Encounters with Jesus: Love and conflict

Matthew 23:1-12, 23-28 ESV

[1] Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, [2] “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, [3] so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. [4] They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. [5] They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, [6] and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues [7] and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. [8] But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. [9] And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. [10] Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. [11] The greatest among you shall be your servant. [12] Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

[23]  “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. [24] You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel! [25]  “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. [26] You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean. [27]  “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. [28] So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

https://bible.com/bible/59/mat.23.1-28.ESV

We have known from Sunday school days that the Pharisees were the villains of this story. They opposed Jesus. We would consider them to be the farthest from ourselves. The opposite of the Christian. But think about this: they fasted once a week. We struggle to fast during Lent. They tithed not just their paychecks, but they also tithed their herbs. They knew the word of God inside and out. Not only did they respect the law of God, but they made additional laws to help them follow the law of God. 

This should make us tremble that such adherence to religious practice can make us the enemy of Jesus. Following the laws of God had an ulterior motive. It was a way to gain political power and status. Following the practices of religion without self examination will end in self righteousness. This is the results of a selfish heart given religious tools. We are more like the Pharisees than we think. 

The Pharisees kept all the minor laws in order to promote their own righteousness. Their outside is pristine but the inside is a tomb. The sex worker and the tax collector has an advantage in this. How so? Their sin is obvious. We cannot repent of what we consider to be a virtue. Self deception is slow and progressive. The longer we are a Christian, the more likely we will resemble the Pharisees.

The Pharisees pushed for self effort. Better and closer adherence to the law is the way to salvation. Works righteousness is completely contrary to the gift of grace. The call is to cast aside our righteousness and accept the gift of grace by the life and death of Jesus. We are not called to more effort, but a new identity. We are accepted as children of God because of Jesus. 

God does not keep a ledger of our good works. God doesn't owe us. But the Pharisees did. Good works will be rewarded. They perform for their own status. They take a genuinely good thing and twist them to promote themselves. 

Questions to help guide us back onto the path:

Do you find it harder to confess current sins rather than old ones? 

Do we impose rules on others than we ourselves do not fully meet? 

Do we still feel our need for grace just as much as when we first became a Christian?

Do we come to God as a child coming home or an employee reporting to their boss? 

Do we put burdens on others rather than giving grace?

Do we feel upset when we are not recognized for the work that we have done?

Encounters with Jesus: The guest who changes everything

Luke 19:1-10 ESV

[1] He entered Jericho and was passing through. [2] And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. [3] And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. [4] So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. [5] And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” [6] So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. [7] And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” [8] And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” [9] And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. [10] For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

https://bible.com/bible/59/luk.19.1-10.ESV

The crowd here hated Zacchaeus. They knew he was a short man and had a bad reputation. So they closed tanks and became an obstacle. They kept him from meeting Jesus, even seeing a glimpse of him. How often are we obstructions to faith and a display of the gospel. Because of some sin against us, our need for social comfort, our view of who deserves salvation, who deserves the gospel.

Rich and powerful people so not climb trees. This is unheard of. Desperation does strange things to people. Zacchaeus was desperate. Jesus sees this man up a tree and says he must have a meal with him. There's not a rebuke. Jesus says he must break bread with this sinful man. This man was a traitor to his own people. He was not acceptable among his people. 

The crowd, the people were offended. Sinners were to be shunned. Associating with sinners was bad. This is the way the common person at Jericho thought. The gospel is offensive. It is confounding. The people grumbled because this felt like Jesus was wrong to eat with this man. 

So Jesus has a meal with Zacchaeus. Unprompted, he promises to give away half his possessions and provide four-fold restitution to those he's defrauded. As a chief tax collector, he has surely defrauded many. If Zacchaeus followed through, he likely bankrupted himself in the process. This is the effect of the gospel. This is a picture of true repentance. Accepting Jesus brings us to a place of immense generosity and turning away from things that dishonor God.

What does following Jesus mean? What does it mean to how we see and use money? Instead of tweaking our budget, will we consider it as a tool for God's kingdom? What does it mean to who gets invited to our table? Will we invite those that society has turned their back on? This is the gospel doing radical work in our lives.

The Suffering Body of Christ on Mission

2 Corinthians 4:7-12 ESV

[7] But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. [8] We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; [9] persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; [10] always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. [11] For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. [12] So death is at work in us, but life in you

Romans 12:9-21 ESV

[9] Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. [10] Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. [11] Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. [12] Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. [13] Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. [14] Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. [15] Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. [16] Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. [17] Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. [18] If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. [19] Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” [20] To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” [21] Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Rev. Kyobeum Lee

Following Jesus is not about prosperity, success, and the good life we often here preached. It is about suffering on mission for God.

The Paradox of Christ's pain

Paul describes being afflicted, pressed, persecuted. This isn't about finding a comfortable, easy life. The gospel isn't about working harder. It tells us that we are terminal, dead. We need resurrection and new life. Grace isn't displayed by the strength of the messenger. It is shown in weakness. We are not golden chalices, but clay jars. We don't look down on suffering. We don't glorify suffering. We are not heroes. When we live faithfully, suffering comes. If we say that Jesus is ours and we are His, our life will become cross-shaped. This is how we witness and minister to the world. 

Patient suffering

Love is not transactional. It is genuine and not self serving.. It's not weird quid pro quo. Love for the sake of love, that is real love. Bless and pray for those who persecute you. Rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with those who mourn. Feed your enemies. This is a very counter cultural idea. It is not the way of those of the world. This is normal life in the kingdom of God. We are to lift up others. Quiet and enduring suffering because this is how Jesus lived. 

The early church was not full of eloquent speakers, good marketing. It grew because of their patience. When persecuted, they endured the suffering. They prayed as they were threatened with death. 

The Peril of Martyr Syndrome

We are called to suffering, but we are not called to be heroes. The martyr syndrome is something like this: "we seek conflict to affirm our point of view. If we are suffering, then God must be pleased. If we are persecuted, then we must be righteous. Don't you deserve better treatment? Aren't we righteous?"

The Holy Spirit does not speak like this. We are not the center of attention. Jesus should be the center. Our suffering does not save others. Our suffering only points to Christ's suffering. Our lives should point to Jesus. We are jars of clay, but we contain new life.

Encounters with Jesus

John 8:2-11 ESV

[2] Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. [3] The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst [4] they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. [5] Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” [6] This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. [7] And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” [8] And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. [9] But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. [10] Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” [11] She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”]]

Justin Kim

Superficial appearances

This situation was presented as a situation of choosing justice. But that is not really what's going on. Firstly, the Pharisees only brought the woman. Where is the man? The law states that both the man and the woman should be stoned. But here's another catch, the mount of olives is under Roman jurisdiction. The Jews were not allowed to execute capital punishment. This was purely made up as a trap. There was no concern with justice or the woman. People were treated as pawns. This situation exposed how corrupted and twisted these teachers of the law really were.

The wisdom in the silence

Jesus understands the trap. The Pharisees were pressing him on this to trap him whether he chose to execute the woman or let her go. He doesn't engage him on their terms. He stoops down and draws something on the ground. After they press him further, he responds on his terms. He tells them that one who is without sin should cast the first stone. What is he really saying? He's referring to the rest of the law. The execution is supposed to be started by the eyewitnesses. Eyewitnesses were to be impartial and looking for justice. Where were they? Are they innocent in this? Do they fall short in this area as well? 

There's two silences in this. One is when Jesus doesn't answer at first. Next is when Jesus answers them. Silently, the Pharisees walked away starting from the oldest to the youngest. Jesus' response was a mirror. They see their need for mercy as much as this sinful woman. 

We go from this chaotic scene of a crowded courtroom drama to just the woman & Jesus. We don't know whether this woman knew Jesus. Consider that Jesus is the one person who could cast the first stone. He was without sin. He does not condemn, but rather gives her grace. The initial situation was a sham of a trial. But this, this is the real judgement. But also he immediately tells get to leave her life of sin. It is both grace and truth. Jesus met her in her guilt and calls her to new life. 

Grace that doesn't call us to change is not grace, but permissiveness. 

This is the call of the gospel. We cannot reverse these two. We feel like we need to earn our place. Firstly, we need to receive this forgiveness, this mercy. Then, we can answer the call to a new life. We cannot earn it, so Jesus pays it. He is the payment of our debt. It is a costly grace. 

The verdict for the Pharisees is for them to sit in the silence and consider their sins & their need for grace. So, we should also consider that we too need to consider our sins firstly and what grace we need rather than focusing on others' sins.

For the woman, who came with guilt and shame, there is a call to accept the grace of Jesus and walk the path of new life. To consider our old life dead and to walk in the new life Jesus calls us to. To accept the grace offered to us, that is free to us, but is of great cost to Jesus.

The body of Christ

Ephesians 2:11-22 ESV

[11] Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— [12] remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. [13] But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. [14] For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility [15] by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, [16] and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. [17] And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. [18] For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. [19] So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, [20] built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, [21] in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. [22] In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

https://bible.com/bible/59/eph.2.11-22.ESV

Rev. Kyuboem Lee 

Remember who you are

We are part of the family of God. Good has adopted and welcomed us in. To both gentiles and Jews, Paul calls us acknowledge that we are on equal footing in each other. Neither group has superior position. It does not matter what you have done, your racial background, your cultural background. We are the people of God because of what God has done. 

Remember your story 

Much like the Jews, Asians stood out. We were very different from those around us and sometimes picked on for those differences. Have we sought to be successful, as our parents instructed, and often erased our cultural differences in order to succeed. But have we gone too far? We are not called to ignore our history. We are to see this as part of how God has made us. Our culture is part of how we can be a good witness. The church doesn't need to be white majority culture. We are to meet each other where we are. For majority culture, have we leaned in and sought to learn about brothers and sisters culture and background. For monitor culture have you taken another look at your history and considered things that were never taught in history books.

Become God's new household

Jesus is taking people for disparate places and cultures and making a new extended family. With all those conflicts, mismatching, and miscommunication, he seeks to reconcile all of us. We have familia responsibility to reach others as the church. We are not called to be isolated groups within the church. We should reach out across groups. College students, young adults, young parents, older adults... Reconciled by the cross. We are called to that same work, not to simply pass by each other, but to engage each other with love, following in Jesus' footsteps.

Deuteronomy: Gleaning Laws

“You shall not pervert the justice due to the sojourner or to the fatherless, or take a widow’s garment in pledge, but you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you from there; therefore I command you to do this. “When you reap your harvest in your field and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. When you beat your olive trees, you shall not go over them again. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow. When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not strip it afterward. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow. You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt; therefore I command you to do this.

Deuteronomy 24:17-22 ESV

https://bible.com/bible/59/deu.24.17-22.ESV

Rev. Kyu 

Gleaning is contrary to the gospel of greed of today

We are a culture that accepts greed and the maximization of profit. Don't reap to the edges of the field? What CEO would promote such a thing? We are God's people. We are to use the land and resources that God has given us for the sojourner, the widow, the poor. This is the kingdom that good desires. 

Gleaning is justice

Gleaning is the right of the poor. We are given resources by God not simply for ourselves. We need to find edges of our time, our budget,... and give to the organizations that care for the poor, the migrants.

Gleaning is not charity, it is an opportunity

Gleaning is not about a handout. It is an opportunity. Ruth did not get grain delivered to her door. She went with her mother in law and gathered grain from Boaz's field. She worked to survive. 

The gleaning laws are a glimpse of God's desire

God wants to build a community. He wants a community that resolves conflicts peacefully. One where people care for one another. This is the good life that God calls us to. 

In contrast, we have the lifestyles of the rich and famous. Big houses, sports cars, and travel to exotic places. We save and scrape in order to get this sort of lifestyle, but is this what God desires for us?

Doing good is not because we are good. We are called to do this because God first served and gave to us. God gave land to the Israelites. God saved us by the blood of Jesus. This is why we serve. In an age where cruelty, stinginess, and selfishness seem to be the way, we, as God's people, are called to be generous, kind, and loving. We are to bear witness to what God has done for us.

Deuteronomy: Judges and Kings

Deuteronomy 15:1-9,16:19-20,17:14-20

This book is a book of transitions. Our church is also in transition: considering senior pastors, particularizition, etc. While these passages speak of leaders of those times, this is still applicable for leadership. This is God's consideration for leaders.

What do leaders do

For the Israelites, we hear of the jobs of judges and kings. Judges handle disputes between parties. But there's a fair amount of overlap. Kings were seen as military leaders. There was a hierarchy to these leaders. 

What qualifies a leader

Leaders need to be experienced and are to be impartial. They need to see both rich and poor equally. They are not to take bribes. But not just that, they need to pursue justice only. Not fame, not power, nothing else should distract. Not wives, not horses... In other words, not political power, not military power.

These are not qualities God desires: It is not charisma, not ministry success, not giftings, and not worldly qualifications. God desires character. But this isn't just a way to beat up our leaders. Do we value character over charisma? Do we want someone to lead with love, care, and a heart after God? 

How to become qualified

You must understand and be captivated by the love of God for us. Such a Sunday school answer, right? But how does someone ignore the power of the powerful, the riches of the rich? It is by knowing that God is the most powerful, richest and He approves of us. We don't need the influence of the world's riches or power. In a hundred years, we'll all be dead. We'll be with Jesus. And the place where we will be will have streets paved with gold. How can someone with an inheritance bigger than Elon Musk be bribed? They cannot.

Addison Frank