Missions Paul

Turn the tables. Don’t let anyone dictate how you see things. View them through the filter of One who was, is and will always be in charge.

^“Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and they schemed to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. “But not during the festival,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.” (Matthew 26 v 3-5)

Jesus had said he would lay his life down as a Passover lamb during Passover.

They said this wasn’t going to happen. They were concerned about causing a riot.

Jesus had said that he would be crucified.

They said this wasn’t going to happen. They had plans to abduct him and kill him quietly.

Jesus had said that his death would be public.

They said this wasn’t going to happen. They were not going to kill him till after the Festival had ended and people had gone home.

Who is in charge? It is not them. It is Jesus.

The enemy of your soul wants to see you die in some form and of course we are all called to take up our cross and die to self.

But how this happens is everything.

To lose your life in the timing of the enemy is to lose your destiny. To lose your life in the timing of God is to gain the whole world.

To lay your life down with the manipulation and deceit of the enemy is to cut short what God had in store for you. To lay your life down in the timing of God is surrender.

God knows the calendar. He knows what is ahead.

“When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, “As you know, the Passover is two days away—and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.” (Matthew 26 v 1-2)

Jesus knew it was now only 2 days away.

The Jews counted each day as a day. It is now Wednesday, the first day. Day 2 is tomorrow, Thursday. And then it is Passover. The day Jesus will be crucified.

Jesus knew the time. This was no surprise to Him.

Etched in the memory of everyone was the judgment and the rescue of the Passover. The angel of death passed over the homes sprinkled with the lamb’s blood. This is what was in the minds of all the pilgrims, the Jerusalem citizens and the religious leaders. They didn’t know what they celebrated was a shadow of what was to come. This Passover is the real event. Judgment would be known in their generation. At the same time a new Exodus would commence.

The Passover was two days away. Jesus is the new Moses.

David’s Messianic prophecy of being forsaken is only 2 days away (Psalm 22).

Isaiah’s Suffering Servant is only 2 days away (Isaiah 52-53).

Daniel’s Messiah the Prince being cut off is only 2 days away (Daniel 9).

Jesus knew. The worst day was not some haphazard, terrible accident or evil surprise. The worst day was held in the predetermined and foreknowledge of God.

He can be trusted because He holds the future.

“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” (Matthew 25 v 46

 “…take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world”, v34

‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels”, v41.

Here is the second similarity in a parable of differences between the sheep and the goats.

There is a place prepared for the sheep and a place prepared for the devil and his angels of which the goats will enter too.

Now perhaps one could line up evil and wicked people with the devil and his angels. But the line is filled with those who did not give food, drink, hospitality, clothing and care to people and ultimately to Jesus.

There is an eternal separation, a prepared place. But that is where the similarity ends for this prepared place of eternal punishment was never for the nations of the world but for the devil and his angels.

It is possible then to be in a prepared place that was never prepared for you and for that to be eternal.

It is sobering. Every part of my mind wants to react and change these words. I want to say the goats won’t go to that prepared place. Scholars still debate eternal punishment, what it is, where it is and who goes there and for how long.

If I separate people from my provision and care, if I treat people in a way that is less than they deserve then I am going to understand the depth separation can go to when my life is over, I will reap what I sow. I do not know a lot about eternal separation but I do know the trauma that separation does today. I know what it is like when friends turn their back. I have seen the mess of broken families. I have seen the loneliness of the homeless and the beggar. There are many who are separated from society. We can do more to be inclusive of all people. They don’t need to enter into these places, these places were never prepared for them. Perhaps earth is a taste of heaven after all.

Mother Teresa and her organisations Sisters of Charity lived by this parable of the Sheep and the Goats. Her mantra was 5 words, “You-did-it-to-me.”

When He returns Jesus separates the sheep to the right and the goats to the left.

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ (Matthew 25 v 41-45)

Apart from the obvious differences that stand out: Goats not sheep, depart not come, cursed not blessed and did not do instead of you did, there are 2 similarities.

The first is the sheep and the goats are both surprised.

Jesus has been demonstrating through his parables the surprise of His return to everyone, whether that is a wedding guest, a foolish virgin with no oil in her lamp, or a one talent servant who hadn’t done anything with what had been given him.

But the surprise with this final story is primarily about not noticing the presence of Jesus in their activity of life: “‘Lord, when did we see you …”

As well as praying that Churches will see outpourings of God’s presence perhaps we should simply begin to see Jesus in every person we meet today. How different life would be? In every person. The ones who have different opinions to us, the ones who beg on the street corner, the ones who annoy you, the least as well as the greatest, the sinned against and the sinner. If we began to see Jesus in them then maybe they will begin to see Jesus in us?

I wonder how life might be different if before we launch out with anger or hurtful criticism at someone who hasn’t met our standards we look up and see Jesus.

That will not happen if all we see is me.

Perhaps Jesus is nearer to us than we realise.

And maybe that is the point.

(The second similarity is for tomorrow)

“I can’t say thank you enough. I’m still learning to get used to people being kind to me. I’m looking at my cooker and I’m in tears. I didn’t expect this kindness. God bless you. Thank you.” This was a text sent by a lady who had simply turned up at church with her children. She was fleeing from a Domestic Violence situation and had absolutely nothing.

Where was Jesus in this scenario? Was Jesus in the gift of the cooker given by the Church? Or was Jesus with the woman receiving the gift?

 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ (Matthew 25 v 37-40)

There are members within Christ’s family who are hungry, thirsty, seen as a stranger, in need, sick and even in prison; they have less; they are overlooked and perhaps ignored; they are the least; but Jesus is with them and in them, so much so that it can be said that Jesus is one with them.

When we refuse to turn a deaf ear to the cries of the Christian family wherever they might be in the world then we are far more open to hear the voice of God. When we stand with our black brothers and sisters who have been subject to all kinds of mistreatment from unequal opportunity/justice to outright racism then we have perhaps come closest to standing in the presence of God than ever before. When we stop looking down on the ‘least’ as poor, second-class, high-maintenance people who bring the best out of us and see them as family then we are far more likely to begin to have visions of Christ.

It maybe Jesus who needs a cooker!

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ (Matthew 25 v 34-37)

Jesus is and always will be King.

Matthew had started his gospel with Jesus in the line of King David; Magi have sought him as King; the Sermon on the Mount is focused on the Kingdom of heaven; on the cross he is mocked as King; at his return nations will gather before the King; and as King he will usher people into his kingdom.

Which people?

It is those who have made Jesus their King during their life on earth. They made Jesus the centre of it all, their focus and the reason for doing life. “You gave me; you invited me; you clothed me; you looked after me; you came to visit me.”

ME is KING.

Make sure the ME is Jesus and not you or anyone else.

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. ³² All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ³³ He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.” (Matthew 25 v 31-33)

We will see His GLORY.

There is no way we will ever understand fully the glory of God until this day or until we leave this life.

In its simplistic form it is to see His beauty through the lens of His actions, character and nature.

There is a glory in heaven that Moses longed for and partially saw; that Isaiah saw in the Temple and that John would see in his Revelation, “The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.” (21:23) Everyone hearing Jesus speak about His return would certainly know Daniel’s vision, “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” (Daniel 7:13-14)

Our world is in a mess. But there is a beauty that is coming into the world, the glory of God, Jesus!

In His glory He will GATHER.

He is the creator and sustainer of what He has created. He is the ruler of all nations. He is not responsible for the terrorism and aggression of certain nations, yet both the history and geography of that nation is under His control. He is involved. He will gather because He is in control. We need to hear this. Some believe in a God but who is far away from their everyday life and who is powerless to do anything about it or chooses not to be involved. The gospel is that God is near. He is involved and he will gather.

In His glory He will gather because He is a SHEPHERD.

Even at the end of it all what we see of Jesus is not some dictatorial leader but a caring and loving shepherd.

The Bible is full of a God who loves as a shepherd.

Joseph described God, “God who has been my shepherd all my life” (Genesis 48:15)

Isaiah prophesies, “He tends his flock like a shepherd: he gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.” (40:11)

And of course David says, “The Lord is my Shepherd.” (Psalm 23:1)

So it isn’t strange in the slightest for Jesus to reveal who he is by speaking as a shepherd and His sheep.

He has shepherded you and will be that shepherd at the end for you.

When Jesus returns we will see His Glory as He Gathers like a Shepherd.

These 3 Gospel words remain of Jesus till the end.

The final story in our preparation for the return of Jesus is quite a long one, known as the Parable of the Talents.

“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’ “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’ “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. ‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ (Matthew 25 v 14-30)

So here is my morning thought:

What we do and what we believe and being in good standing with God are all connected.

In bold, “each according to his ability” is the key here. What do you have? What can you do? What are you able to do (through life our responsibilities change)?

Then do it.

When Jesus returns what do you want to be doing with what has been given to you as the responsibility of your life? Yes that changes. What you were given perhaps 30 years ago is different to what it may be today. However, it is your attitude towards that responsibility. If you say it doesn’t matter what I do with my life or I am not going to be responsible for my words, ways and how I treat others, then it will not end well.

What we do and what we believe and being in good standing with God are all connected.

On the outside everyone can look the same but it is what’s inside that counts.

“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.“At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’“‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.“Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’ “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. (Matthew 25 v 1-13)

They were all virgins and they all had lamps and they all had one bridegroom. Everyone looked the same. But of course there was a fundamental difference. There comes a time when everything changes. What you need in the night-time is different to the day. In the day you couldn’t spot any difference. They all look prepared, ready and excited.

But why have a lamp with nothing in it? Why deceive people to think carrying a lamp means when it becomes dark you will be fine? How foolish is this? Some people don’t even have a lamp! A person can look prepared and yet nothing is further from the truth.

A person can know the Christian language, ‘Lord, Lord’ but words are just words. Does He know you? Do you give time to be known? Do you tell Him everything? Are you having an affair with Him or is this a deep relationship of commitment? It is what we do now that counts.

Jesus will return unexpectedly at a time when His servants are treating people well; they are faithful to Him and each other; they are wise in their area of influence that they have been given.

 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.”

Jesus will return unexpectedly at a time when His servants are doing the opposite!

“But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 24 v 45-51)

This servant will be tempted to think the master is not coming because the delay is long, he will think he is free to treat the other servants not as belonging to the master but just as people and people he can abuse.

This servant will begin to act like someone who does not belong to the master. He will begin to act as if he was the master.

He will be surprised when the master returns and if he has fallen into the temptation of being ruthless, vile, abuser of people then he will be dealt with heavily. He will be known as a hypocrite and dealt with as such.

Consider your ways. Love people. Take care of them. Show that you are ready and waiting.