키씨미한인교회

Pastor Eunuk Lim’s Installation Service『A Pastor who Follows Jesus』 Matthew 21:1~9 I. Introduction “Before she got married, Cathy had heard countless times that her wedding day was ‘the happiest day of her life.’ But I and my wife really hoped that was not true.” These are the words of Pastor Tim Keller. I sincerely hope today’s installation service will not be the happiest day for Pastor Lim and the congregation. For this to happen, we all must live according to Jesus. If we look at today's text, we can see what kind of life we should live. Today’s message is primarily addressed to Pastor Lim. However, these words can apply to all of us who believe in Jesus. Through today’s word, I hope you can hear the voice of our Lord. Now, let’s get into the text. II. Body 1. First, Jesus sent his people. Matthew 21:1~2, “As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, 'Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me.” Jesus sent two disciples. One way Jesus worked was by sending people. The first miracle Jesus performed was the “Marriage Feast in Cana.” At that time, Jesus sent people to fetch water. He could have turned the water in the jar into wine just by praying, without sending people. However, Jesus sent people. So, He allowed them to directly experience the work of God. One of the common miracles in the four Gospels was the “Miracle of the Five Loaves and Two Fish.” Here, Jesus also sent his disciples. He had them distribute five loaves and two fish to 5,000 people. Jesus could have turned stones into bread just by praying, without sending people. However, Jesus sent his disciples. So, He allowed them to directly experience the work of God. It's still the same now. Jesus still sends people to accomplish God’s will. I came to Cincinnati for the first time in my life. What are the odds of me coming to Cincinnati? And what are the odds of me preaching at Batavia Church? I believe the reason I can preach at this time is because God sent me. This time I would like to ask you one thing. Please answer in your heart. Pastor Lim, do you believe that Jesus sent you to this church? Congregation, do you believe that Jesus sent Pastor Lim to this church? There is a purpose when Jesus sends people. The purpose of Jesus sending me here is to preach the word of God. So, what is the purpose of Jesus sending Pastor Lim to this church? I think the text we read today provides the answer to this question. If you look at today's text, you will find the purpose as to why Jesus sent his disciples. It was to fulfill the prophet’s prophecy. 2. Second, Jesus fulfilled the prophecy. Matthew 21:3~5, “If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.' This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: "Say to the Daughter of Zion, 'See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.'" The purpose of Jesus sending two disciples was to fulfill the words spoken through the prophet. Let’s read verse 4 again. “This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet.” Jesus fulfilled the prophet’s prophecy. Then who is our prophet? God promised that he would raise up a prophet like Moses. Deuteronomy 8:15, “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him.” The prophet mentioned here means Jesus. Therefore, if we obey the words of Jesus, we fulfill the words of the prophet. So, what words of Jesus should we obey? Today’s passage holds the key to this question. By examining the word, Jesus demonstrated what kind of image we should followthrough his actions. Jesus rode on a little donkey because he was gentle. So, what does Gentleness mean here? Does it simply mean that he is gentle himself? If you read the Gospel of Matthew, there is a deeper meaning here. The word “gentle” is the Greek word Πραΰς (Praus). This word appears four times in the Bible, and three times in the Gospel of Matthew. And the first place this word is used is in the ‘Beatitudes’ in Matthew 5. Matthew 5:5, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” In today’s text, Praus is translated as “gentle,” and in Matthew 5, it is translated as “meek.” In the NIV Bible, the Greek word “Praus” is translated with different words, but holds the same meaning. So, what does “meek” mean? Let’s listen to Pastor John Stott’s explanation. “It seems important to note that in the beatitudes ‘the meek’ come between those who mourn over sin and those who hunger and thirst after righteousness.” We can see that the meek mourn over sin and hunger and thirst for righteousness. Many theologians say that the Beatitudes are portraits of Jesus. If so, was Jesus the one who mourned over his sin? Was Jesus the one who hungered and thirsted for his righteousness? The answer is both yes and no. Jesus was sinless. Jesus himself was righteous. So, we cannot imagine Jesus mourning for his sins, or hungering and thirsting for self-righteousness. However, Jesus was a person who grieved for our sins. Jesus was the one who hungered and thirsted so that we could obtain righteousness. I would like to request this to Pastor Lim. Please follow Jesus. Just like him, please grieve for the transgression and yearn for the goodness for others. I believe this is why Jesus has sent you to this church. Today’s text delivers the same message. The reason Jesus rode on that little donkey was not for himself but for us. In Luke 19, the donkey he rode was one that had never been ridden before. Luke 19:30, “Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here.” Why did Jesus ride a little donkey that no one had ever ridden before? In the Old Testament, when presenting a sin offering, a calf that had not been yoked had to be sacrificed. So, the unridden colt in the Gospel of Luke and the unyoked calf in the Old Testament have the same meaning. The reason Jesus rode a colt was to show us that he would die on the Cross as an offering for our sins. This is one of the most important messages of this text. Jesus demonstrated more than people expected. Even if Jesus did not die on the Cross, no one can criticize him. However, Jesus humbled himself, became a human being, walked the path of the Cross, and solved our problems of sin and death by dying on the Cross. We too must live according to Jesus. We must do more than people expect. Only then can people be moved and changed. I hope Pastor Lim does more than people expect. Only then can people be stirred and transformed. Jesus lived not for himself but for others. I hope Pastor Lim lives according to Jesus. The same goes for all believers. I hope you go out into the world and live differently from other people. Only then will the gospel you believe in have power. Only then will the name of the Lord be exalted through your life. Only then will this church be able to further revive as you pray. I truly desire that these blessings will come to all of you. 3. Lastly, Jesus received the praise. Matthew 21:6~9, “The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, 'Hosanna to the Son of David!' 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!' 'Hosanna in the highest!'” Jesus received praise from the crowd. Pastor Lim also needs to receive praise from people. Congregation, you also need to receive praise from people. The early church was a church praised by the people of the world. So the number was added day by day. Acts 2:47, “Praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” I encourage this to Pastor Lim. As you carry out your ministry, please keep one question in mind. “If this church disappears, how will the people in this community react?” If they regret the disappearance of the church, you have done a good job in ministry. However, if they please the disappearance of the church, you are doing your ministry wrong. Batavia Church must become a church that receives praise from the community. Then the Lord will add to the number of people being saved day by day. However, our ultimate goal should not be to get people's praise. Our final goal should be to receive God's praise. Jesus also lived such a life. In today’s text, the reason people praised Jesus was because they expected him to save them from the Roman rule. They wanted to make Jesus the king of the Jews. Yet, how can we be certain? In his Gospel, Apostle John described the type of branches the crowds gathered to welcome Jesus. John 12:13, “They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, 'Hosanna!' 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!' 'Blessed is the King of Israel!'” But what is the significance of using palm branches? Since Maccabee era, Palm branches have been a symbol of the Jews. Maccabee was an individual who secured Jewish independence from the Greek rule in 164BC. When Maccabee came back from the victory, the crowds welcomed him by spreading and shaking palm branches. Similarly, they expected Jesus to free them from the Roman rule. For this reason, the crowds welcomed Jesus with palm branches. Indeed, If Jesus became the king of the Jews, he would not have had to die on the Cross. But Jesus never sought human praise. He knew God sent him to save humankind from sin and death by dying on the Cross. What Jesus sought was God’s will and his praise. It was God who sent Pastor Lim to this church. So, the final judgment on Pastor Lim’s ministry will be made by God. Therefore, if you are faced with a situation where you have to choose between the praise of the people and the praise of God, please seek God's praise like Jesus did.                         III. Conclusion I will conclude by saying this. Pastor Lim and I share the same parents. My father is a church elder, and he has served the church as an elder for decades. All Korean churches have daily prayer meetings early in the morning. The church my parents attend is not a small church. It is a church with at least 500 people. However, ever since the church facility manager resigned, my parents decided to volunteer. They open the church every morning for those who attend the Morning Prayer. To do that, they wake up at 4 a.m. every morning. The only people who know that my parents do this work are the few who come to the Morning Prayer. Our parents have been doing this for several years, whether it's snowing or raining. At the installation service today, we missed our parents.  Why did my parents decide to do this hard work? I believe it is because my parents looked to the praise from God, not from people. And I believe they wanted to follow Jesus and to prepare to meet God in the near future. Their ages are 83 and 81.  I know they pray every morning for their sons’ ministry. I am sure that Pastor Lim will follow his parents’ faith and serve Batavia Church well without name or fame. Lastly, let me end with this. In the words of Christopher Columbus: “Following the light of the sun, we left the old world.” To Pastor Lim and to the congregation, let us live according to Jesus, who is the creator of the sun. Then we will be able to leave the old world and live on as the people of the new kingdom of God. I sincerely hope that the Lord will bless us all, with his amazing grace. Amen.