WHAT JESUS SEES IN YOU
Mark 3:18
(Antioch Baptist Church: Sunday morning, January 5th, 2024)
I want to talk to you today about a man that you probably know nothing about. In fact, I don’t know much about him myself. He is a part of a group more famous than the Beatles, but you may have never even heard his name. He did great things, but there is no detailed record of them. He helped change many lives but I can’t tell you exactly how. His name is Thaddeus and He was one of our Lord’s 12 Disciples.
Certain people and organizations are more “well known” than others, some would even be described as being famous. We have all heard of churches such as Shadow Mountain, Bellevue, First Baptist Atlanta, Grace Community, and others. We know the names of pastors such as Rogers, Stanley, Jeremiah, Macarthur, and Sproul. But what about Bro. Smith at 2nd Baptist Littletown who has been faithfully shepherding the same 40 people for the last 20 years? What about Bro. Johnson that went through Seminary and has been struggling to pay his student loans for years while pastoring a congregation of 55 and working a full-time job? Are brothers Smith & Johnson unsuccessful because they do not pastor what many would describe as a “large thriving church”. I submit to you that if they are where God has placed them, doing what God has called them to do then they are successful in God’s eyes.
One may be the owner of a multimillion-dollar corporation and be unsuccessful in God’s eyes; at the same time the janitor of that company and be right where God wants him to be. Our society is consumed with superficial measures of success; but if you look to the Word of God you will find that God does not measure success the way that man does. The people of this world may look at you as being a failure, they may consider you to be worthless or “a nobody”. Perhaps you have heard these negative comments for so long that you believe it yourself. If so, let me remind you that you are a child of God and you are special; you are greatly blessed and highly favored.
I want to examine a brief biography of this man named Thaddeus and his relationship with Jesus. In the process I pray that you will understand “What Jesus Sees In You”.
- The first thing I would like for you to understand is that:
I. PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW YOUR NAME, BUT JESUS DOES
Thaddeus was referred to by several different names in scripture. He is called “Thaddeus” here in Mark 3:18, he is called "Lebbaeus" in Matthew 10:3, he is called “Judas brother of James” in Luke 6:16, and he is called “Judas, Not Iscariot” in John 14:22,
Oddly enough, in these references I have told you almost everything the Bible has to say about this man. As you read your New Testament you will not hear Thaddeus preach a powerful sermon. You will not see him healing someone who was sick. You will not read that he ever cast out a demon. However, I am convinced that he did all of these things. I believe this because of what is recorded in Mark 6:7-13; there we are told that:
“Jesus called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits…... So they went out and preached that people should repent. And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them.
Thaddeus may not have been as prominent as Peter, James, John or even an Andrew; he may not have penned a gospel or written an epistle, but the fact is that Jesus did not want him to be Peter, James, John or Andrew; Jesus wanted him to be just who he was, Thaddeus!
You may look at other preachers, teachers, singers, etc. and desire to be like them; you may long for the opportunities they have enjoyed, you may desire the talents that they have been given, you may envy the success that they have experienced. But the fact is you are not them! God has another plan for you and it is a far better plan, because it is God's plan not yours.
The world may not know your name. You may never see your name in lights or go down in the history books, but you are special in God’s eyes. Jesus knows your name and that is worth more than any notoriety you can receive from man.
- I would like to move a little further and examine the fact that:
II. PEOPLE MAY NOT REALIZE YOUR WORTH, BUT JESUS DOES
v13 (Jesus) went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted.
For whatever reason, we do not have an in-depth record of Thaddeus’ service as a disciple of Christ. However, the fact that he is named among the twelve is very impressive. At this point in Jesus’ ministry there were multitudes following Jesus everywhere He went. Out of this great number of followers Jesus selected 12 and Thaddeus was privileged to be in that number.
Whatever the task is that Jesus has chosen for you, it is an honor to be chosen to serve. Do not let the world tell you that your place of service is insignificant. You have been chosen by the Creator of the universe to accomplish something special for Him. Out of over 8 Billion people in this world He has called your name. Never lose sight of what a tremendous honor this is.
Each Christian has a God given calling; you must decide whether you will treasure that calling or take it for granted. Many people are so prideful that they will look at their area of service and compare it to others and then become bitter because theirs is not as prominent. If this describes you then it is likely that you are doing what you do for all of the wrong reasons. You should do what you do simply because Jesus chose you!
Thaddeus was precious to Jesus even before He called him to be His Disciple. Likewise, you were precious to God long before you surrendered to Him. Ephesians 1:4 says that we were "chosen in Him before the foundation of the world". There is no greater honor than this! You were so valuable to God that He sent His only Son to die for your sins. You were so valuable to Jesus that He was willing to go to the cross for you. The world may say that you are a nobody but God says that you are somebody; you are valuable to Him!
- People may not know your name, but Jesus does. People may not realize your worth, but Jesus does. Furthermore, the scriptures show us that:
III. PEOPLE MAY NOT RECOGNIZE YOUR EFFORT, BUT JESUS DOES
In my 42 years I have never heard a sermon on Thaddeus. In fact while studying for this message I found very few. You probably won’t read a book about him and there are no sermon series on his life.
Chances are pretty good that you will often not receive the pat on the back that you think you deserve. People may never see all that you do; and some may see it and just not care. Others may not know of the emotional struggles and burnout that you have endured, but God does! He knows what you are doing and more than that, He knows why you are doing it.
Furthermore, there are rewards for those who are faithful to serve in whatever capacity God has chosen for them. Colossians 3:23-24 says, whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. Whatever you do, do it with all of your heart and remember that God will reward your faithfulness.
F. B Meyer said - "Don’t waste your time waiting and longing for large opportunities which may never come. But faithfully handle the little things that are always claiming your attention."
Though we do not have the back-story of Thaddeus’ life, we can be certain that just like Peter, James, John, Andrew & Levi, he left everything he had in order to follow Jesus. Thaddeus was rewarded for his faithful service to the Lord, and one day you will be rewarded as well.
Though the world may not recognize your effort, and though you may never be rewarded down here, Jesus has much more in store for you than you could ever imagine; and the reward that He has in store is an eternal one. Be encouraged that every deed done in the name of Jesus will be blessed and rewarded in eternity. Men may not recognize your effort but rest assured that Jesus knows and He will reward your faithfulness.
Mark 9:41 For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.
You may be at a place in your life or in your ministry where you feel that it is all in vain. You feel that you are wasting your time. At this very moment you may be ready to through your hands up and quit. The world says you should, the enemy wishes you would and you think that you should. Let me encourage you to keep pressing on for Jesus!
You may never have anything that the people of this world would want. You may never have power prominence, possessions or prosperity. But one day you will stand before Christ at the Judgment Seat and receive rewards for your faithful service. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing that eternal rewards are available should motivate us to be steadfast and faithful in our service to the Lord
We may not know very many details of Thaddeus’ story but I can assure you he stored up treasures in Heaven. We have that opportunity as well. I know that it gets difficult at times but it will be worth it in the end. Moreover, we must realize that we are having a spiritual impact that cannot be measured in this life.
The story is told of an elderly preacher was rebuked by one of his deacons one Sunday morning before the service. "Pastor," said the man, "something must be wrong with your preaching and your work. There's been only one person added to the church in a whole year, and he's just a boy." The minister listened, his eyes moistening and his thin hand trembling. "I feel it all," he replied, "but God knows I've tried to do my duty."
On that day the minister's heart was heavy as he stood before his flock. As he finished the message, he felt a strong inclination to resign. After everyone else had left, that one boy came to him and asked, "Do you think if I worked hard for an education, I could become a preacher--perhaps a missionary?" Again tears welled up in the minister's eyes. "Ah, this heals the ache I feel," he said. "Robert, I see the Divine hand now. May God bless you, my boy. Yes, I think you will become a preacher."
Many years later an aged missionary returned to London from Africa. His name was spoken with reverence. Nobles invited him to their homes. He had added many souls to the church of Jesus Christ, reaching even some of Africa's most savage chiefs. His name was Robert Moffat, the same Robert who years before had spoken to the pastor that Sunday morning. Lord, help us to be faithful. Then give us the grace to leave the results to you. (Source Unknown)
The world may not know your name; they may not realize your worth or recognize your effort but Jesus does and that is all that all that matters.
Fox's Book of Martyrs records that Thaddeus’ or Jude was crucified for his faith at Edessa in A.D. 72. Others believe that he was pierced with arrows when he refused to deny his faith in Christ. Regardless of the method of is death it is commonly accepted that he was martyred for his faith in Christ. He was bold, he was steadfast and he was faithful!
Have you listened to the attacks from the enemy? Maybe you are ready to walk away from your area of service because you feel that it is all in vain. Maybe you feel like no one sees what you do or that no one cares about the struggles that you face. Friend, remember that Jesus knows the number of hairs on your head. This shows us the intimate interest that He has in our lives. He knows what you are doing and why you are doing it. If you are doing it for Him then you can rest in the fact that you are right where you need to be.
Maybe some of you would admit that somewhere along the way you walked away from your service. You quit because you thought no one saw or cared what you did. If that is the case, I encourage you to remember Who called you, remember Who sent you out, and realize that you will answer for your rebellion.
People may not know your name, nor realize your worth, and they may never recognize your effort, but Jesus does and that is all that matters. Whenever you are tempted to give up, remember that you are precious to the Lord and continue to press on and serve Him until the very end.
The things that Jesus saw in a little-known Disciple named Thaddeus is a great illustration of “What Jesus Sees In You”.
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