“I assure you, unless you turn from your sins and become as little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven.“ – Vs 3 (NLT)

Unless you turn from your sin, turn around, change, are converted, have a change of heart, return to square one and start over – those are just a few of the various ways in which this verse has been translated. Jesus is calling for a change. He is telling His disciples and us, that we must go through a change to follow Him. Metaphorically, Jesus is saying each of us must turn ourself from our current course of conduct. We must reverse course. We must change our way of thinking. This statement by Jesus was in response to the disciples’ question, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

These guys were obsessed with position, power, and prominence. And they were wanting to know what their place in the pecking order of heaven was going to be. This seems to have been a regular point of debate for them. Luke records another time in which the topic of greatness was dominating their thoughts: “And they began to argue among themselves as to who would be the greatest in the coming Kingdom” (Luke 22:24). This one took place at the final Passover meal He shared with His disciples and immediately after Jesus had announced one of them would betray Him. Over in the book of Mark, we have recorded an instance when James and John came to Jesus and requested, “In your glorious Kingdom, we want to sit in places of honor next to you, one at your right and the other at your left” (Mark 10:37). Matthew even lets us know that their mother was involved. “Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Jesus with her sons, bowing down and making a request of Him.” When Jesus asked what she wanted, she said, “Command that in Your kingdom these two sons of mine may sit one on Your right and one on Your left” (Matthew 20:20-21).

Power, position, and prominence. Those are powerful things in our world. But in the kingdom of God, they seem to have no place. Jesus tells the disciples that they must become “like little children.” If they don’t, they will never enter the kingdom of heaven. So what is He talking about? Humility. Jesus is telling them that they must continue to humble themselves until they become like a child – exhibiting trust, openness, and an eagerness to learn. They must develop a child’s simple trust. A child’s vulnerability. A child’s sense of dependence. A child’s honesty and willingness to openly express their needs to the One who can meet those needs. These childlike qualities are what constitute true greatness in God’s kingdom. Paul said, “When I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10). He was talking about strength in the midst of persecutions. But his attitude is what Jesus is talking about. It is a willingness to admit my weakness and my need for God’s strength. It is a constant realization that I am anything BUT great. I am undeserving of God’s love, mercy, and grace. Rather than worry about what my position or place of prominence will be in the kingdom, I should rejoice like a little child that I get to be there at all.

This attitude of childlike humility is not a one-time deal. It is something we are to develop over time. Jesus said that we are to become like children. The Greek word can be translated “begin to be.” Unless we begin to be like a child in our attitudes and actions, we can never enter the kingdom of heaven. It is God’s grace that allows any of us to enter into His kingdom. None of us can enter heaven pridefully, arrogantly, or deservedly. We enter only as children, carried in the arms of Christ. We don’t enter by our strength, but by His. We don’t enter on our merits, but according to His. So why do we spend so much time here on earth worrying about our power and position? It will not get us one step closer to heaven. It has no value in God’s eternal economy. So why waste so much energy and effort about who is the greatest? I should spend far more time rejoicing in the amazing fact that I am His child. I can’t take care of myself. I can’t feed myself. I can’t defend myself. I can’t save myself. But He has done all that for me.

Father, I am amazed that You have chosen to make me Your son. You have chosen to adopt me and make me Your heir. Help me to reject any thoughts of my own greatness or deservedness. I have done nothing to earn or merit Your grace, mercy, and love. You just chose to love me. May I continue to become like a little child. May I grow daily in my dependence on You. May gratitude be my attitude, not pride. May humility characterize my life, not pride. May my faith become increasingly more childlike every day. Amen

Ken Miller
Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org

“However, we don’t want to offend them, so go down to the lake and throw in a line. Open the mouth of the first fish you catch, and you will find a coin. Take the coin and pay the tax for both of us.“ – Vs 27 (NLT)

I love this story. It seems like such a disconnect from the rest of the chapter and, at first glance, doesn’t see to be any more than an interesting little side story. But I think it reveals so much about Jesus. Peter is confronted by some Temple representatives who collect the annual tax for the upkeep and support of the Temple. They want to know if Jesus, as Peter’s teacher or rabbi, pays the tax. They seem to be inferring that He hasn’t. Peter, probably defensively, assures them that Jesus has paid the tax. But the reality is, according to the rest of the story, Jesus had not yet paid the tax. Peter had lied. So when he entered the house, he was going to talk to Jesus about the matter. He had put his neck on the line and told these officials that Jesus had paid the tax. Now Peter had to get Jesus to make good in his (Peter’s) promise.

But before Peter could bring up the matter, Jesus asks him an interesting question: “From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs or poll-tax, from their sons or from strangers?” (Vs 25 – NASB). Peter quickly answers, “From strangers.” Jesus point seems to be that the sons of the king are exempt from the tax. In that one small statement, Jesus communicates a lot about Himself. He once again affirms His deity and His unique position as the Son of God. He is the exempt one. As the Son of God, Jesus was not personally obligated to pay for the support of God’s house, because being God, it was His Temple.

“Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the LORD of hosts. – Malachi 3:1

Jesus wasn’t just another rabbi. He wasn’t just some itinerant teacher roaming the countryside. He was the Son of God. It was His Temple. It was His house. He did not have to pay a tax to support His own house. I think the magnitude of this statement escaped Peter at the moment. But I am sure that he reflected on this exchange once Jesus had resurrected. He would have recalled what Jesus had said. But for now, he was probably still wondering how they were going to pay the tax. He wasn’t about to go to these officials and tell them that Jesus was exempt because He was the Son of God. Not only would they laugh at him, they would probably arrest them both. But Jesus knew what Peter was thinking and gently gave Peter some instructions for coming up with the tax money. Now these were some strange instructions. “Go down to the lake and throw in a line. Open the mouth of the first fish you catch, and you will find a coin. Take the coin and pay the tax for both of us.” Can’t you just see Peter’s face? “You want me to do what?” Matthew is kind enough not to give us Peter’s response. But we assume that Peter did as the Lord commanded him and it all happened just like Jesus said it would. He caught the fish, opened its mouth, and there was the coin. A single shekel, but enough to cover not only Jesus’ tax, but Peter’s as well.

This is probably my favorite part of the story. Jesus, as the Son of God, wasn’t obligated to pay this tax, but He did. He said His reason for doing so was to not offend these officials. But I think He was covering for Peter. Peter had told these men that Jesus had already paid the tax. Now Jesus made it a reality. He didn’t have to, but He did. It reminds me that Jesus didn’t have to come to earth, but He did. He didn’t have to take on human flesh, but He did. He didn’t have to die as a sinner, but He did. He didn’t have to pay my debt, but He did. Jesus paid Peter’s debt. He met Peter’s obligation. Why did He choose to get the coin from the mouth of a fish? I have no idea. Maybe it was a visual lesson for Peter, the fisherman. Jesus could have handed Peter a shekel. He could have told him to pick up the nearest rock and there he would find the coin. But instead, He sends Peter the fisherman to go fish. To go do what he had done every day of his life for years. But this time, things were different. Instead of a net, he was to use a line and a hook. This wasn’t about quantity, but a single fish. The very first fish. This was going to be a miracle. It reminds me of the first time that Peter had met Jesus. Peter was fishing and had not had much luck. They had been fishing all day and had caught nothing. So Jesus tells them to go back out to the deep water and let down their nets for a catch. When they did, they caught so many fish that it began to sink their boat. This time Jesus sent Peter to get one single fish. Once again, Jesus had provided a catch and He had proven who He was. The first time, Peter’s response was to follow Jesus. We are not given Peter’s response this time. But I have the feeling that Peter was blown away by what happened. When he caught that fish and found the coin, he was amazed once again. Jesus really was the Son of God. He really was the owner of the Temple. He was really was above having to pay the tax. Yet He paid it willingly.

Father, it amazes me that Your Son was willing to come to earth, live as a human being, suffer at the hands of men, and die a sinner’s death, even though He didn’t deserve it. He did all this, even though He didn’t have to. He did it willingly. And all for me. He didn’t have to pay that tax, but He did. He didn’t have to die for me, but He did. And I can’t thank You both enough. Amen

Ken Miller
Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org

Then Jesus said to the disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross, and follow me.“ – Vs 24 (NLT)

Deny yourself. Take up your cross. THEN follow Jesus. Being a Christ-follower is about more than just expressing belief in Him. It is a about willingly dying to my own, selfish, self-focused way of living. It is about giving up my way for His. In the Greek the phrase, “must deny himself” is an imperative. It means “to affirm that one has no acquaintance or connection with someone.” In other words, you are willing to say that you are no longer acquainted with your old self. It can also mean “to forget one’s self, lose sight of one’s self and one’s own interests.” That is what Jesus is calling us to. But for many of us, our decision to follow Christ was not accompanied by a determination to deny self. We gladly took our interests and our love-affair with self right along with us. And so we still spend countless hours trying to keep self pleased, while at the same time we’re trying to follow Christ. But Jesus said we had to deny ourselves. We had to put away selfish ambition. We have to give up our self-seeking agenda for His. Isn’t that exactly what Jesus blasted Peter for just a few seconds before He made this statement? Jesus had been telling the disciples that “He would suffer at the hands of the leaders and the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, and he would be raised on the third day” (Vs 21 – NLT). And Peter’s response was to pull Jesus aside and rebuke Him. His exact words were, “God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You” (Vs 22 – NASB). At first glance this just sounds like Peter not wanting Jesus to suffer and die. But Jesus reveals the truth behind Peter’s statement. Peter isn’t really concerned about Jesus. His motivation is purely selfish and self-centered. He had an agenda and Jesus was a critical part of that agenda being fulfilled. He was supposed to be the Messiah. He was supposed to right the wrongs and injustices that the Jews had suffered for generations. Jesus was supposed to set up His kingdom here on earth and overthrow the Romans. And Peter wanted a place of importance in that kingdom. When Jesus revealed God’s plan, it didn’t match Peter’s. So Peter read Jesus the riot act. He was not thinking about God’s eternal plan of redemption for the entire world. He was thinking about Peter’s plan for power, prominence, and position. Sure, he wanted to see the Jewish people restored, but he could have cared less about any Gentiles being a part of that restoration. His vision was short-sighted and self-focused. Jesus made it clear when He said to Peter, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, and not from God’s” (Vs 24 – NLT). Then Jesus made His now-famous statement that those who want to be His followers, must first deny themselves, their agendas, and their temporal, man-centered viewpoints.

But that’s not all. Denying self must be accompanied by a willingness to pick up our own cross. To take up the very instrument that would lead to our own death. To bear the cross means to accept the rejection of the world for turning to Jesus and following Him. Discipleship involves a death that is like a crucifixion. I crucify my old self and my old way of life on the cross daily. Paul puts it this way in Galatians 6:14: “For my part, I am going to boast about nothing but the Cross of our Master, Jesus Christ. Because of that Cross, I have been crucified in relation to the world, set free from the stifling atmosphere of pleasing others and fitting into the little patterns that they dictate” (The Message). In Galatians 5:24, Paul says this: “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there” (NLT). In Romans 6:6, Paul states: “Our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin” (NLT).

In his Gospel account, Luke records Jesus call to radical discipleship this way: “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me” (Luke 9:23 – NASB). He includes the word “daily.” While my old self was crucified with Christ on the cross, there is a sense in which I am daily required to die to self. I will continue to do battle with my old sin nature until Jesus returns or He calls me home. So I must take up my cross daily. I must deny my old sin nature by putting it to death each and every day of my life. And I have plenty of opportunity to do so.

It’s interesting that Jesus said that we must first deny ourselves, then take up our cross, before we follow Him. There seems to be a flow to this process. We tend to want to follow, but leave out the first two steps. Jesus seems to make discipleship costly, not easy. He says that if I want to save my life, I must be willing to lose it. Following Jesus is not easy. The path He calls us to is not a smooth and pleasant one. It will cost us. But the reward for outweighs any cost. The gain is far greater than any pain it may require of us. Following Him means forsaking ME. My will, my desires, my plans, my pleasures, my sins. It means denying myself, taking up my cross daily, and walking the path He walked. A path of selfless service, radical obedience, and total dependence on the Father.

Father, help me deny myself and take up my cross daily. It is hard to do. My old self still pulls at me, trying to get my off the path. I still have to battle the old desires that used to enslave me. But I am no longer a slave to those things. I have been set free. But I need to daily deny myself and shoulder my cross. I need to continue to put to death the old sin nature that would love to take back over control. But thank You that I can live differently because I have the Holy Spirit living within me. I am a new creature with a new heart, and a whole new potential for living a Christ-like life. Amen

Ken Miller
Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org

“But evil words come from an evil heart and defile the person who says them.“ – Vs 18 (NLT)

If you’ve ever had the impression that Jesus was some mild-mannered, wimpy moralist who wandered around the Judean landscape spouting obscure, hard-to-understand riddles, this chapter should change your mind forever. Matthew records with painful honesty the words of Jesus as He lights up the false righteousness of the Pharisees and, by extension, any of us who give Him lip service, but not our hearts. He is talking to men and women who are more concerned about keeping up appearances by keeping a certain set of rules, than having a relationship with Him.

It all started with the Pharisees accusing Jesus’ disciples of eating with unclean hands. This wasn’t about good hygiene. It was about the disciples breaking the rules that the Pharisees had come up with on their own. There was no requirement in the Law that required anyone to wash their hands before eating. Only priests were required to cleanse themselves from any impurity before they could perform their priestly duties. But the Pharisees had expanded this rule to include that everyone be required to wash their hands before eating. And now Jesus’ disciples were breaking their rule.

Jesus doesn’t hold back. He calls them hypocrites. He accuses them of coming up with their own set of laws that would allow them to get around the actual laws of God. That way they could appear righteous without actually having to being so. In verse 11, Jesus cuts to the chase and lays out the real problem: “You are not defiled by what you eat; you are defiled by what you say and do.” This wasn’t about eating with impure hands. It was about living with impure hearts. Jesus makes this painfully clear when He explains the true source of our words and actions in verse 18: “But evil words come from an evil heart and defile the person who says them” (NLT).

I love the response of the disciples. “Do you realize you offended the Pharisees by what you just said?” Yes, I think Jesus knew He had offended them because that was His obvious intent. Not because He hoped to change them with His searing sarcasm, but I think He was hoping that the disciples would take in what He was saying and no longer idolize these men as icons of religious virtue. Jesus was pulling them down off the pedestal upon which they had been placed by the people. Jesus was exposing their false righteousness and introducing a new form of righteousness that flowed from the heart. A heart that would require the radical transformation that His coming death, burial and resurrection would make possible. To Jesus, the Pharisees were like “blind men leading blind men” (Vs 14) – futile, dangerous, and hopeless in their attempt to provide direction for spiritual transformation. But in some ways, we are a lot like them. In his book, The Wisdom of Tenderness, Brennan Manning describes our similarities this way:

“The violence with which some Christians expound their beliefs makes me think that they are trying to convince themselves. The specter of their well-concealed unbelief frightens them, so they become more militant and strident. When this same fear grips the churches, they disintegrate into lifeless propagators of formal rituals or intolerant agents of repression.  Without an intimate, heartfelt knowledge of Jesus, the preachers who staff these churches resemble travel agents handing out brochures to places they’ve never visited.”

So how does Jesus describe these kinds of people? “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far away. Their worship is a farce, for they replace God’s commands with their own man–made teachings” (Vs 8-9). No heart. Just head. No heart transformation. Just behavior modification. More good behavior and less bad behavior MUST equal godliness. But how did that formula work out for the Pharisees? Not so well. And it won’t work for us today. No, Jesus is still all about heart change – change from the inside out. And He is the only one who can bring it about.

Father, I don’t want to worship You in vain. I don’t want my man-made rules and attempts at self-righteousness to keep me from coming to You. I want true heart change, not superficial self-induced behavior modification that never seems to last. Thank You for sending Your Son and making it possible for me to live a new life in a whole new way. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit who provides me with the power I need to live the life I’ve been called to live. Amen

Ken Miller
Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org

But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away; you give them something to eat!” – Vs 16 (NASB)

It’s been a long day. It started with news that John the Baptist had been beheaded. This had hit Jesus hard, causing Him to withdraw in a boat to a secluded place by Himself (Vs 13). But Jesus’ solitude didn’t last long. It never did. There were always the crowds. And this day was no different. So after a long day, the disciples found themselves surrounded again by thousands of men, women, and children, all there to get a glimpse of Jesus, or to receive healing from Him. The location was remote and when it started getting late, the disciples recommended to Jesus that He call it a day and send the crowds away so they could go into the nearby villages and find food to eat. Many of these people were miles from their own homes, having traveled long distances in order to see Jesus. The disciples were weary and probably tired of all the crowds, and who could blame them. So when they told Jesus that He ought to send the crowds away they were more than a little surprised at His response. “They do not need to go away; you give them something to eat!”

What?! You have got to be kidding Jesus. Where are we supposed to find enough food to feed this many people. There are at least 5,000 men and that doesn’t include all the women and kids. We’re talking well over 10,000 people here. And you want us to give them something to eat?

The disciples were stunned. A few of them were probably even put out at the audacity of this request – or command. Jesus was telling them to do the impossible. And they proved it by listing their meager supplies on hand: Five loaves and two fishes. That wasn’t even enough to feed 12 hungry disciples, let alone a crowd like this. The facts were clear. There were too many people and not enough resources. Case closed. Or so they thought.

Jesus doesn’t want to hear their excuses. But He does want their fishes and loaves. He takes what they’ve got and then orders the disciples to seat the crowd on the grass. Can you imagine what is going through the disciples’ minds? They’re probably thinking they’re going to have a riot on their hands when Jesus starts handing out little bitty pieces of fish and bread to these people. The people aren’t going to stand for this. They’re going to get upset. But as they do crowd control, Jesus calmly takes their five loaves and two fish and looking up into heaven, He blesses it. Then He begins dividing up the food and handing it to the disciples, who in turn give it to the people. And He keeps breaking and dividing, and the disciples keep handing it out. Over and over again. Until every single person in the crowd has eaten their fill. Matthew recalls that “they all ate and were satisfied” (Vs 20). Slowly, calmly, unspectacularly, Jesus had just performed one of His greatest miracles. He had fed a huge crowd of people with just a handful of loaves and fishes. And when the disciples did clean-up duty they picked up twelve baskets of leftovers. One basket for each of them.

Matthew records no statement by Jesus condemning the disciples’ lack of faith. In fact, Jesus seems to say nothing. I think the twelves baskets were probably statement enough for the disciples. They started out with little and walked away with an abundance. Jesus had presented them with an impossible situation. He had made an unrealistic request. All the facts pointed to failure. Their resources were too small. They lacked what was necessary to do what Jesus was demanding of them. Or did they? Jesus used the very resources they had to do what He did. He simply multiplied what they had. He blessed what they had. He took their lack and made it more than sufficient. And isn’t that what He wants to do in your life and my life? Take what little we have and bless it and multiply it? He isn’t concerned about the quantity of our strength, the amount of our wisdom, the abundance of our ability. He just wants us to bring it to Him and let Him use it as He sees fit. We have to admit our lack. We have to confess that we don’t have enough, but then trust that this is NOT a problem for Him. He’ll use it. And we’ll find that there was really was more than enough after all. Because in His hands our meager resources become more than sufficient for the need.

I love this story because it is a reminder of what my life is to be like every single day. I face situations each day that require more of me than I have to give. They demand of me more than I can deliver. But Jesus simply says, “Bring to Me what you have. Give me what you’ve got.” And when I obediently let Him have it, He blesses it, multiplies it, and works miracles with it. It reminds me of the old song that says, “Little is much when God is in it.” Little is much. That is to be the story of my life as I live it in obedience to Jesus Christ.

Father, little really is much when You are in it. Your power makes my weakness a non-factor. Your ability to multiply even my meager abilities and resources make anything possible. I have no excuse for not serving, sharing, giving, or going in Your name. Jesus just asks that I bring to Him what little I have and let Him use it. Thank You for using me in spite of me. Thank You for being willing to take what I have and use it to accomplish Your kingdom work here on this earth. Amen

Ken Miller
Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org

“Other seeds fell among thorns that shot up and choked out the tender blades.“ – Vs 7 (NLT)

In chapter 13 we have the well-known parable of the seeds. Or better yet, the parable of the soils. Jesus tells of four different types of soils on which the seed of the Word is spread. Four soils – four different responses. One was soil by the side of the road. Another was soil surrounded by rocks. A third was soil in which thorns had already taken root. And finally, there was the good soil. All four soils received the same seed. All four soils represent different kinds of people and their responses to the hearing of the Word of God. In this case the Word refers to the Gospel – the good news regarding Jesus Christ and His kingdom. In Jesus’ audience that day were all four types of people. Jesus goes on to give us a clear explanation of what these people were like.

The first group are those who hear the word of the kingdom but do not understand it (Vs 19). It makes no sense to them. So it never takes root in their lives. There’s no response. And what they have heard is snatched away by the enemy. He distracts them and diverts their attention away from the truth of the Word.

The next group hears the Word and receives it with joy (Vs 20), but they never allow it to take root in their lives. This is an emotional response and it proves temporary. Because as soon as any kind of trouble comes into their lives due to the Word, they bail. Initially, they loved the idea behind the Gospel, but when it fails to make their life easier, happier, and trouble-free, they jettison the truth of God’s Word. They walk away disappointed and disillusioned.

The third group are those whose lives are already filled with the things of this world. They’ve allowed their lives to become infested with the “thorns” of materialism, wealth, pleasure, prestige, etc. The uncultivated soil of their lives has been the perfect place for weeds and thorns to take root. So when they hear the Word, it is unable to take root and flourish because it is overpowered by the presence of worldly desires. Jesus calls it the “worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth” (Vs 22). Charles Haddon Spurgeon, the 19th-Century pastor of the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London, referred to this group of people in the following way in a sermon entitled “Sown Among Thorns”: “You are religious persons, and to all appearance you are under the influence of godliness. You exhibit plenty of leaf, but there is no corn in the ear, no substance in your Christianity.”

Spurgeon goes on to say: “The seed sown among thorns lived and continued to grow. And in many people’s minds the Gospel of divine truth is growing after a fashion: they understand it better, can defend it more valorously, and speak of it more fluently. Moreover, it does influence them in some form and degree, for gross vices are forsaken. They are decent imitations of believers: you can see the shape of an ear: the stalk has struggled up through the thorns until you can see its head, and you are led to expect corn. But go to that apparent wheat-ear, and feel it: there are the sheaths but there is nothing in them; you have all the makings of an ear of wheat, but it will yield no grain. I would speak to those before me who, perhaps, have been baptized and are members of the church; I want to ask of them a question or two. Do you not think that there is a great deal of empty profession nowadays? Do you not think that many have a name to live and are dead? ‘Yes,’ say you, ‘I know a neighbor whom I judge to be in that condition.’ May not another neighbor judge the same of you? Would it not be well to raise the question about yourself? Have you really believed in the Lord Jesus? Are you truly converted from sin and self? Turn that sharp eye of yours homeward for a while. Examine your own actions, and judge your condition by them. Put yourself into the crucible. O my God, what if I should be a preacher to others, and should be myself a castaway! Will not every deacon and elder, and every individual church member, speak to himself after the same fashion. You will go to your Sunday school class this afternoon; will you be teaching the children what you do not know? You mean to go to a meeting this evening and talk to others about conversion; will you be exhorting them to that which you have never yourself experienced? Will it be so? You do not need fine preaching, but you do need probing in the conscience. A thorough examination will do the healthy no harm, and it may bless the sick. ‘Lord, let me know the worst of my case,’ is one of my frequent prayers, and I suggest it to you.”

This third group is a significant one in the church today. It consists of those who hear the Word, seemingly respond to it, but never seem to live lives that exhibit the fruit of a life that has been changed by it. Why? Because the Gospel, with its message of salvation and sanctification, has been choked out by worldly cares and obsessions. Spurgeon puts it this way: “So much then about the seed: it was good seed, it was sown, it was received by the soil, it grew and promised well, but yet in the end it was unfruitful. No doubt multitudes, who receive Christianity, become regular attendants at our place of worship, and are honest in their moral character; but Christ is not all in all to them. He holds a very secondary place in their affections. Their wheat is overshadowed with a thicket of thorns, and is so choked that it comes to nothing. Their religion is buried beneath their worldliness.”

We all have thorns in our soil. We all struggle with the worries of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth. That doesn’t mean we’re wealthy, but that we’ve bought into the lie that wealth and affluence is the answer to all our problems. Our lack of material possessions or adundance of them can both lead to the life-changing message of the Gospel being choked out of our lives. There’s nothing wrong with the seed and there’s nothing wrong with the soil. It is just that we have allowed our love affair with the things of this world to fill our lives to the point that there is no room for the Gospel to grow. And without its growth and maturity, there is no fruit. As Spurgeon said so well, our religion becomes buried by our worldliness. So is the Word being choked out in your life? Are the worries of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth crowding out the message of spiritual transformation in your life? He who has ears, let him hear. Listen to the words of Jesus. Examine your life. Confess your love affair with the world. Allow Him to do some serious weeding so that He might pull up the thorns that fill your life and create room for His message of truth to take root and grow. He can and He will. And then your life can be like the fourth soil – fruitful and abundant.

Father, open the eyes of those whose lives are choked by the cares of this world. It happens to all of us. We get wrapped up in materialism and pleasure, worldliness and wealth. This world seems to offer everything we need for happiness. But Your Word makes it clear that true joy and eternal life can only be found in Your Son Jesus Christ. Forgive us for our religiousness that only simulates a changed life, when in reality we are still living lives that are in love with the world. Remove the thorns so that our lives might be fruitful and full.  Amen

Ken Miller
Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org

“Something greater…is here.“ – Vs 6, 41, 42

Three times in this chapter, Jesus makes the statement, “something greater…is here.” Three times He makes a comparison between Himself and a person or place from Israel’s past. He compares Himself to the Temple, to Jonah, and then to Solomon – all in the middle of an ongoing confrontation with the Pharisees. They accuse His disciples of violating the Sabbath because they are picking heads of grain and eating them. In their legalistic minds, this constituted “work.” Jesus responds to their accusations by reminding them that the priests themselves work on the Sabbbath and are innocent. And because He, Jesus, is greater than the Sabbath, He and His disciples are likewise innocent. He is greater than the Sabbath because He is Lord of the Sabbath.

The next confrontation is over Jesus’ healing of a demon-possessed man. The crowds are amazed and begin to wrestle with the idea that Jesus just may be the Son of David, the Messiah. This sets the Pharisees off and they accuse Jesus of healing by the power of Satan.This accusation garners a fairly intense response from Jesus against the Pharisees. He reveals that their denial of His healing power as being from God was to deny the Holy Spirit and to deny that the power and reign of God was present in the world. They were committing the unforgivable sin – attributing the Spirit’s word to Satan.

Even after this confrontation, the Pharisees have the gall to come to Jesus and ask Him for a sign. But Jesus refuses, telling them that the only sign they will receive is “the sign of Jonah the prophet” (Vs 39). Jesus is referring to His own death, burial, and resurrection. Just as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and nights, so Jesus would be three days and nights in the earth after His crucifixion. But Jesus slams the Pharisees, reminding them that while the people of Ninevah responded to the preaching of Jonah and repented, they are their contemporaries refused to listen to the preaching of Jesus – even though He is greater than Jonah. Jesus’ preaching is greater than Jonah’s. His message is greater than Jonah’s. He is preaching about the kingdom of God and the means to enter it – through Him. Jonah was preaching a temporary salvation from judgment. Jesus is preaching a permanent salvation from eternal judgment to come. It is interesting that Jesus chose to compare Himself to Jonah, one of the prophets to the Gentiles. It would not be long before Jesus would expand His message of salvation to the Gentiles as well.

Finally, Jesus compares Himself to Solomon, the great king and the son of David. He says the the queen of Sheba, who came to visit Solomon and to witness his wisdom, would stand up and condemn this generation, because they have the true wisdom of God standing right in front of them, but refuse to believe. Jesus is greater than Solomon because He is wiser than Solomon. His kingdom is greater than Solomon.

Jesus has compared Himself to three of their icons: The Temple, Jonah the prophet, and Solomon. This had to have rubbed the Pharisees wrong. Jesus was claiming superiority to the very house of God and two of patriarchs of their faith. He was claiming to have power over the Temple itself – the very place where God Himself dwelt. He was claiming to be preaching a greater message than that of Jonah. He was claiming to possess a greater wisdom than Solomon. But they refused to recognize His power, His message, and His wisdom. The refused to acknowledge His greatness. But can we be guilty of the same thing today? Can we refuse to acknowledge God’s greatness? Are our plans greater than Him? Are our rules greater than Him? Do we refuse to acknowledge His infinite wisdom, His incomparable message, His limitless power? If we are not careful, we can find ourselves questioning the wisdom of Jesus, doubting the power of Jesus, and rejecting the message of Jesus. He is calling us to daily repentance and dependence on Him. But we can become arrogant, refusing to see ourselves as sinners in need of a Savior every day of our lives. We can refuse to repent, content with our “ticket to heaven.” We can think of ourselves as wiser than He is by following our own plan, instead of His. We can refuse to admit that He has the power and authority to tell us what to do with our lives, by living according to our own set of rules and standards.

He is greater than…everything we can think of. And He wants us to acknowledge that fact.

Father, Your Son is greater. He is greater than anything that I might want to compare Him with. But I do not always live my life as if I believe that fact. I doubt Him. I reject Him. I refuse to obey Him. May I continue to grow in my understanding of His infinite greatness. I want to increase in my understanding on His power, His wisdom, and the life-changing message that He brings. He is greater! Amen

Ken Miller
Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light.“ – Vs 28-30 (NLT)

You’re probably familiar with the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. But have you ever heard of the Great Invitation? Well, you’ll find it in the verses above. It’s one of the most overlooked of the three “Greats” in the Scriptures. Maybe it’s because it uses a farming metaphor that most of us can’t relate to. Or maybe it’s because we’ve determined it is just talking about salvation. But the more I read it and study it, the Great Invitation is one of the most powerful statements about spiritual growth and formation in the entire Bible. It goes hand in hand with the Great Commandment – to love God and to love others – and the Great Commission – to make disciples. In fact, without the Great Invitation, keeping the other two will be impossible. It provides the foundation on which to build a simple, yet vibrant spiritual growth strategy.

In this passage, Jesus is offering an invitation with two parts. The first is an invitation to the lost. He is addressing all those who are weary, worn out and burdened down by a religious system that is based on rule-keeping and self-righteousness. The average Jewish peasant was living a life burdened with the legalism imposed on them by the Pharisees. There were literally hundreds upon hundreds of laws they were required to keep – most of them man-made, not God-ordained. Their righteousness was based on their ability to keep up. Their standing with God was dependent on their strict adherence to rules that were impossible to keep. So they were beaten down, tired, and staggering under the load of guilt and shame that came with their failure. So Jesus invites them to come to Him. He extends a personal invitation to have a relationship with Him. And He offers them rest. Jesus offers them a new way into a relationship with God – through Him. It is not burdensome or wearying. It’s restful. Jesus extends to them the Good News of the Gospel.

But there’s a second part to this invitation. And I think it is the part that most often gets overlooked. Once Jesus has invited us into a relationship with Him, He issues a command. He says, “Take My yoke upon you.” This is a critical next-step that most of us refuse to take. We refuse to get into the yoke with Jesus. We accept His invitation to rest, but we balk at the idea of the yoke. Maybe it’s because we don’t fully understand it. Maybe it’s because it sounds like too much work. But either way, we miss out. Because Jesus tells us to get into the yoke in order that we might learn from Him. To get in the yoke was a common phrase in Jesus day. It was used by rabbis and teachers when referring to their disciples or followers. You were invited by a rabbi to yoke with him and so learn from him. It was a common farming term that all understood. When a farmer wanted to train up a new oxen to plow in the yoke, he would take a young calf and place him in a yoke next to a “veteran” ox. In this relationship, the young ox would learn from the “master.” He would learn to submit to the older ox’s leadership and direction. He would learn the ways of the plow. He would learn to die to his own way of life and to live his life with a new sense of purpose. Prior to getting in the yoke, the young ox lived a life that was his own. He ate when he wanted to eat. He slept when he wanted to sleep. He had no responsibilities or cares. But once in the yoke, his life changed. He now had work to do. He had a purpose for living. His existence took on new meaning and his world no longer revolved around him. He was walking and working alongside his mentor – learning the way of the yoke. Sure, it was work, but it was easy as long as he did it the master’s way.

That is the relationship Jesus longs for with each of us. He wants us to get in the yoke next to Him. He has work for us to do. He has a plan for our lives and a purpose for our existence, but we will never know it or experience it outside of the yoke. Yet, many of us refuse to get in the yoke with Him. Or perhaps we never knew we were supposed to get in the yoke with Him. But it’s never too late to get in the yoke. He calls us daily to join Him and learn from Him. It is in the yoke that true discipleship takes place. It is in the yoke that we learn to live like Jesus lived. It is in the yoke that we develop the desire to love God and others. It is in the yoke that we develop a passion for the lost and a commitment to make disciples. The yoke trains us, equips us, empowers us, and inspires us for service.

•    Being in the yoke is … worship
–    You are living a life of obedience and, which is worshipful
–    You are living a life of dependence, which is worshipful
–    You are glorifying God, which is worshipful
Being in the yoke requires that you … connect
–    First, you must connect to Christ
–    But ultimately, being in the yoke connects you to other believers
–    You become part of the body of Christ through your connection to Christ
Being in the yoke is where you learn, which means you … grow
–    You can’t help but learn in the yoke
–    Jesus says, “learn from Me”
–    The purpose of the yoke is discipleship
Being in the yoke will require you to … serve
–    You are in the yoke to do God’s work according to His will
–    Jesus came to serve, not be served
–    He is still serving today and He wants us to serve alongside Him
Being in the yoke is the message we model and … share
–    When we live our life in the yoke with Jesus, we are modeling what it means to be His disciple
–    We don’t just share the good news, we live it out
–    Jesus told us to “make disciples”
–    We cannot effectively “make” what we don’t understand or have not experienced

The yoke is about a discipleship/apprenticeship relationship in which we learn from Jesus…
…How to be a shepherd
…How to be a leader
…How to be a son of God
…How to be a good soldier
…How to be a citizen
…How to be a priest
…How to be a prophet
…How to be an advocate
…How to be a reconciler
…How to be a steward
…How to be an encourager
…How to be a servant
…How to be an evangelist
…How to be a sacrifice
…How to be a healer
…How to be a fruit bearer
…How to be a worshiper
…How to be a teacher
…How to be a student

These are produced out of a relationship with Christ. They are the fruits of Christ-likeness. We are becoming what He is – which is at the heart of sanctification. It all begins with the Great Invitation, Christ’s gracious offer of life, rest, and relationship with Him. If someone does not accept His invitation, which includes an offer of salvation and a life of sanctification, the other two commands are impossible to keep. Outside of the yoke, fulfillment of the Great Commission and keeping of the Great Commandment are impossible. A journey of spiritual growth must begin in the yoke. Maturity in Christ is essentially growth in Christ-likeness. That is the by-product of a life lived in the yoke, where a disciple learns from the Master Himself.

Father, thank You for the yoke. May I increasingly find myself more at home there than at any other place. I want to learn from Jesus Himself as I work alongside Him. I want to experience the rest He offers in the midst of a life of service to Him and for Him. Give us a greater desire to live in the yoke with Jesus.. Amen

Ken Miller
Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org

“So do not fear…” – Vs 31 (NASB)

This is a pretty intense chapter. As I read it, I kept trying to get in the sandals of the disciples and imagine what they were feeling as Jesus gave them this little “pep talk.” He is getting ready to sent them out on their own for the first time as His apostles or literally His “ambassadors.” But rather than give them words of encouragement, it seems as if He is trying to scare them. He starts out pretty positive, telling them that they are to preach that the kingdom of heaven is at hand. They are to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, and cast out demons. But even those instructions could be a little intimidating to a group of rag-tag fishermen and tax collectors. But then Jesus starts to turn up the heat. He starts intimating that they will face rejection. Not everyone is going to accept what they have to say. They won’t necessarily be celebrities everywhere they go. And Jesus makes this very clear in His instructions. Just take a look at some of His words of warning:

“I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves.” – Vs 16 (NASB)

“…beware of men, for they will hand you over to the courts and scourge you in their synagogues.” – Vs 17 (NASB)

“…you must stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers.” – Vs 18 (NLT)

“Brother will betray brother to death, fathers will betray their own children, and children will rise against their parents and cause them to be killed.” – Vs 21 (NLT)

“And everyone will hate you because of your allegiance to me.” – Vs 22 (NLT)

“When you are persecuted in one town, flee to the next.” – Vs 23 (NLT)

“Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! No, I came to bring a sword.” – Vs 34 (NLT)

“I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter–in–law against her mother–in–law. Your enemies will be right in your own household!” – Vs 35-36 (NLT)

“If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine.” – Vs 38 (NLT)

This is scary stuff. If I’m one of the disciples, I’m thinking, “What have I signed up for?” Jesus’ speech isn’t exactly what I would expect if He’s trying to send these guys out enthusiastically. But right in the middle of all the doom and gloom, Jesus three different times, “Do not fear!” He reminds them that God is watching over them. They will have divine protection.

“Not even a sparrow, worth only half a penny, can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to him than a whole flock of sparrows.” – Vs 29-31 (NLT)

Not all that Jesus says in this chapter was going to take place in the time the disciples were on this little expedition. There are some forewarnings included that deal with the time after Jesus death, burial, and resurrection. There are also some events that have to do with the Tribulation period. All of these men would have been long dead by the time this future event takes place. So some of what Jesus is talking about has to do with His followers in general. So this message has immediate application to the twelve, but also to us. These are going to be difficult days. Jesus is not promising His followers a rose garden. This is not going to be an easy path to follow. We will face persecution. We will face difficulties. Our message will not always be accepted. Even among our own family members. Jesus’ message is controversial and divisive. The gospel divides. That’s why He says, “Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! No, I came to bring a sword.” Listen to how The Message paraphrases that verse: “Don’t think I’ve come to make life cozy. I’ve come to cut – make a sharp knife-cut between son and father, daughter and mother, bride and mother-in-law — cut through these cozy domestic arrangements and free you for God.” I think that really does sum up what Jesus is trying to say to these men as He sends them out. While this trip would prove to be fairly non-eventful, the day was coming when they would experience much of these things in full. After Jesus resurrection, the disciples would go through extreme difficulty and persecution. They would find themselves under tremendous persecution. But Jesus wants them to remember that they have no reason to fear. So He tells them three times, “Do not fear.” Better yet, He warns them to fear God, but not man.

“Don’t be bluffed into silence by the threats of bullies. There’s nothing they can do to your soul, your core being. Save your fear for God, who holds your entire life–body and soul–in his hands.” – Vs 28 (The Message)

We have been sent out into the world. A lot of what Jesus warned the disciples about, we face. These are difficult days. The message we have to share is not a popular one. It is divisive and controversial. It is exclusive and not politically correct. But we need to go out fearlessly, knowing that we have the power of God and the presence of the Holy Spirit (Vs 20). We do not need to fear men. But we DO need to fear God. We are His ambassadors, His representatives. He is expecting us to be aware of the difficulties. He doesn’t want us to be uninformed or ignorant of the realities we face. We are sheep in the midst of wolves. But we can be bold, because we serve a powerful God who loves us and knows us so intimately, that He knows exactly how many hairs we have on our heads! So do not fear.

Father, thank You for reminding me of the mission on which You have placed me. I am not here for my comfort or convenience. I am on mission. You did not promise me an easy road or path to follow. You have warned me that it would be difficult. Your own Son was murdered because of His message. Why do I think it will be any different for me? Give me the strength to be bold. To not fear. But keep me fearful of You, because You are worthy of my fear. You hold my life in Your hands. You purchased My life with the blood of Your own Son. I owe You my allegiance and faithful service.. Amen

Ken Miller
Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org

“Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to be merciful; I don’t want your sacrifices.’ For I have come to call sinners, not those who think they are already good enough.” – Vs 13 (NLT)

Chapter nine has couple of encounters between Jesus and the Pharisees. These guys are beginning to turn up the heat. The more Jesus teaches and ministers, the more they decide they don’t like what they’re hearing. He is unwanted competition for the hearts and minds of the people. Jesus is upstaging them and they don’t like it. For years, the Pharisees have been the main act in town. They are the recognized spiritual elite – the A Team. And now Jesus comes along preaching repentance and a new view of righteousness – a righteousness distinctly different than the brand the Pharisees had been practicing. In fact, that was a big part of what Jesus was teaching in His Sermon on the Mount. Remember, He said, “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them” (Matthew 6:1). He was talking about the righteousness of the Pharisees. They gave to be noticed by men. They prayed to be seen by men. They prayed to impress men. They fasted to be admired by men. These guys did a lot of good things, but they did them for the wrong reasons. Yet they were viewed as righteous by the people.

Now Jesus comes along and begins to upset their idyllic little world. He is operating by a different rule book. He rejects their brand of righteousness and unveils His own. So when He sits down to have lunch with Matthew, a tax collector, and his tax collector buddies, the Pharisees are appalled. They can’t believe a good rabbi would ever lower himself to eat with the likes of tax collectors and sinners. These people were considered the bottom feeders of the community. They were the dregs of humanity – despised and avoided at all costs. But here was Jesus having a meal with them. So the Pharisees confront Jesus’ disciples. “Why is your Teacher eating with the tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus overhears their question and responds: “Healthy people don’t need a doctor––sick people do.” Jesus is revealing the true purpose behind His coming. He came to rescue the perishing. He came to save the lost. He came to heal the spiritually sick and dying. He came to bring light to those living in spiritual darkness. He came to feed the spiritually hungry. He came to set free the spiritually captive. Jesus is also revealing another important ingredient to His ministry. It is to those who recognize their need for a Savior. Jesus came to rescue those who know they are in need of rescue. He came to heal those who know they are sick and are willing to admit it.

He goes on to say to His questioners, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to be merciful; I don’t want your sacrifices.’ For I have come to call sinners, not those who think they are already good enough.” He quotes from Hosea 6:6.

“I want you to be merciful; I don’t want your sacrifices. I want you to know God; that’s more important than burnt offerings.”

The Hebrew word for “merciful” is heced. It means “goodness, kindness, and faithfulness.” In the book of Hosea, God is speaking against the people of Judah for their unfaithfulness to Him. Sure, they were still making sacrifices and going through the religious motions, but they didn’t really know God. So, because they didn’t know God, they weren’t living lives that reflected a relationship with God. These people refused to come to God in true repentance. They refused to admit that they were really spiritually sick. In Hosea 5:15, God says, “I will go away and return to My place, until they acknowledge their guilt and seek My face; in their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.” The response God is looking for from them is this: “Come, let us return to the Lord, for He has torn us, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bandage us, He will revive us after two days; He will raise us up on the third day, that we may live before Him” (Hosea 6:1-2).

When Jesus quotes from the book of Hosea to the Pharisees, it does not go unnoticed. They know the context. They were experts in the Old Testament and knew what was going on in the story. So the point of Jesus’ statement did not escape their notice. He was saying that they were like the people of Judah – stubborn, unrepentant, spiritually sick, but unwilling to admit their need for a doctor. They saw themselves as perfectly healthy and spiritually whole. In his gospel, Mark records Jesus’ response this way: “Healthy people don’t need a doctor––sick people do. I have come to call sinners, not those who think they are already good enough.” Jesus sums it up right there. The Pharisees were self-righteous and blind to their own spiritual illness. They didn’t need a Savior, because they thought they could save themselves.

But before we slam the Pharisees, we probably need to take a look at our own lives and see if we don’t sometimes suffer from the same problem. Even as believers, we cannot afford to forget the fact that we are still sinners in need of a Savior. We are still prone to sinfulness and sickness of the soul, because we are constantly doing battle with the flesh, the world, and the Devil. My process of sanctification or progressing in Christ-likeness, is a constant state of healing that is taking place. I am putting off the old and putting on the new. I am rejecting my old way of life and embracing the new life made possible through Jesus’ death on the cross. I am growing in my dependence on God and my reliance on the Holy Spirit for power to live by faith instead of in the flesh. But before I can begin the healing process, I have to admit my sickness. I need to daily recognize my need for a Savior. Not just for salvation, but for sanctification. I can’t live the Christian life apart from the power of Christ. I can’t offer up my religious sacrifices as a replacement for His once-for-all sacrifice on the cross. Because all of my works are as filthy rags.

“We are all infected and impure with sin. When we proudly display our righteous deeds, we find they are but filthy rags.” – Isaiah 64:6

Jesus came “to call sinners, not those who think they are already good enough.” I need to recognize my sinfulness each and every day. Not wallow in it and demoralize myself because of it. But allow it to remind me that I still need the healing touch of the Great Physician each and every day of my life.

Father, how easy it is for me to become complacent in my relationship with You. I can lull myself into a false sense of self-confidence and self-righteousness, thinking that all that I do for You is good enough. Yet, You want me to know You and to live a life that reflects that I have an intimate relationship with You. A life of compassion and mercy that reaches out to those who are sick, because I recognize that I have received the touch of the Great Physician on my life. In fact, you heal me daily from the effects of sin and my own addiction to self. Thank You for sending Your Son to heal those who are sick. Help us to daily admit our need for His healing touch. Amen

Ken Miller
Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org