The Christmas season raises my awareness of thankfulness. Thankfulness is all around. There are movies and songs that are filled with the message of thankfulness. I am thankful. I am thankful for the celebration of what Christmas means. It is not ironic that emotions run high around this time for loved ones and gratefulness.
This week, I want to talk about some characters who might have experienced thankfulness for the birth of Christ.
When I was a freshman in high school, I had such huge crushes on the upper class guys. I would try and mask my glee when eye contact was made walking down the hallway. I’m sure I must have bruised my friends arms from the grabbing and squealing moments.
I will never forget this one time when I was walking back to my classroom and my crush stopped and said hi to me by name. The stumbling over my words and awkward surprised face was not helping my cause. He didn’t just say hi, he engaged in conversation with me as if this interaction was a normal occurrence. In my head the logic was not adding up. I was a freshman and he was a senior. What was he doing talking to me? Did he not know the class system of coolness!?
Andy Stanley introduced the story of Matthew in one of his recent sermons. He talked about how Matthew was considered to be one of the lowest of the low human beings on the social planet. Matthew was a tax collector, an occupation that was considered to be dirty and one who chose to live in public sin. No one regarded tax collectors as having any worth.
One day Jesus asked Matthew to follow him. I don’t know what it was about Matthew that caught Jesus’ attention. I wonder if it was his curious face or silent pleading to be seen. Whatever it was, Jesus extended a life changing invitation to a very unseen person.
I wonder if the other disciples had anything to say about his choice. I wonder if they contested his invitation.
When all was said and done, Jesus invited and Matthew got up and followed.
I know I was changed by my one conversation that day in the a hallway. I was seen by a very unlikely and popular person. I have to think that Matthew was changed that day as well.
Fast forward to other encounters Jesus had with unlikely people, and I wonder how soft Matthew’s response would have been. I have to think that Matthew’s heart went out to the Samaritian woman at the well. Matthew experienced another unlikely person to be seen by Jesus.
Matthew knew what it felt like to have to walk around town with no eye contact. He understood being dismissed. Matthew was familiar with hearing all of the murmers of names people spoke under their breath as he passed.
I also wonder how much Matthew had to say to Zacchaeus as they dined with the chief tax collector. Zacchaeus was one of Matthew’s people; another unlikely person to be seen by Jesus. Jesus was popluar and highly regarded by so many. I want to think that Matthew threw his arm around Zacchaeus’s shoulder and said, “let me tell you about this man.“
I can say, with all confidence, that Matthew was thankful for the birth of Jesus. It changed his life forever.
How have you been seen by Jesus?
I am so grateful that Jesus sees me! This post was very encouraging!
I love looking at these characters! So grateful he sees me!
“I don’t know what it was about Matthew that caught Jesus’ attention…Jesus extended a life changing invitation to a very unseen person…”
Had never seen this in this particular passage before. Had never thought about it… it makes you wonder, how was Matthew changed because he was “seen” and “noticed” ? I wonder how often we don’t take the time to notice those around us who have gifts like Matthew.
Matthew means “gift of God” … I love that Jesus saw him that way :)
I love that Matthew means “gift of God!” it’s like God knew he wasn’t living up to the potential of his name, and called him out. I wonder who else i miss every day because i am busy with stereotypes and comfort. challenging thought right there!
“i don’t know what it was about matthew that caught jesus’ attention”… i’m kinda glad for that. i don’t know what it is about me that would catch His eye either.
but the non-specials in the Bible make me even more thankful for the way He simply sees us. He sees ME.
even when I feel invisible.
he brings out the true special; the truly seen. You are so seen, sweet friend. we are more deeply valued then we will ever know or believe. I hate feeling invisible. It makes me welly. I feel very invisible while i seem to be waiting. i hate it. Right now, i am hoping that i feel him seeing me more than ever.
i just finished reading my boy john today and i was struck by the way that at the tomb Jesus used Mary’s name to let her know it was him…he didn’t have to, he could have said something else, but chose instead to personalize it and names are so powerful. love it.
I love that part! I was struck by the same part of that story. I love when he chooses to disclose his identity by the familiarity of her name. What exhale there must have been in being known and remembered that day. I would love to feel that known, that loved, and that familiar in my life time.