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About Jesus Steve Sweetman That
Scares Me Matthew
was a tax collector. No one
liked tax collectors. Despite
the expected criticism, Jesus invited Himself into this man's office.
Matthew probably saw Jesus as a potential source of pocket money.
Extorting the tax payer as he paid his taxes was routine for tax
collectors. The majority of
people would most likely have kept their mouths shut when standing
before Matthew, but not Jesus. How
long they talked and what they talked about is uncertain.
What we do know is that Jesus ended the conversation with two
simple words; "follow me". (Matthew 9:9) I've
often wondered about Jesus' conversation with Matthew. Was
there some small talk, or was it all serious?
What went through Matthew's head when Jesus said, "follow
me"? Did Matthew leave
his desk immediately? Did he
anticipate what he was getting himself into? Did
he foresee the hassles with the religious establishment?
Did he ever have second thoughts?
Was he crushed to the core when they took the bloody mess of a
man he admired down from the cross?
Did he shake his head in bewilderment, wondering, "is this
where following Jesus has led us"?
As
Matthew heard the blood curdling screams from the cross, I imagine him
recalling what Jesus told him and his friends.
"Anyone who does not take up his cross and 'follow me' is
not worthy of me". (Matthew 10:38) With
the screams from the cross still ringing in his ears, Matthew might well
have taken a deep breath, sighed, rubbed his beard with his hand, and
wondered, "is my cross going to look like this"? Little
did he know that it would. The
gospel message that Jesus spoke to Matthew and others wasn't the typical
"believe in Jesus, get saved, and live happily ever-after"
gospel that many Evangelicals have preached over the years. Believing
in Jesus was supposed to lead you to following Him. Following
Jesus means following Him to your own personal cross.
Following Jesus wasn't a matter of hanging out with Him and
enjoying the good life on the beaches of the I
wonder if the average "church-goer" is really clued in to what
following Jesus means. Is it
simply a matter of hanging out with like-minded friends; going through
the routine of church in the hopes of heaven?
Does western style Christianity lead anyone to his own personal
cross? In
John 3:16 Jesus offered us eternal life once we believed in Him.
Merely acknowledging the existence of the historic Jesus, or even
the risen Jesus, isn't exactly what believing in Jesus is all about.
Believing in Jesus is an exchange; your life for His life.
As you hand your life over to Jesus, He hands His life, in the
form of the Holy Spirit, over to you.
At that point, following Jesus begins, and sooner or later, you
will encounter your own personal cross.
It might well mean forgoing the instant gratification in this
life for the joy in the next life, something we know little of in the
western world. That's what
the cross meant for Jesus. (Hebrews 12:2)
I
doubt if Matthew knew what he was getting himself into when he took his
first step towards Jesus. Matthew's
journey with Jesus began when he left his desk.
It took him down the dirty and dusty roads of Judea and Galilee. There were countless
sleepless nights along the way. The
criticism from the religious establishment was irritating.
Yes, there were the miracles, but on the other hand, there was
the cross of Christ. If not
for the resurrection of Jesus, Matthew's journey would have ended right
there at the cross. After
many years, Matthew's journey with Jesus eventually led him to his own
personal cross. As tradition
has it, he was stabbed in the chest by a persecutor's sword.
That's what following Jesus meant to Matthew.
I wonder what it means to you and I. I
wonder if the average "church-goer" in the western world has
ever given Jesus' words much thought.
"Anyone who does not take up his cross and 'follow me' is
not worthy of me". (Matthew 10:38)
Our watered-down, and somewhat selfish gospel, has not allowed us
to think beyond finding forgiveness that gets us into heaven.
If I'm right about this, how can we really follow someone that we
don't properly believe in or trust.
If believing in Jesus is mere mental ascent to the existence of
an historic Jesus, or even the risen Jesus, we've sadly missed the boat.
We'll stand waiting on the dock of the bay, looking for the next
boat to drift in, but there won't be a next boat.
For
those of my family and friends who hold to such a faulty understanding
of believing and following Jesus, to put it in simple words; "that
scares me". The boat
will soon depart into open seas. It's
time to seriously intercede on the behalf of those who are enjoying
their picnic under a distant shade tree.
I pray they will join us in preparing for the boat's departure.
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