The first sermon of Jesus
Jesus comes to fulfill all prophecies to show he always keeps his word, and that word is continually proclaimed to us so that we know he will save us.
It’s a curious thing that Jesus does when he hears that John the Baptist has been arrested. “When Jesus heard of John’s arrest he withdrew into Galilee.” Not really what you might hope Jesus would do when you are arrested for preaching the gospel. Instead of withdrawing wouldn’t it seem more appropriate for Jesus to go and break John out of prison?
Do you ever feel that way? That Jesus is withdrawing when you would hope he would come down and really bring his kingdom? Especially this week as we remember the anniversary of Roe v Wade. If you’re like me you are constantly praying for Jesus to not withdraw from us but to come and bring light to this dark time when the smallest among us is the most despised.
When Jesus heard John was arrested he withdrew into Galilee. Remember we are early in Matthew’s gospel and people are still being taught about the identity of Jesus. They don’t really know what Jesus is going to do. Now as the gospel is facing opposition will Jesus turn tail? Reason and common sense would tell us to go and help our friend who’s been locked up, but no Jesus goes the opposite direction.
Maybe Jesus is a prophet like Jonah. God called Jonah to go to Nineveh and Jonah tried to get away from God’s call. Instead of going to the dark city of Nineveh Jonah went the opposite direction. Is Jesus just another prophet like Jonah who’s first reaction is to run away? Was Jesus running away from John’s problems?
Jesus is not running away. In fact Jesus is doing what he was prophesied to do, to come to those living in darkness, particularily those in in the lands just described. Matthew is showing us how Jesus is without a doubt the promised Messiah. That God keeps his word. The one who is to fulfill every prophecy. However it wasn’t just to them that Jesus had come. Today Matthew is pointing out that Jesus is fulfilling the Isaiah prophecy. To be the light, not just for John but for all people. Jesus had not come to free John from all his problems in the earthly sense. Jesus has not come to relieve all your suffering in this life and that is a hard thing to hear. It is difficult today to hear John was arrested and Jesus went about his business.
Does it feel like that for you sometimes? This is our challenge as Christians. To walk by faith when it seems that God is just going about his business without a real care to how things are going down here. But you see Jesus wasn’t just going about his business. Jesus was even in our reading today, as he is fulfilling the OT prophecies he is also setting himself up for how he will continue to work for his New Testament people. How he works for us now when our questions and darkness seems to not have an answer. For on one hand Jesus is showing God’s faithfulness to answer every question from the OT but even more he is now setting himself up for how he will provide an answer for the age to come.
It is important for us to hear this readin gin Epiphany because just as Jesus fulfills Isaiah 9:1-2 he is starting a new era of his presence. John the Bapitst prepared the way for Jesus and now his role is coming to an end. John closes the era of prophecies and now as Jesus steps forward he begins a new era.
Last week we heard John’s most remembered and oft quoted sermon, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” 13 words. Now today we hear Jesus’ first sermon. The first recorded public words of Jesus to the public. What does Jesus say in this inaugural address?
Does Jesus say, “Hey it’s party time everyone!”
How about, “Let’s change the world.”
Maybe a sermon our world would like to hear is, “Don’t worry about changing your life. Keep doing what you want to do and I’ll just kind of be here when it is convenient for you.”
No. Jesus says, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Like John the Baptist. Short but not so sweet. Nine words this time. You never get a second chance to make a first impression and what an impression. If people were hoping they would get a break from John’s constant call to repentance they were sorely disappointed in Jesus when he comes and says the same thing John has been preaching. Repent.
And he says that to you and me today as well. And don’t we sometimes think the repent sermon is a little overused? When there’s so much other evil going on, really Jesus, Repent is all you can come up with? Shouldn’t you come down and just end all that bothers us in this life?
But you see that is what we should be most bothered about, our sins and the fact that we think repentance is not vital our lives as Christians. The problem is that we prefer the darkness of our own hearts as long as we’re not too bothered with difficult things in this life. That is the darkness that the people were living in when Jesus came to them and that is our darkness too. Thinking that when Jesus says the kingdom has come near that his kingdom is of this world. That here in this life we will win every political battle. That we will be able to convince people to be Christian if we are just winsome and articulate enough. If we just change this or change that about the Christian church then we can turn the downward trajectory of our world. If we just try harder we can find some magic plan so we don’t have to work so hard. Our children will never make bad decisions, our bosses won’t give us a bad review, next year we won’t have to worry about making enough money. That my friends is the darkness, despair thinking God is just withdrawing. But do you see what Jesus is doing?
God has in Christ Jesus fulfilled all that he said he would do. Jesus is not a Jonah running away but when he withdraws into Galilee he is working for John’s rescue, not necessarily from his political imprisonment but his imprisonment of sin. And that is what Jesus is doing. Jesus is winning his victory that has an eternal freedom attached to it. By fulfilling all of God’s demands Jesus is giving an answer for the darkness of your sinful heart. All the love you have of the kingdom of this world, Jesus goes to the cross to free you even from your pet sins. Pet sins that you might think are safe and sound in the darkness. No Jesus comes as the light of the world to expose your sins and forgive them by his word. Not to free you in this life from all suffering but to give your suffering meaning. That when Jesus seems withdrawn it is because he is purifying your faith. He is taking away the things you trust the most so you would see only him.
Jesus not only withdraws into Galilee to fulfill prophecy but he then calls his disciples. These men who would carry his word and be Jesus’ presence with us to this day by his word. Jesus said when people hear you they hear me. Jesus says to us, I am with you always, where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am. Jesus keeps his word. And so today’s reading shows us that no matter what you suffer Christ will never withdraw away from you. That your suffering is not without reason. To lead you to continue to repent.
Jesus will not give you any suffering to destroy your faith but to show you in the end he is faithful. That when you pray to him to end your suffering he will one day do just that. Not only end your suffering but raise you to reign with him as a king. All of us baptized believers who don’t give up the faith will end the end see our suffering as trophies or glue that kept us from becoming too proud or comfortable in this kingdom.
Jesus doesn’t call you to repent because it will hurt you but for you to rejoice in the end. When we see all things and all our enemies meet their end, we will receive our reward.
Jesus will not withdraw from you to save himself. By going to the cross he was bringing us into his light. When he says this is body and this is my blood it is not to hurt you but to give you the holy spirit so you are more ready to withstand the attack of the devil and not fear to stand in opposition to this evil age.
Jesus called his first disciples and they dropped what they were doing. They gave up what seems a steady and lucrative career fishing for fish and they have caught us. Fish we are. Fish who sometimes don’t want to be caught. Fish who would rather swim in darkness of sin but down in the darkness is also the unknown and unseen predators. Jesus brings us to the surface, to the light and it might seem like he is hurting you but it is only because he will show his glory all the brightly in the resurrection.
Jesus will not be distracted from his task when he withdrew to Galilee nor will he be distracted from keeping you in the faith. Only don’t let go of him. Don’t neglect repentance, being sorry for your sin and believing that Jesus has taken away all your sins. Despite the dark places you continue to go. Jesus has saved you. Jesus loves you.