In the Gospel of Matthew, we get the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah and the birth story in Chapter 1; Chapter 2 includes the visit from the Wise and the Escape to Egypt; Chapter 3 takes us to the river for the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. Then in Chapter 4, Jesus begins his ministry.
This is important.
Matthew 4:23 says “Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.”
Be reminded, the people to whom Jesus ministered were under the oppressive rule of the Roman Empire. In addition, there was no first world healthcare, there was no stock market, probably no savings-for-a-rainy-day to speak of. I am not saying it was necessarily a “bleak time,” but it was certainly a challenging time.
Please notice that in the verse above, the author wants the reader (that’s us) to know in no uncertain terms that:
1) Jesus went everywhere
2) Jesus was teaching how to have life abundantly, even in challenging times (especially in challenging times)
3) Jesus was PROCLAIMING the good news of the kingdom of God.
4) Jesus was curing every disease and every sickness among the people.
He was doing the above things so effectively that his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they (the people) brought him ALL the sick, those who were afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, and paralytics, and he cured them.
That is an extremely heavy narrative with extremely powerful statements.
Immediately following those verses (Matthew 4:23-25), we get the Beatitudes (5:1-12); the call to be Salt & Light (5:13-14); advice on anger, adultery, divorce, oaths, retaliation, loving enemies, alms giving, prayer, fasting, and finances. These are the teachings that flowed from the mouth of Jesus that were so mesmerizing and revolutionary.
All of these teachings deal directly with real-life everyday basic needs and actions.
His teaching was not some lofty philosophical or theological musings. Rather, it was real-when-the-rubber-meets-the-road-how-to-live-life lessons.
THEN…
THEN…
In Matthew 6:25 we find these words of Jesus:
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what your will wear. Is not life more than food, and the boy more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For it is others who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and God’s righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well So, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”
My friends, I admit, I am a worrier. It just comes naturally for me to worry. It’s seems second nature to me to do it. But situated in the middle of this dissertation recorded in Matthew chapters 5, 6 & 7 (known as the Sermon on the Mount) the itinerant Rabbi, the Son of God, the Christ, the Messiah, the one who proclaims the good news of the kingdom and heals everyone who is sick, plainly and unequivocally says to us, DO NOT WORRY.
DO NOT WORRY.
To that, my inner most being wants to scream, “ARE YOU SERIOUS?”
And the answer comes barreling across the centuries, “Yes, I’m serious. Don’t worry!”
My friends, these are indeed troubling times; times that demand we make smart choices and exhibit wisdom in all of our actions. But these times also demand that those of us who have experienced the in-breaking of the Kingdom of Heaven in our lives, let that Kingdom do what it was designed to do. And it is designed to show us the path to human flourishing even in the face of challenging times.
*If the good news is only good when everything in life is going well, then what good is it?
*If the good news is only good when the stock market is up, then what good is it?
*If the good news is only good when we are healthy, then what good is it?
*If the good news is only good when the sun is shining, then what good is it?
The good news is good news especially when life is NOT going well.
The good news is the good news especially when when the stock market plunges. The good news is the good news especially when we are not feeling well.
The good news is the good news especially when the sun is not shining.
Take heart and be of good cheer. Be smart, make good choices and use wisdom and above all, don’t worry! (You know I’m preaching to myself, right?)