Serving like Jesus

Matthew 25:31-46

One day while walking with some children, Queen Mary was caught in a sudden shower. Quickly taking shelter on the porch of a home, she knocked at the door and asked to borrow an umbrella. “I’ll send it back tomorrow,” she said. The queen had deliberately disguised her appearance by putting on a hat that partly covered her face and by wearing some very plain clothes. The homeowner, reluctant to give a stranger her best umbrella, offered her a castoff she found in the attic. One rib was broken and there were several holes in it. Apologizing, she turned it over to the monarch, whom she did not recognize.

The next day she had another visitor—in man with gold braid on his uniform and an envelope in his hand. “The queen sent me with this letter,” he said, “and also asked me to thank you personally for the loan of your umbrella.” Stunned, the woman burst into tears. “Oh, what an opportunity I missed that did not give my very best,” she cried.¹

This Sunday we have special commission to make. We are sending our youth to Armenia for a mission. I am extremely happy for this opportunity. In Matthew 25, Jesus tells this parable of a King coming back from his journey and making tough decisions, separating the sheep from the goats. I don’t think Jesus had any problem with goats. They are all God’s creation, but this is an allegory, telling us a story with an intention. Sheep represent the believers who believed in Jesus Christ as personal savior, kept his commandments and served Jesus. Goats are the ones who did not believe in Jesus and did not keep his commandments.

This is a serious thing. The point of the parable is that when we are called to be “sheep” of our Lord, the real shepherd, Jesus Christ, we are called to serve him. God will judge us in the end. Our salvation is not based on works, but faith without works is meaningless.

What can we learn from this parable?

1. Sheep follow their Shepherd.

I remember from the days of Kessab, every morning the shepherd started by whistling a special tune as the animals followed his path. I sometimes walked along with the shepherd. The goats usually went their way. They did not like to stay in the flock. Sheep followed the shepherd.

Our master is Jesus Christ. We learn from him how to serve the needy, the poor, the person who is in need. If we are going to serve, we need to be energized by Jesus, and learn from his lifestyle.

We read in Matthew 20: 26-28 “… Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

My introductory illustration is a wonderful story. The queen was disguised. The simple woman said in her heart, “I wish I knew it was the queen.” Here is the challenge. Jesus said, “I was hungry, and thirsty, and needy and you helped me.” The disciples were surprised, “When did we see you hungry and naked?” “If you did to any little ones, you did it to me,” was the answer.

Do you see the point? It is a great thing to be a servant of the Lord, where we can to serve without being recognized. The simple woman said, “I wish I knew.” Well, Jesus is saying, “Don’t say I wish I knew, because I am telling you, you are serving me when you serve the weak around you.” You are serving God by doing it to the “little” ones.

We will continue in English.

1. SermonCentral illustraions.