matthew, or Mark or Luke of John for that matter. A Jesus who isn't God is an imagined Jesus. A lifeless in effectual nice man who looks nice in Christmas lights displays.

Abandon your imagined Jesus, bow at the feet of the real one. Then you'll see it all. That Jesus' teaching about life is so good because he made life. Jesus' love so astounding that he put on the limitations of being human so we could know him.

And that his sacrifice is not just an example, but a costly death at the hands of his own creatures so their sins could be forgiven. That's the real Jesus, the God who is to be worshipped.

The kind of surveys I've been talking about remind me again of how much common ground there is between lots of us about Jesus. Common ground that ought to open up conversation between, so that the wealth of wisdom from Jesus can benefit us all.

Friends, let me encourage you to open up conversation with people around you. Stick Jesus' teaching on your computer monitor. Find out what your kids think about love. Tell your mates you keep being surprised by how Jesus just kept sacrificing himself for others.

But never stop there. Show people that Jesus has every inch of your life. Let them know you'd be on the floor at his feet in a second. Because he is God, and he is to be worshipped.

And if you've put yourself at the feet of the divine Jesus, giving not only respect, but worship, you've laid yourself down in the right place. And sheltered beneath the right sacrifice.

I know it's difficult to follow the true Jesus in a world that respects an imagined Jesus. No matter how your family looks down on you for being too fanatical, how your workmates scoff at your "naïve" faith, and if this Christmas you're the only one who wants to say grace at dinner, good on you.

3 "Blessed are you, for yours is the kingdom of heaven.
4 "Blessed are you, for you will be comforted.
5 "Blessed are you, for you are a child of God."

Why are we here? Why have so many jumped from arms' length respect to total allegiance of Christ. Our worship is based, not on clever arguments or the statistics of our society, but on the resurrected man Jesus Christ, whom we believe is God in the flesh.