FOLLOW
Notes
Transcript
Matthew 21:28-32
Matthew 21:28-32
ME
Follow.
Reward > Risk
WE
What do you think?
Read Matt 21:28-31a
GOD
Which of the two did his father’s will?
1st son initially disobeyed, but he later repented (turned from his error) and obeyed. He was credited for doing the will of the father in the end.
2nd son did not do the will of the father, even though he agreed to. The agreement was a lie, and his failure to do what he said he would showed that he never actually planned on doing what the father asked. All in all, this son was a hypocrite.
Read Matthew 21:31-32
Second son was like hypocritical Pharisees and religious scribes/people. They may have claimed to do the will of the Father in Heaven, but they didn’t obey His Word. “Lesser” Jews, such as prostitutes and tax collectors, would be in the Kingdom. Although they initially disobeyed the Lord through their sinful lifestyles, in the end they turned away from their sinful way and turned toward Jesus. They indeed followed: “repent and believe.”
What matters is living for God, not saying the right words.
Who in here wants to be self-righteous and hypocritical? Is that anyone’s goal in here? Who wants to talk a lot about serving God, and make it appear as if you do, but never actually do what He says?
Embarrassing (2nd grade, ants in pants).
Shame. More than “I did something embarrassing.” Rather, “I am an embarrassment.”
When we feel shame, we want to hide it. Fight or flight. Temptation of self-righteousness and hypocrisy.
Ben Stuart had powerful insight about shame. In Luke, Light and Truth stronger than shame is revealed.
Read Luke 5:1-11
Fisherman, who is supposed to catch fish, not catching fish. Student, who is supposed to pass school, failing school. Son or daughter, supposed to be in good standing and honoring their parents, in trouble with their parents. Human, who is supposed to be a human, being bad at human.
We don’t know if Peter was dejected. Or angry and defensive. Perhaps he was saddled with shame.
Yet here is a Man.
A Man who has power over everything you are powerless over. A Man who has control over everything you do not have control over. Jesus.
“If I’m bad at catching fish, how in the world am I gonna catch people? What does that even mean?”
Yet he followed, seeing Jesus for who He is and realizing the reward at hand.
Read Luke 5:12-16
If you had leprosy, you hid away in caves and dark, lonely places. If a person/people ever got too close to you, you’d yell out “Unclean! Unclean!”
The man with leprosy took a risk. He darted from out of the shadows toward Jesus. He risked humiliation, ridicule, and rejection. GREAT RISK.
Lemke story
The people grumbled. Just as the Pharisees grumbled when Jesus was healing and forgiving (Luke 5:29)
Yet healing and freedom came. He didn’t do it for his reputation’s sake: he did it for his soul’s sake. He did it in obedience, knowing that God is powerful to heal and restore. He did it so the relationship between him and the heavenly Father would be vibrant and well.
YOU
You don’t have to hide. You can be healed.
You can be real with Him.
Leaving the darkness and coming into the light is a risk. It is frightening. But you come to Someone who holds the power of life and forgiveness. He does heal.
He wants to lay His hand on you. Even the ugliest, deepest wounds.
“I want to put My hand on the wounds that have caused you the most pain and shame. I want to put My hand on what has alienated you from Me and others.”
“No matter the cost, will you bring it to Me?” Often, His healing comes in confession and community.
WE
Would you be real and authentic? Would you come to Him?
You don’t see an adorable Jesus show up in Luke. You see an authoritative, holy Jesus. “This 1000 year-old prophecy is about Me” Jesus. Defeat Satan with a word Jesus.
The one who despised the shame of the Cross and took a seat at the right hand of the Father. The conquering King.
keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
In our defeat, we will find His victory. Come humbly, come dependent. Allow Him to make you well, whole, and strong.
He’s worth following. Will you take the risk?