How Is that New Year’s Resolution Going?

Matthew describes for us what happened when the time had come for Jesus to begin his ministry. When John was put in prison, Jesus returned to Galilee and began to preach just as John had, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

Now, to understand this phrase, we have to remember what it would have meant to Matthew and the people Matthew wrote his Gospel for. Matthew was writing to Jewish Christians. So, Matthew’s uses the phrase “kingdom of heaven”; the other Gospel writers used the phrase “Kingdom of God”. They mean the same thing. Remember that according to Jewish law, it was forbidden to say the name of God. So, heaven was often substituted for God as a way of referencing God without using God’s name, out of respect and reverence. So, when Matthew talks about Kingdom of Heaven, he is not referring to a place or something that we experience after we die. Jesus is preaching about revolution – and his readers know it. “The kingdom of heaven is near” is a declaration that God is about to rescue God’s people from foreign rule and put everything right.

What Jesus’ audience didn’t realize was that the worst foreign rule that they were under was internal. God created us for himself, not for us. But we like to rule ourselves. We like to think of ourselves as self-sufficient. We like to think we are in control.

The kingdom of God delivers us from our own sinful natures. We are no longer under the control of sin and its consequences. The Kingdom of God is the reign of God’s will, instead of ours. The will of God is near – peace and justice are near – love is near. The Kingdom of God is all about relationship.

One afternoon, Jesus was walking along the Sea of Galilee and saw a couple of fishermen, Andrew and his brother Simon (only he went by Peter). “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” On around the lake, there were two more brothers, James and John. They were in the boat fishing with their dad. Jesus called them, too.

Andrew and Simon Peter left their nets at once and followed him. James and John immediately left the boat and their father and followed him. “At once”/ “immediately” they left behind their work, their family, their lives…to follow him. Why?

Some scholars think that he must have been known to them. That he must have been teaching in the region and these fishermen knew who he was or maybe had even been to hear him preach. So, when he invited them to be students, to follow him, they were astonished to be asked, honored, and ready to go. Maybe…

Whether they knew him or not, he was a person who radiated light, who you wanted to be near. He didn’t invite them to follow a set of rules. He invited them to follow him. Jesus’ invitation is an invitation to relationship.

Pastor and author, Andy Stanley, captured the difference. He wrote, “Lots of people think Christianity is all about doing what Jesus says. But what if doing what Jesus says isn’t what Jesus says to do at all? Jesus’ invitation is an invitation to relationship, and it begins with a simple request: follow me. Religion says, “Change and you can join us.” Jesus says, “Join us and you will change.” There’s a huge difference. Jesus doesn’t expect people to be perfect. He just wants them to follow him. Being a sinner doesn’t disqualify anyone. Being an unbeliever doesn’t disqualify anyone. In fact, following almost always begins with a sinner and unbeliever taking one small step.”

All Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John did was step out of the boat. They just put down what they were doing that was not following Jesus and took a step.

For thousands of years, we have been trying to change ourselves. I looked up the history of making New Year’s Resolutions. History channel says that the tradition comes from the Babylonians, the same ones who conquered Israel and sent them into exile. 4,000 years ago, they started a tradition of making new year’s resolutions a their new year, in mid-March, when they planted their crops. Estimates are that 45% of Americans made resolutions, but only about 8% of us actually achieve our goals.

So, how are you doing on your new year’s resolution? Mine was to start walking, or maybe just do a few sit-ups a day, maybe start with one plank. I haven’t gotten around to really figuring out exactly what it is yet, and I’m not really sure if I am going to do it in the morning or maybe the evening sometimes. Chris and I can walk together in the evening. I bought an audio book to listen to while I walk, though, so I could go in the morning. But it’s cold, so I could go walk on dad’s treadmill, but I just haven’t figured it out yet.

What if that had been the response Simon Peter and Andrew, James and John had given Jesus? Yeah, I really want to know you better, but right now I have a lot of fish to sell today. Not sure that tomorrow is better. I will. I’m just not sure what that is going to look like, or when I’m going to start.

It all starts with one step. The Kingdom of God is near. It is not something that is coming. You and I are invited to be a part of it “at once”/”immediately”. But I think we tend to make fuzzy commitments like my new year’s resolution. I’m going to find my place of service, get more involved in the church, start to give more, read my Bible, participate in more,… one day, somehow,…well, I want to.

One month from today, February 26th, is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. The early church began observing Lent to prepare new converts to join the church. They were baptized at the Easter Vigil. Lent is 40 days long – like the flood of Genesis, Moses’ sojourn at Mount Sinai, Elijah’s journey to Mount Horeb, Jonah’s call to Ninevah to repent and Jesus’ time of testing in the wilderness – and it is a time of prayer and self-examination.

It is a time to repent and prepare for God’s kingdom. The kingdom of God is near – peace and justice are near – love is near – it is all about relationship.

“Come, follow me,” is Jesus’ invitation to be his disciple. It is an invitation to relationship. So, this year during Lent, you are invited into deeper relationship.

First, relationship with Jesus. You can’t be in relationship with someone you don’t know. You can’t be a disciple, disciple means student, if you don’t listen to the teacher. So, you are invited to get to know Jesus better, to study his life so you can follow. Our daily devotional guide will be Jill Duffield’s book “Lent in Plain Sight.” We will be learning to see how God works in the common and ordinary.

You will have the opportunity to buy the book and read it – each day has a verse of Scripture, about 2 pages of a story or reflection on the Scripture, a few questions to think about, and a prayer.

Second, relationship with other disciples. Small groups will gather to talk about the readings, and to get to know each other better. When we know each other, we do a better job supporting each other, loving each other, and holding each other accountable.

Third, relationship with those in darkness. We are bearers of the light. As you journey through Lent, you will have opportunities to reach out to someone who is hurting, to provide a meal, to send a card, to offer help. You will have opportunities to put your arm around someone who is discouraged, to encourage someone who wants to give up. You will have opportunities to give to Rise Against Hunger and provide meals for school children in developing countries, or to wash sheets for Room in the Inn, or to play Scrabble with one of the kids who are homeless, or to be a Navigator for a person that has just gotten back in housing. You will have opportunities to bear light, and as you bear the light into the darkest places, you see Christ’s face looking back at you.

How will you respond to Jesus’ invitation to follow him? With vague ideas about how you should and you would if you could, and you will, but not right now…or “at once”/ “immediately” will you put down the work in your hands and follow?