Issue link: http://denverseminary.uberflip.com/i/420759
December 16 Matthew 4:18–20 Scandalous Invitation Tyler Cole Current Student, MA Clinical Mental Health Counseling A s we intentionally set our focus on the birth of our Messiah, we can fall into the trap of American consumerism. Almost unconsciously we trade the glorious truth of the divine Incarnation for a neatly packaged caricature of faith intended to fit the cultural palette. We tend to lose sight of the scandalous story set in motion when Jesus traded His heavenly heritage for an earthly one (Phil. 2:5–8). From the very beginning, Jesus' life was shrouded in scandal. Joseph and Mary were forced to confront the scandalous image of Jesus' life before He was even born (Matt. 1:19–21). Following this trajectory, Jesus spent His days with sinners and tax collectors while casting holy judgment on the religious leaders of His time. It was Jesus' propensity to boldly proclaim shocking truth that ultimately led to His unpopular status and eventual death. At the very heart of Jesus' public ministry lies a scandalous invitation. e Incarnation, while theologically complex, is portrayed vividly in Jesus' simple yet outrageous invitation to His first disciples: As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. ey were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will send you out to fish for people." At once they left their nets and followed Him (Matt. 4:18–20). In this one statement, God incarnate, holy and unblemished, gave an offer to imperfect, flawed men. In this austere proposal, Jesus permitted a pair of lower class, rural, uneducated Galileans to share life with the Son of Man. In this scandalous invitation, God Himself pledged to walk intimately alongside sinful men and women. is scandalous invitation—to journey with humanity all the way to the cross— transformed Jesus' first followers. Now, God has made us representatives of this same outrageous offer (2 Cor. 5:11–21). Be it as counselors, pastors, chaplains, sons, daughters, husbands, wives, colleagues, friends, or neighbors, we have been entrusted with the incredible privilege of continuing Jesus' lifestyle of invitation (John 14:12). As you endeavor to lead, remember the role Jesus took in leading others. Invite others to share life, open your life to those with whom you journey, and extend scandalous invitations to those you encounter, just as our Savior has extended them to you. 11