Finding Jesus in Unexpected People
By Rev. Dr. Brent Russett – Asbury Free Methodist
Matthew 25:31-40 December 1, 2024
This is the first Sunday of Advent. Advent is a time where we prepare ourselves to meet with Jesus in a fresh way. We reflect on the hope, peace, joy and love that brings to our lives. My prayer is that over this advent season that you would encounter Jesus in new ways.
The theme of this advent season is “Finding Jesus.” Lord willing, I will be speaking on finding Jesus in unexpected people, in unexpected times, in unexpected places, and unexpected circumstances. This morning, I want to look at finding Jesus in unexpected people.
The Christmas story is littered with unexpected people. The king of kings and the Lord of Lords is first announced to lowly shepherds. It was the wise men from the east probably Babylon, that saw the signs of his coming. It was not the religious leaders but people who those leaders would have thought of as outside God’s grace that saw the signs and came to Jesus. Unexpected people.
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Have you ever been surprised to see someone in an unexpected place. I remember one were on holidays with some friends in Nova Scotia. The cottage that we were staying ran out of water – the well ran dry. So, I hadn’t had a shower in a couple of days. We left the cottage and drove over to the famous Peggy’s Cove lighthouse. I figure, I look like a tramp, maybe I smell like a tramp, but no one is going to know me anyways, so what does it matter.
We went into the souvenir shop in Peggy’s cove, and wouldn’t you know it – someone came up to me and said – “Aren’t you the pastor at Sunnyside.” – Surprise. Unexpected people –
That is what our scripture passages about today. Finding Jesus in unexpected people. You heard the passage read. Let me re-read part of the passage. Jesus is referring to the end of time and the judgement seat of God. He says he will separate the sheep from the goats – or people who follow him from people who don’t follow him.
Matthew 25:34–40 (NLT)
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’
37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’
What surprised the people in this story is that they didn’t recognize Jesus. Jesus says, you are so blessed, because you fed me you clothed me. You visited me – you gave me food to drink. When I was ill you cared for me. Even when they sent me to prison you visited me.
The people are saying Jesus – we don’t remember seeing you. I think I would remember seeing you – and I don’t.
Jesus says, when you did it to the one of the least of these my brothers and sisters you were doing it for me.
Finding Jesus in unexpected people.
I guess I would be surprised too. I don’t tend to think like this.
Mother Teresa, who worked with the poorest of the poor in India understood this. She said,
“We serve Jesus in the poor. We nurse Him, feed Him, clothe Him, visit Him, comfort Him in the poor, the abandoned, the sick, the orphans, the dying. But all we do, our prayer, our work, our suffering is for Jesus. Our life has no other reason or motivation.”
Mother Teresa taught that “the poor are Jesus in distressing disguise.”
And sometimes Jesus is very well disguised.
As one pastor put it. “We see Jesus in the face of an elder peering at us through the fog of dementia, we recognize him in the face of a teenager who is struggling with self-identity as they discover who they are in an ever more confusing world. Jesus reveals himself to us in the face of an infant who needs our love, care and protection, we see Jesus in the news on TV as we look into the faces of those who live lives in the face of Ebola, Isis, natural disasters, poverty and oppression. We see Jesus as we look at the faces of those, we love in hospital bed or funeral home.”
I have to admit, sometimes I don’t see Jesus in those faces. I am sometimes even afraid to look at the face of the panhandlers on the street. I sometimes don’t want to get involved in the messy situations that come with poverty or conflict or mental illness.
Have you ever been there? Have you ever been so interested in self-protection that you fail to see Jesus?
I have got to tell you that if I knew that Jesus was in Toronto, or Montreal – I would be hopping a bus, a plane, or a car and I would go look for him.
But what our scripture passage is telling is that he is closer than that. In fact, scripture is telling us that you might be surprised by where might have a Jesus sighting.
The people of Israel were surprised that the Messiah
turned up in the face of a baby, lying in a manger. They were surprised that he turned up in the guise of a carpenter’s son. They were surprised that he turned up as a citizen of Nazareth, and they asked, can anything good come from Nazareth. They were surprised that he turned up in the face of a kid from down the street. (Isn’t this Mary and Joseph’s son, and don’t we know his brothers) People all around him were surprised by who he was.
They had trouble seeing the messiah in the face of the boy next door too.
In the season of Advent, we are reminded that Jesus came to us on that first Christmas, and he continues to come to us now. The challenge is to recognize him.
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I have been walking with Jesus for about 57 years. When I think of how Jesus has revealed himself to me – I think about how he is my saviour. He saved me from the poison of sin and forgave me and he has given me his righteousness. I think about how he has revealed himself as Lord – and I can trust him with my life. I have found him to be faithful and loving and gracious and kind. Jesus has been there for me.
When I think about how Jesus has revealed himself to me, it has been at the point of my need. I am so thankful for what he has done in my life. I am so thankful that he stepped into my life when I needed him most.
That is why the passage (Matt. 25:34-40) that we are looking at comes as a shock. Jesus is revealing who he is in this passage as well. But have you noticed that when we see Jesus in this passage, he is either needy or in trouble.
I was hungry and thirsty. I was a stranger and alone. I was without clothes. I was sick. I was in prison. He reveals himself as needy or in trouble.
This passage feels off. Jesus you are the one who meets my needs. I am not the one who meets your needs. You are the one who provides for me. I am not the one who provides for you. Yet, in this passage you are revealing yourself as needy or in trouble.
But Jesus makes it very clear – you will find me in the face of the needy. You serve me by serving others.
Matthew 25:40 (NLT)
40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’
I used to interpret this passage as – when you see someone in need, you are seeing Jesus. That is not quite what verse 40 is saying. It is his brothers and sisters who are in need where you will see the face of Jesus.
Who are Jesus’ brothers and sisters. He tells us in Matthew 12. Jesus was speaking – probably inside a large house that was obviously very crowded. People wanted to hear what Jesus had to say.
Here is what
Matthew 12:46–50 (NLT) Records
46 As Jesus was speaking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. 47 Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, and they want to speak to you.”
48 Jesus asked, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” 49 Then he pointed to his disciples and said, “Look, these are my mother and brothers. 50 Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!”
Did you catch who his family are. He pointed to his disciples. He pointed to the people listening to him.
Matthew 12:50 (NLT)
50 Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!”
So when Jesus refers to his brothers and sister 13 chapters later,
Matthew 25:40 (NLT)
40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’
he is speaking about his followers.
He is speaking about those who are seeking to do his will. It seems to me that he is speaking of the spiritually hungry who have come out to hear what he has to say. But it is not just any brother or sister – it is the least of the brothers and sisters.
So, what does that mean in Perth. The first thing it means for us is that we need to take care of our own here at Asbury. We take care of the shut-ins, the poor, the emotionally challenged, the ones who blow it and end up in jail. When we do that, we are doing it for Jesus.
Speaking of jail, I haven’t had to visit that many parishioners in jail. But I have walked into the lives of those who are imprisoned by shame. Listen, if you are here and you feel like the stuff you have done is to shameful to bring to the light – I want you to know that you are welcome here. If you have had an abortion – but don’t feel like you can talk about it – you are welcome here. If you are fighting with your own sexual identity, you are welcome here. If you are imprisoned by shame of what was done to you. You are welcome here. More than that, we see the face of Jesus when we look at you. The good news is that Jesus has keys to your prison.
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But Jesus has more family than just people who attend Asbury. We care about those from whatever church who love Jesus. If there is a chance to serve, we serve. For in doing that we are serving Jesus.
But I believe that we need to go further than that. There are people in our town who the Spirit of God is at work in. They don’t attend any church – their lives seem to messy to do that – but they serve God as best they know how. They pray regularly. If you have a conversation with them, you will see that there is some faith there.
It is not our job to figure whether they are in the kingdom or out of it. If there is a chance that we might be looking at Jesus, we need to serve. There are all kinds of people who are addicted to something or other – and they feel like a failure. They reach out to God regularly – but the idea of coming to church is overwhelming. You might see Jesus in their face.
There are all kinds of youth who are trying to figure out their identity – sexually and otherwise. They have been to VBS camps. There is a latent faith in them. Could we see Jesus in them?
We have so many people from other countries working in our town. Many of them have a faith background. Could we see Jesus in them?
I expect in this advent season that you are going to encounter Jesus. It may be in the face of frazzled mom, or a tired dad. It may be in the face of a person suffering with depression or grief. It may be in the face of a senior who is shut in, or someone who is hospitalized.
When Jesus reveals how he came to us – he basically said – my life was messed up. I was hungry. I was thirsty. I was a stranger – I didn’t know anyone. I was naked. I was sick. I was in prison. People’s lives are messy, but you just might spot Jesus in the middle of the mess.
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Some people hear a message like this and get overwhelmed. You see the need and you know that you do not have the resources to meet the needs of everyone. In addressing this issue, someone wisely said, “Do for one what you wish you could do for many.” You may not be able to meet everyone’s needs – but you can meet someone’s needs.
In the season of Advent, we are reminded that Jesus came to us on that first Christmas, and he continues to come to us now. The challenge is to recognize him.
Jesus is going to very well disguised. But underneath the presenting problems, underneath the need, underneath all the craziness is a person made in the image of God – who needs love. As you love – probably not solve the problem, but maybe lighten the load a little – as you love, hear the word of the Lord to you.
Matthew 25:34–36 (NLT)
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’
Matthew 25:40 (NLT)
40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’