MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE GRACE
Matt.9:9-13
By Andrew Chan, Senior Pastor, PBC
Sept.23, 2001 PM Contemporary Service
The old saying goes "truth is stranger than fiction." And, there are many stories in our newspapers and on television that bear out that statement. Some of my favorite examples are "dumb criminals”.
1. The bank robber police are able to track down and arrest because his hold-up note was written on the back of his birth certificate.
2. The ex-computer company employee who returned to his office late at night to steal computer equipment. He was able to enter the building because he had jammed some paper into the door lock. The police apprehended him after finding the piece of paper, which was part of a parking ticket he had received a couple of days earlier.
3. Police in Boston were investigating a car theft. When they asked the owner about any valuables that were in the car, the man told them that two tickets to that evening’s Red Sox game were among the items in the car. Figuring they had nothing to lose, the cops went to the game and found both robbers sitting in those seats, and they had driven the stolen car to the game.
4. The robber who wrapped his whole head in duct tape for his disguise. He forgot to leave openings for his mouth and nose and wound up unconscious on the floor.
5. The guy who tried to break into a store by throwing a concrete block through the window. Unfortunately, the window wasn’t made of glass, but rather Plexiglas. The concrete block ricocheted of the Plexiglas and struck the would-be burglar in the head, knocking him out cold. All this was captured on video.
Hear another story now… truth is stranger than fiction…
Matt.9:9-13 (NLT)
As Jesus was going down the road, he saw Matthew sitting at his tax-collection booth. “Come, be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him.
10 That night Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to be his dinner guests, along with his fellow tax collectors and many other notorious sinners. 11 The Pharisees were indignant. “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?” they asked his disciples.
12 When he heard this, Jesus replied, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” 13 Then he added, “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.”
What’s with Jesus here? How come he is basically ignoring the “the good people”? I think Brennan Manning is right when he commented on this story: “This passage should be read, reread, and memorized. Every Christian generation tries to dim the blinding brightness of its meaning because the gospel sounds too good to be true.” We think the gospel has to be “deeper”, with more “meaningful” application, with more “meat.” That’s just too good to be true, ain’t it? There’s got to be more to it. Oh, how we dim the brightness of the gospel. We think the salvation belongs to those who are able to get all their pat answers regarding religion down to a science. We reduced God to a head game! Then we reduce Him to rules! We think we are doing God a favor, when we grudgingly get out of bed, head on to Sunday School to teach or learn. Perhaps we even hand out a bulletin, give some money at church, singing songs, get baptized, read the bible, pray, listening to academic theological treatises, turning up on Sunday on-time and filling up paperwork on church membership that we become religious, spiritual, pious, proper and right. To that Jesus, simply says I desire mercy not sacrifice. I have come to call the sinners, not those who think they are already good enough. Get it? All Jesus wants is to pour out His love, give mercy to undeserving sinners, to receive sinners and proclaim them not guilty of sin. WHY? He just loves people, that’s the Bible truth! He loves you and I and He is on a mission to tell us that. That’s the mission to call the sinners home to the love of God, who desires to shower mercy, and not terrorize us or bomb us out of existence.
This Good news means we can stop all our pretending. We need not to go through anymore self-deception. We don’t need to protect God’s reputation. It has already being ruined by His humiliating death, hanging naked on a cross, reserved for criminals. His reputation has already been ruined because He dared to offer mercy to sick people, sinners, such as you and I as the wrathful eyes of the self-righteous Pharisees looked on. Yes, the Good news means that though Christ is victorious over sin and death as He rose from the dead, the battle with lust, greed and pride still rages on within us. As a sinner, who knows the on-going protective power of God’s redemptive love and mercy, I can be free to acknowledge that I am often unloving, I get irritated at irritable people, impatient people, I get angry at those who talk behind my back and resentful. I don’t need to put on a white hat just to go to church, I can admit failure and Jesus loves me still, you see, He died for all my sins! I don’t need spiritual cosmetics to make myself better looking for God. God accepts me, zits and all. I don’t need to go on a crusade or a jihad get rid of infidels to prove how righteous I am. I can accept ownership of my own spiritual poverty, powerlessness and neediness. God pours out His mercy as we come admitting that to Him. That’s the mission Jesus was on when came here, to die on that cross.
How familiar is the scene in movies, or perhaps in tv shows such as The Practice when the verdict of a trial is read, and justice has prevailed with the innocent person being found not guilty. The joy, relief, happiness. But what about us? And, one day we will stand before God to give an account of our life. We are guilty. I am guilty. But, because of Jesus, I will stand before God the Father and hear him say, "Andrew Chan, on the charge of lying…Not guilty. On the charge of lust…not guilty. On the charge of anger…not guilty…not guilty…not guilty." That’s what it means to be forgiven. That is how Jesus can transform you. Ah the joy of knowing God loves me and gave Himself for me!
That’s what mission of Jesus Christ is all about. It is about you and I believing in this impossible mission of God to save sinners, it is about us telling others that God is really so GOOD! He is out to get them, but with love and mercy, pouring out forgiveness without reservation, not to take them out like a terrorist would without warning! That is why I believe we have this DRIME team, Mission field like Chain of love! The apostle Paul realizes this as well: 1 Tim.1:12-17 (NLT)
12 How thankful I am to Christ Jesus our Lord for considering me trustworthy and appointing me to serve him, 13 even though I used to scoff at the name of Christ. I hunted down his people, harming them in every way I could. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief. 14 Oh, how kind and gracious the Lord was! He filled me completely with faith and the love of Christ Jesus.
15 This is a true saying, and everyone should believe it: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—and I was the worst of them all. 16 But that is why God had mercy on me, so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life. 17 Glory and honor to God forever and ever. He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen.
Are u thankful like Paul (v.12)? For you see Paul was as mean as Hannibal the Cannibal, for he hunted humans down, yet the good news, amazing thing is, God forgave Him. Mercy prevailed. Today, I trust you will renew your life in Christ’s mercy. Perhaps make a commitment to serve in missions, serve here at PBC missions begins at home. Jesus’ love is truly amazing!
Response:
1. Today you enjoyed hearing about Jesus coming to the world to save sinners. I want to trust Christ as my God? How pray with me. Dear Jesus, I admit I am all wrong about You and have sinned against You. I want to trust you, starting today as my Savior and my God. Help me. Thank You for your mercy on me, and now I believe you and receive you into my life. I ask in my Lord Jesus’ name, Amen.
2. Yes, it sure is a truth that’s stranger that fiction, but you heard it today that God loves and accepts you as you are, and perhaps as a Christian, you have not been living a Christian life that follows God. Jesus wants you to follow Him. Pray with me …
3. Perhaps you want to commit your life to be part of a foreign mission team…
4. Perhaps you desire to be start with mission on the home team… Pioneer Club, this service…
