45 But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter.
Matthew 9:9-13
As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.
10 And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Matthew had cream in the bad heap jobs. Collecting money at one of the most moneyed times in history. The world would not see this revenue of the Roman Empire until 1400 A.D. This is a lot to give up for a street preacher. Yet John records all of Capernaum shows up for Jesus' first sermon because the town has seen Miracles done beyond belief or imagining. Mark 1 records Jesus opens His Ministry to mob scenes.
So many times we believe God endured this life, knowing what was to come. It was what Jesus came for - to call people and His sheer joy to call his friend Matthew. Jesus assures us in John 14, 15, 16 of His Joy in this life.
And how did Matthew return Jesus' call? Matthew gave Jesus a feast in his own home. Calling his friends and the people he knew needed Jesus, not tip toeing around Jesus and being politically correct. But the people he knew. Displeasing the employment crowd. Pleasing Jesus to be in a party, celebrating life. Honoring Him. Jesus brought people JOY and Wonder. Loving them.
Give us this Day!
Matthew 6:34
"So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today."
John 2:10
"Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now."
This was Jesus' Love:
Luke 21:37
Every day Jesus went to the Temple to teach, and each evening he returned to spend the night on the Mount of Olives.
Hebrews 12:28
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.
We can be shaken. Bad mood. Long traffic jam. Too much weather. Under the weather. Stray thought. Stray comment. Matthew certainly was shaking up his very well ordered world to jam with Jesus. Jesus keeps telling us
C.S. Lewis, The Last Battle:
“I have come home at last! This is my real country! I belong here. This is the land I have been looking for all my life, though I never knew it till now...Come further up, come further in!”
“And as He spoke, He no longer looked to them like a lion; but the things that began to happen after that were so great and beautiful that I cannot write them. And for us this the end of all the stories, and we can most truly say that they all lived happily ever after. But for them it was only the beginning of the real story. All their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and the title page: now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on earth has read: which goes on for ever: in which every chapter is better than the one before.”
We might wobble, God's Kingdom is Secure. And on this Rock, we will rise up, rise up, rise up.
Echoes John Newton's "Amazing Grace":
When we've been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We've no less days to sing God's praise,
Than when we first begun.
Because His Word for us, our hopes' secure.
Jesus told us He would build His Church, unseen, upon the Rock that Peter was verbally. The name Peter (Greek, Petros) means “rock” or “rock-man.” Both Matthew and Peter changed their lives completely when they had seen the Christ in the midst of His Ministry.
The other bones in the Roman Cemetery rotted away. However, Peter was placed under a rock ceiling. And 80 feet up is the Vatican altar.
Jesus is unshakeable. His Word prevails. The Word of God proves True. Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.
Death is defeated. The Disciple Peter is accounted for. Not in the largest house in Capernaum. Peter's wonderful house's plaster walls tell the story of Peter's decision to follow Jesus. Peter is not located right next door to the Synagogue. Peter is found in the Willingness of God. In the plaster of his Roman tomb. 62 years old. Hebrews descent. A little bit plump. Feet removed from the skeleton. Peter was unwilling to be killed upright on a cross as Jesus had. Removed from the upside down cross by removal of feet from the body. Willing to be God's. Always.
Father God,
We give great thanks for Your mercy. Finding John lived to the 2nd century for John's willingness to stay beside Jesus all days. John depended upon You to be the Unshaken Kingdom.
We place into Your Loving Care our concerns, our Loved ones, the people You have given us. Knowing all prayers that are the full scope of Love for leaders, jobs, health and concerns will be in Your Protection.
Amen in Jesus.
♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †
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