Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Jesus is right behind you
Matt 25:31-40In Wales, there was a significant renaissance about 150 years ago. To share the gospel, several missionaries traveled to northeast India. There were numerous savage and violent head-hunting tribes living in the Assam region. A team of missionaries from the American Baptist Missions entered these violent and antagonistic villages and preached the gospel of love, peace, and hope in Jesus Christ. They were obviously unwelcome. A man, his wife, and their two kids were all converted, by one missionary. Many locals started to convert to Christianity because of this man's contagious faith. The village chief got angry and summoned all the villagers. He then called the family who had first converted to renounce their faith publicly or face execution. Moved by the Holy Spirit, the man said, “I have decided to follow Jesus.” The chief ordered his archers to arrow down the two children. Then, as both boys lay twitching on the floor, the chief asked, “Will you deny your faith? You have lost both of your children. You will lose your wife too.” But the man replied, “Though no one joins me, still I will follow.”
This portion highlights the picture of the Son of Man as a shepherd transforms into the image of Jesus as king (vv. 34, 40). Jesus’ messianic identity is a major theme for Matthew (1:1; 2:2; 21:5; 27:37). He declares the sheep “blessed” by God and invites them to inherit the fullness of the kingdom. They are blessed because they fed the king when he was hungry, gave him drink when he was thirsty, welcomed him when he was a stranger, clothed him when he was naked, cared for him when he was sick, and visited him when he was imprisoned (Vv. 34–36). Next, the king declares the goats “accursed” and consigns them to eternal fire. They are accursed because they did not feed, give drink to, welcome, clothe, or visit him in his need (Vv. 41–43). Like the sheep, the goats are confounded, when did they fail to “serve”. The stirring turning point is that our service to Jesus is demonstrated best by how we serve the least of Jesus’ brothers. The preceding parables also reveal a person’s heart—preparedness, responsibility, readiness, productivity—but caring for the neediest among Jesus’ disciples is the clinching evidence of kingdom life. There is a primary responsibility that we must care for those of the household of faith, but also all of God’s creatures. There is inherent value in those created in God’s image, even those who are living lives separate from God, as well as those who are unattractive emotionally, relationally, or even physically. God truly loves the world and desires that none should perish (John 3:16; 2 Peter 3:9). We must empathize with all individuals made in his image and understand their eternal nature. This should give us a heart for missions and an intense desire that none would perish eternally.
St. Paul wrote to the Galatians that “in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is of any avail, but faith working through love.” (Gal. 5:6) Today, we might think about whom we must serve and what is true solidarity. Pope John Paul II defined solidarity in his encyclicals on social justice. It “is not a feeling of vague compassion or shallow distress at the misfortunes of so many people, both near and far. On the contrary, it is a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good to the good of all and of each individual because we are all responsible for all.” It is our responsibility to stretch our hands to the needy. Our Lord said that He came to this earth not to be served but to serve. He is the perfect King, who loves His children so deeply and is compassionate and merciful all the time. Christ plainly tells us that when we serve one another, especially the suffering, the poor, and the neglected, we serve Him.
Rev Sonu Skariah Varghese
Mexico Mission