Turning the Corner

There is a significant shift in Matthew chapter 16.  Matthew has been telling the story of Jesus' ministry of teaching, healing, and leading the disciples in various ways, but now he is focused on the real reason that he became flesh (John 1) to take on human form (Philippians 2).  Jesus came to die.

After spending a great deal of time with his disciples, Jesus asks them, "Who do people think that I am?"  Peter is quick to step up and answer with some popular rumors like Elijah, John the Baptist, or another prophet.  Jesus gets more personal by asking, "Who do you think I am?"  And Peter hits a home-run by declaring that he was the Christ, the Messiah, the Savior, the promised one from God.  Maybe this encounter still echoed in Peter's mind when he wrote:

1 Peter 3:15
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

The interesting part of that verse is that it looks like the best evangelism, is not knocking on doors.  Peter tells us to always be ready to give an answer.  An answer is only possible if someone asks a question.  The key, then, is to to live in such a way that people ask you that question; let your light shine so that they ask who your Heavenly Father is and give glory to Him (Matthew 5:16).

Now that Peter has affirmed the true identity of the Savior, Jesus proceeds to tell the disciples exactly what was going to happen to him.  This doesn't just happen in chapter 16, but it happens in the next chapter, too.  Jesus was warning them, but also giving them hope by reminding them how it needed to happen.  It had been in the Scriptures for many years.  800 years before Jesus was on the cross, Isaiah predicted the suffering that Jesus would have to endure.

Isaiah 53:4-5
 ⁴ Surely he took up our infirmities 
   and carried our sorrows, 
yet we considered him stricken by God, 
   smitten by him, and afflicted. 
⁵ But he was pierced for our transgressions, 
   he was crushed for our iniquities; 
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, 
   and by his wounds we are healed. 


It was his plan from the beginning.  He loves us that much.  It is an awesome opportunity to live with this hope that we have.

Bread of Life

The only miracle that can be found in all four of the Gospels is the feeding of the 5,000.  It must have made a huge impact on the disciples and the church community.  The five loaves of bread used were probably less like the loaves of bread we buy at the grocery store and more like a thick pita-type bread.  It was less common for people to have an oven, and more common to have a large baking stone heated by fire, so by placing the dough on the large round stone they were able to get round loaves of bread.

http://www.mediterraneandiet.com

The two fish were probably a pan fish like Sunfish or Blue Gills, which are the most common fish in the Sea of Galilee.  On their own, two of those fish would not go far to satisfy 5 men - much less 5,000 men!

http://fishinghuntingfishingoutdoors.com

John's Gospel has an entire chapter devoted to this event, and it's quite a lengthy chapter.  In the book of John, Jesus confronts the crowds, claiming that the only reason they are following him is because they had full bellies.  Many wanted to make him king - what a powerful army someone would have if the leader would be able to feed thousands of soldiers so easily.  Jesus then challenged them with some confusing words:


John 6:35
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.


The people saw this as some type of metaphor, but Jesus later tells them that his flesh is real food and his blood is real drink (a foreshadow of the Lord's Supper that he would institute during passion week).  Because of his hard words, many left and did not follow Jesus anymore.  Jesus continues.

John 6:67-69

⁶⁷ “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.

⁶⁸ Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. ⁶⁹ We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.” John 6:67-69

The disciples were more faithful, willing to stay with Jesus because he was Jesus, not just because they liked the chef.  Peter speaks the truth when he responds with the question, "Where else could we go?"

Where else could we go...

Following Jesus

What does it mean to follow Jesus?  In Matthew 8 we found out the "cost of following Jesus" when two people asked about being disciples; Jesus told them the high stakes of such a commitment.  This concept is boldly emphasized by Jesus in two of the parables told in Matthew 13.

^{Matthew 13:44-46
   44} “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. 

   ⁴⁵ “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. ⁴⁶ When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

The kingdom of heaven is not a trivial pursuit, not passing fad.  When a person finds the kingdom, they are willing to sell everything in order to have it.  This concept is repeated twice.

How much does it cost to follow Jesus?  When, you would be right if you said that there is no joining fee for the church.  Being a follower of Jesus does not cost you a certain amount of money.  God does not just want a little bit of you, though.  He wants all of you - all your time, abilities, talents, possessions - he wants it all.  Living for Jesus and not being tied to 'things' will free a person to live the way that Jesus intends.

So if you've given everything to God, what does he do with all of it?  Most of the time, he gives it back.  But when you get it back, you have a new perspective.  When I am willing to give my house to God, then I do not see it as my possession to protect but God's possession to use.  How do I use it?  Who do I invite?  How do I live as though this is really God's house which he has entrusted to me for a few years?

What about my money, my phone, my time... what would it look like to live as if those were all of God's things which I get to use for a while?  While the answer to that question might be hard and different for different people, I believe it is the right question to be asking.

Here's another twist: the main character of parables is usually Jesus.  Jesus is the man who sows good seed.  Jesus is the Good Samaritan who helps the injured Jew.  Jesus is the shepherd who finds his lost sheep.  Jesus is the guy who found a great treasure and gave everything to have that treasure, including his life.

And what is that treasure that he found?  That treasure is you.

The Servant

As competitive people, we always want to be the best.  We always want to be better - at least better than the people around us.  It's a good thing, but may get out of hand from time to time.

A man named Jim Collins did a study a few years ago about what makes a great company.  He specifically was wondering how companies that are good move to being great.  Therefore he wrote a book with that title.

There seemed to be qualities and behaviors of the leaders that made them different, and he categorized leaders into five different levels.  Most of the descriptions made sense, but the top leadership - Level Five Leaders - were different from the other four leaders.  Level five leaders had a quality that was rarely found in leaders, and in general it was rarely found in people at all.  Jim Collins was surprised to find that beyond the determination, working hard, good communication, creative thinking, and other leadership qualities, the quality that can make a leader great is humility.

Jesus sometimes taught this concept.  "The greatest among you will be your servant." Matthew 23:11  But more than that, he lived it.

In Matthew chapter twelve, Jesus is described as a a servant, fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy from 800 years earlier.  Jesus was a leader who was gentle with the weak (not breaking a bruised reed or snuffing out a smoldering wick) with God's Spirit on him, and people would put their hope in him.  This was the first

Isaiah 42:1-4
 ¹ “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, 
   my chosen one in whom I delight; 
I will put my Spirit on him, 
   and he will bring justice to the nations. 
² He will not shout or cry out, 
   or raise his voice in the streets. 
³ A bruised reed he will not break, 
   and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. 
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; 
 ⁴ he will not falter or be discouraged 
till he establishes justice on earth. 
   In his teaching the islands will put their hope.”


This was the first of a few songs in Isaiah know as the Suffering Servant Songs.  They were descriptions of the coming Messiah, the one who was going to make everything right again.  The servant would also display God's splendor in Isaiah 49, would not be disgraced even though people beat and mock him in Isaiah 50, would lighten the nations with his justice in Isaiah 51, and would be pierced for our transgressions in Isaiah 53.  Jesus was a great leader, and his leadership was marked with humility.  It was nice that Jim Collins reminded us of this - and nice that the Spirit is reminding us of this every day.