Trinity Fremont

All Jesus is the end of Matthew.  It is fitting as Jesus is such a theme for Matthew throughout his gospel.  At the end of this gospel Jesus reminds or emphasizes he has ALL authority and it has been given to him by the Father.  He instructs his disciples to make disciples of ALL nations, in other words, ALL people. Disciples are to obey ALL Jesus has commanded them.  That’s a lot of ALL’s.  

But then Jesus reminds them that he will ALWAYS be with them - ALWAYS.  And He is.  Through His Word, through His sacraments and through His Spirit, Jesus is ALWAYS with us, Always with us until He returns in ALL his Glory.

What a gift.  A gift that is meant to be shared.  The Living Waters that Jesus refers to sharing with others in John 7 is the Holy Spirit that has been placed inside of us at our baptisms.  Again, what a gift, but a gift not to keep to ourselves.  In verse 38 Jesus says, “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘ Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”

These Living Waters are the Holy Spirit in our hearts.  Gifts like love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and gentleness, all gifts of the Holy Spirit are to flow over out of our hearts for others and into others.  Jesus says in verse 37 “Whoever” believes in me.  The gift of the Holy Spirit and the Living Waters that flow out of our hearts are for ALL people. 

In this final week of our Living Hope series, Peter calls God’s people to keep loving one another, show hospitality without grumbling, and use the gifts we have received as good stewards of God’s varied grace. This is not one more burden to carry. It begins with what Jesus has already done for us. He has welcomed us, loved us, served us, and made room for us. Now we love, welcome, and serve with the strength God supplies, so that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus.

In this week’s Living Hope series, Peter tells us to “long for the pure spiritual milk” so that by it we may grow up into salvation. This is not a message about becoming more saved or graduating from God’s gifts. In Baptism, God gives life by His Spirit. Through His Word and Supper, He continues to feed and sustain that life. Whether we are newly baptized, newly confirmed, or have confessed the faith for decades, we never outgrow receiving from God.

Dying to sin and living to righteousness is not without its challenges.  It isn’t and won’t be easy.  Living in the world is one thing.  Living of the world is quite another.  Christians are not to appear as normal.  The Living Hope message Peter brings to these new Christians also comes with a price tag of which endurance will be needed.  Enduring what comes with not being of the world is seen as a gracious thing in the sight of God, but following in the steps of Jesus is what we are called to do.  

Peter’s letter to new Christian churches and new believers is straightforward but wonderfully powerful and most of all, his letter is full of hope, a living hope.  This hope includes an inheritance.  In other words, we just receive it, regardless of what we have done or not done to deserve it.  It is ours for the keeping.  

The inheritance is quite the inheritance.  Peter describes it as imperishable, undefiled and unfading.  He goes on to let us know where this inheritance is kept for us - HEAVEN.  What this looks like we aren’t exactly sure other than we will be with Jesus.  However Peter reminds that it WILL be revealed to us when Jesus comes back to make all things new.  

So there is much to be joyful about with this promise Peter shares with us even though this life, in this time and this place isn’t always so easy.  Peter describes our challenges as trials, but trials that are only temporary as we rest in the promises of our Living Hope, Jesus.