06 Apr The One That Stuck

My wife Ramona and I are working on a new ministry for the church (to be unveiled soon, watch this space) and have had a series of meetings with a gentleman in Texas. We meet with Brian via Zoom, and he is a self-described agnostic who dabbles in Buddhism.

During one of our conversations, Brian shared that he was exposed to various religious denominations (determined by the church of the man his mother was dating at any given time). Brian revealed that in all that exposure to sermons and homilies just one nugget of scripture stuck with him: “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” I quickly informed Brian that he had just recited Matthew 25:40. Let’s look at the verses that preceded it:

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you? Matthew 25:34-39 (NIV)

Jesus then informs them and us that anytime we help someone in need, we are doing it for Jesus. Brian then asked, “Isn’t that all of us?” In fact, to whom Jesus refers is the subject of great theological debate.

The NIV Application Commentary argues that Jesus is referring to fellow believers, that we are all to care for one another, but especially the least of the disciples. Others argue that Jesus refers to all needy persons in humanity. This is what Brian was arguing, and I agree with this interpretation.

In the last two years, God has made clear that Samaritan’s Heart Mission Church is to minister to the unhoused, those in recovery from addiction, those with mental health challenges and those reentering society after incarceration. We haven’t heard from God that we should first ask if they are disciples of Jesus.

Yes, our calling is to share the gospel with those who have not accepted Christ. But people don’t care what you know until they know that you care. Once relief needs are met, once relationships are established, then we are called to share the Good News.

St. Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa) and others have described this as “serving Jesus with skin on.”

That of all the messages Brian heard from the pulpit in his childhood, Matthew 25:40 stuck with him, I believe, is hardly by chance. Jesus came for those with the least, not the most, in the horizontal earthly sense.

Jesus shared this after saying that on judgement day the sheep will be put to His right and the goats to His left. Brian has the heart of a sheep and God is patient. It’s never too late for any of us to accept Christ and get to His right. I was 55.

There’s hope for Brian and there’s hope for you. When you’re loving “the least of these” out of love for Christ, there is no fear of being in the wrong line and your life will change in ways you cannot imagine. If it hasn’t, I pray it happens for you today!

Pastor Jerry Bader