WALK WITH ME!

Week 6 (Feb 5-11)

Matt 8:19-22; 15:21-18:35; Mark 7:24-9:62; Luke 9:18-62; John 7:2-31

So many stories this week – almost impossible to choose a few – I tried – ask me about any of the others I did not discuss – I enjoyed them all!

“Once a man is united to God, how could he not live forever?” C.S. Lewis

Peter’s profession of faith - John 6:66-71

When Jesus asked his disciples whether they would leave him, Peter answered with the question, 'Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life!' However, one of the twelve, Judas Iscariot, did go to someone else. He betrayed Jesus to the Pharisees for the 30 pieces of silver we know so well.

Peter’s question, “To whom shall we go?” was really a statement. Peter was not asking Jesus to name someone else for the disciples to follow. Peter was saying that there was no one else. Jesus was not asking for them to consider another – it was a test to uncover any disloyalty – as seen in Judas! Nobody could replace Jesus as the disciples’ Master. He was so much to them already and would reveal so much more! To name just a few things...

Jesus was their Teacher: As Peter said, "You have the words of life eternal" (John 6:68). Only Jesus was Christ the Son of God who had the gospel of eternal life.

Jesus was their Shepherd: "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." (John 10:11). Who else could do that for the disciples?

Jesus was their Lamb: John the Baptizer said of Jesus, "Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world." (John 1:29). Nobody else could be a sacrifice to make atonement for the disciples.

Jesus was their Way: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me." (John 14:6).

Jesus was their God: Thomas said to Jesus, "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28). What other man could the disciples recognize as God?

Parable of the unmerciful servant - Matt 18:21-35

I especially love this parable because it reminds me to be merciful and forgiving since I have been forgiven more than I can imagine. The servant whose lord forgave him much, ten thousand talents, equivalent to several millions of dollars, was unwilling to forgive another servant who owed him a hundred denarii. A denarius was a day’s wage and was worth approximately sixteen cents. Therefore, compared to what the first servant was forgiven, this was a very small amount. The principle here is, "the one forgiven much should forgive much." In other words, the principle of forgiveness is that grace or forgiveness to another is without limit. The disciples are not to count the number of times they forgive. Rather, as the parable teaches, they are to forgive much because God has forgiven much. Don't waste time keeping score of what we are owed since we owe so much more!

The little child - Mark 9:33-37

The disciples are thinking of the positions they will warrant when Jesus comes into His glory (Mark 10:37). They don't understand that His glory will not come until after His suffering and death. Leadership in times of prosperity and power looks very different than leadership in persecution and hardships. The purpose of leadership is to equip and encourage others so they remain steady and effective in times of great trial. Our goal is not to have a good seat at the table but rather to be seating others and go looking for more chairs!

To be great in God's kingdom is to realize that we are not great. We are not worthy of forgiveness or consideration or position. God's notice of us and blessings for us are because of His love, not our effort (Ephesians 2:8–9). And so the "greatest" in Jesus' kingdom is the person who acknowledges this by seeking God, rather than seeking themselves. The child would have not thought anything for himself – only what Jesus thought of him – lets be like that kid!

The lost sheep - Luke 15:4-7

The Parables of the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin (Luke 15:3–10) are the first two in a series of three. The third is the “lost son” or the “prodigal son” (Luke 15:11-32). The emphasis of the Lost Sheep is the unrelenting passion of the Shepherd to pursue the lost lamb – not to console himself with the 99 but to seek after the missing sheep. The hero of the story is not the found lamb (us) but the persistent Shepherd!

This humbling illustration of the shepherd carrying the sheep on his shoulders was the original figure used to identify Christians before people began identifying Christianity with crosses. In these parables Jesus paints with words a beautiful picture of God’s grace in His desire to see the lost return to Him. Men seek honor and avoid shame; God seeks to glorify Himself through us His sheep, His sons and daughters. Despite having ninety-nine other sheep, despite the sinful rebellion of His lost sheep, God joyfully receives it back, just as He does when we repent and return to Him. Time for an 'AMEN!'

I am the lost sheep – the little boy – the one forgiven much – so where else could I go?

Enjoy the readings this week!

Pastor Mike