Revolution: Turning People to Faith Through Closeness (Matt. 8:1)

In 1925, a life-or-death race to Nome, Alaska was held.[1] The race was the precursor of Alaska’s famous Iditarod sled-dog race. That January, doctors feared that a deadly diphtheria epidemic was about to sweep through Nome. Nome had none of the serum that could stop the epidemic. But there was serum in Anchorage, about one thousand miles away. Sadly, only one airplane existed that could quickly transport the serum from Anchorage to Nome, but the airplane had just been dismantled for the winter. In desperation, a sled-dog relay was organized. More than 20 mushers took part. They and their dogs raced in strong winds and in temperatures near 40 degrees below zero. Reporters brought news of the race and the world was captured by the drama. And just six days after the 1000 mile race began, Gunner Kaassen drove his dog team into the streets of Nome and delivered the life-saving medicine.

Can you imagine if people in Anchorage had acted differently? What if they had sent word to Nome: “We have the medicine. Come to Anchorage and get it so that you and your families can be saved.” That would have been ludicrous. Instead, they took the riskier but more compassionate step of saying to Nome: “We have the medicine. We will bring it to you so that you and your families can be saved.”

The story is a parable of the ministry of Jesus. Jesus did not stand on a mountain in heaven and say to the people of earth: “I have the medicine you need. Come to heaven and get it so that you and your families can be saved.” Instead, just as we celebrate in communion each Sunday, Jesus said to the people of earth, “I have the medicine you need. I will bring it to you so that you and your families can be saved.”

We see this clearly in Matt. 5-10. As we noticed last Sunday, at the beginning of Matt. 5 Jesus casts a vision. Jesus says, You are the salt of the earth…You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matt. 5:13, 14-16 TNIV) In Matt. 5 is Jesus saying, “Imagine being salt and light.” That’s how this section begins. Notice how this section ends. In Matt. 10 Jesus sends us out to be salt and light: Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness…These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions… (Matt. 10:1,5 TNIV). In Matt. 5 Jesus is saying, “Imagine being salt and light.” But in Matt. 10 is Jesus saying “Go and be salt and light.” The section begins with a vision of us turning people to the Father. The section ends with us being sent out to do just that.

But how do we move from that vision to that commission? That’s what Matt. 5-9 is about. Specifically, in Matt. 5-7 we find instruction. Jesus instructs us on the kind of character and lifestyle we must have if we desire to turn people to the Father. Then in Matt. 8-9 we find demonstration. Jesus demonstrates how to be salt and light. Jesus models the kinds of habits and practices which even we can do to lead people to the Father. We are exploring these practices in Matt. 8-9.

This morning we explore one of the most practical habits of Jesus which we can imitate if we wish to be salt and light: closeness. Listen to what happens as we transition from the instruction of Matt. 5-7 to the demonstration of Matt. 8-10: When Jesus came down from the mountainside… (Matt. 8:1 TNIV) Those seven words are words we are likely to skip past. But they are the precursor to everything good that happens in the next two chapters. Not a single healing, forgiving, or saving can happen in chapters 8-9 without these seven words: When Jesus came down from the mountainside. Jesus did not remain on the mount of chapters 5-7 and just invite those in need to come to him. Jesus came down from the mount and went to those in need. Jesus physically drew close to those who needed what he had.

The ten miracles in Matt. 8-9 come in cycles of three-four. Let’s explore just the first set of three: 1 When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. 2 A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” 3 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. 4 Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” 5 When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 6 “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.” 7 Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?” 8 The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. 11 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that very hour. 14 When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. 15 He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him. (Matt. 8:1-15 TNIV)

A scholar named Frederick Dale Bruner suggests that we can picture these first three people—a leper, a centurion, and a Jewish woman—in terms of how far each is from the center of the temple in Jerusalem.[2] As we consider the temple in Jerusalem, we can imagine at least six concentric circles. At the center is the Holy of Holies, the place where God resided. There, only one person, a Jewish male, could enter one time each year. Next is the Holy Place, a space where only Jewish males could enter. Next is the Court of Women. Women were welcome in this space, but could go no closer. Then, there is the Court of Gentiles, the only place in the temple where Gentiles were permitted. Finally, there is Jerusalem and then outside Jerusalem. Bruner suggests we can imagine Jesus being at the center, the Holy of Holies—after all, he is God—and each of these three people—the woman, the centurion, and the leper, being at various distances from that center.

Let’s start with Peter’s mother-in-law. As a Jewish woman, Peter’s mother-in-law would not have been allowed as far inside the temple as Jewish men. The Holy of Holies and the Holy Place were off limits to her. She is two circles removed from the center. Yet in Matt. 8, Jesus symbolically crosses that distance from the Holy of Holies to the Court of Women. It is very significant that one of the first three people Jesus draws close to is a Jewish woman, because there was a certain distance Jesus had to bridge in order to draw close to her. Jesus didn’t just stay on that Sermon on the Mount in Matt. 5-7 and invite her to come to him. Instead, Jesus went to her. And drawing close to a Jewish woman in that culture required closing a pretty big distance.

The second person Jesus encounters is a centurion, one of six Roman soldiers in a cohort who would have each commanded a century of soldiers.[3] This centurion was a Gentile, a non-Jew. As a centurion, he was required to participate in pagan religious rites including worship of the Roman emperor.[4] Thus, a centurion would be considered unclean. In terms of the temple, he would have been permitted into the Court of the Gentiles, but no closer. Yet Jesus is not only willing to symbolically bridge the distance from the Holy of Holies to the Court of Women. Jesus is even willing to bridge the larger distance between the Holy of Holies and the Court of the Gentiles. It is very significant that one of the first three people Jesus draws close to is a Gentile centurion, because he had to close a pretty big gap to get there. Jesus didn’t just stay on that Sermon on the Mount in Matt. 5-7 and invite the centurion to come to him. Instead, Jesus went to him.

But the first person Jesus draws close to is a leper. Few people in ancient Israel were as marginalized as lepers. Lepers were a source of physical pollution. Their disease was contagious, incurable and could lead to death.[5] In addition, lepers were a source of spiritual pollution. They were considered ritually unclean. Thus lepers were forced to live on the outskirts of villages. They were excluded from Israel’s walled cities, including Jerusalem. Thus, a leper like this could get nowhere near the temple. He couldn’t’ even get into Jerusalem. Yet one of the first three people Jesus draws near to is this leper. Jesus is not only willing to symbolically close the gap between the Holy of Holies and the Court of Women, or the Holy of Holies and the Court of the Gentiles. Jesus is willing to go all the way outside the city to get into the life of a leper.

Jesus is demonstrating the practice of closeness. To act as salt and light, Jesus did not stay on that Sermon on the Mount in chapters 5-7 and just invite people to come to him. Jesus left that mount and went to where the people were. In order to become salt and light, Jesus drew close to people far from God. And he didn’t just go across the street. He went as far as a Jewish woman, a Gentile centurion, and a leper.

In our Revolution diagram, we call this Marketplace. It’s getting out of the church spaces, getting out of our comfort zones, and getting into the marketplace, into the spaces where people far from God actually are.

Jesus’ example of closeness challenges us to consider another shift in the way we go about outreach. Last Sunday we discussed two cultural revolutions. One is the shift from Christian to Non Christian. Increasing numbers of people in this country are growing up outside the Christian faith. The second is the shift from Modern to Postmodern. Increasing numbers are adopting ways of thinking that are called postmodern. And because many of our churches originated in that Christian and Modern culture, we’ve tended to rely on a certain way of being salt and light called “attractional” or invitational.[6] I’ve shared this with you before, but I believe it’s worth repeating. Here’s what “attractional” outreach looks like:

· “Drawing in”—the goal is to draw in as many as possible from the outside world;

· “Starting where we feel at home”—outreach begins by getting outsiders to come to the place we feel at home;

· “Seating”—the goal is to fill as many seats in the church building as possible;

· “Come to us”—we ask those in need to come to us for help;

· “How many people come to our church services?”—this is one way churches measure success. They count the number of people who come to church services.

There are examples of attractional ministry in Scripture. For example, in John 4 a woman who has met Jesus at a well outside of town invites her fellow towns-folk to “come and see” this Jesus. In addition, if a church is healthy, it will be naturally attractive. And we still utilize attractional events like Genesis and Trunk or Treat. Some attractional outreach is still effective. But in our post-Christian and postmodern culture, there will be some who will not be attracted to Christian events.

That’s why we need to supplement our “attractional” outreach with “missional” outreach. Again, I’ve shared this with you before, but I believe it needs repeating:[7]

· Attractional outreach is drawing in—missional outreach is sending out.

· Attractional outreach is starting where we feel at home—missional outreach is starting where they feel at home. It is Christians leaving their “turf” and going to places where non Christians feel at home;

· Attractional outreach is seating—missional outreach is sending. The goal is to empty as many seats as possible by sending Christians into the lives of non Christians;

· Attractional outreach is come to us—missional outreach is go to them;

· Attractional outreach asks “How many people come to our church services?” Missional outreach asks “How many people does our church serve?”

Just like Jesus, we cannot remain on our Sermon on the Mount and just invite people to come to us for what they need. We have to leave that Mount and go to them.

What does this mean for us corporately? Here are some examples to consider:

· Saint Stephen Church in Louisville, KY has grown to over 10,000 people in part by practicing closeness.[8] Sunday School is a key element for them, just as it is for Highland. Their Sunday School classes offer community, service opportunities, prayer and good teaching. But they hold many of their adult Sunday School classes in places like McDonald’s and White Castle. They’ve decided that rather than asking their city to come to them for community, service opportunities, and prayer and teaching, they’ll take those things out into the community.

· I recently read of a church which is urging their adults to stop participating in Christian recreational leagues and join the city and other local recreational leagues as a way of getting out of Christian cliques and back onto the turf of non Christians.

· I know of a church in Florida which holds an outreach event each week in a local bar. They believe many of those in that bar will never come to that church building. So they are trying to bring an element of Jesus to those in the bar.

· For several years members of the White Station Church of Christ have gone out into their church neighborhood, and just offered to pray with their neighbors. It’s a simple way of getting out of the building and into the lives of others.

But what does this mean for us as individuals? Recently several of us have taken the training to use an outreach tool called Sycamore Series. At the end of that training, we were asked to write down the names of some non-Christians we know. The problem is that few of us in the training even had names to write down. We just didn’t know many people far from God. Thus, the first step in becoming salt and light is for us as individuals to find some ways to start rubbing shoulders with some actual non-Christians.

In his book Walk Across the Room Bill Hybels provides this illustration.[9] He’s found that the more years a person has walked with Jesus, the fewer interactions that person has with people who are far from God. The longer we are a Christian, the more disconnected we become with non Christians. We only go to Christian movies, listen only to Christian music, and go boating, bowling, and barbequeing only with Christian people. Ideally, Hybels argues the opposite should be true. The more years we walk with Christ, the more interactions we should have with people far from God. In Hybels’ words, the longer our walk with Christ, the greater our “love quotient” should become and the more interactions we have with people far from God. The first thing most of us need to do is simply find ways to draw close to some irreligious people.

Here are some practical steps to consider. First, think of your schedule. Are there are some Christian activities you need to give up to create more time for getting to know some non Christians? Some of us are simply too busy to draw close to Jewish women, Gentile centurions, and lepers. The first step may be to cut some Christian events to free up time to get close to some non Christians.

Second, think of the spaces you currently frequent. Are there some non Christians already in those spaces who, if you were intentional, you could draw close to? It might be a next door neighbor, it might be a coworker, or it could be a student in a class. Perhaps in your current spaces there are already non Christians you could get draw close to.

Finally, think of new spaces you can consider frequenting. What are some new spaces that might be filled with non Christians that you might start frequenting? Maybe you like coffee. What about hanging out at a coffee house the same day and time every week and trying to meet some of the people there? Libraries, parks, community organizations, clubs, and recreation centers will likely have some irreligious people in them. Find some new spaces where you can meet some non Christians.

We’ve given you a ruler this morning. Hold up that ruler. There was a time when Jesus was at one end of that ruler and you were on the other end. There was a time when each of us was that Jewish woman, that Gentile centurion, or that leper. But Jesus closed that distance. Jesus drew close to us. And for each of us this morning, there is another person on the opposite end of that ruler from where we are. They are irreligious. They are once-churched but now de-churched. They are far from God. The first step in becoming salt and light is to simply close that distance. What can you do this week to draw close to that person? Keep that ruler in your Bible or in another book or place. Each time you see it, pray that God will help you take one more step toward someone far from God.