How Do You Impress Jesus?

Matthew 25:31-46

Last Judgment Sunday  -  12 November 2017

Rev. John Derme

Think about your life. What have you done that you are most proud of? What have you done that impresses other people the most? Have you been a successful businessperson? Have you raised fantastic children? Do you have talents that crowds have watched you perform? Do you have a beautiful home? Whatever it is that you are most proud of – do you think that it would impress Jesus? Why or why not?

In our Gospel of the Day from Matthew chapter 25, Jesus points to the things that he wants us to do in our lives. And they are not the kinds of thing that impresses most people. How do you impress Jesus?

It was just a few days before he would be arrested and crucified, when Jesus was teaching his disciples about the end of the world. Humble, poor, lowly Jesus told his disciples that he would finally come back to this world in all his divine glory. All people of all times will be gathered before his throne and separated into two groups: those who believe in him as the Savior – which he calls the sheep – and those who do not believe in him – which he calls the goats. From what Jesus says and does to the sheep and goats in Matthew chapter 25, he teaches us several things about the judgment at the last day.

First of all, even though Jesus describes the good works of the sheep, their good works aren't actually what gets them into heaven. If the quantity of good works were the only difference between those who get into heaven and those who don't – then anybody could carry out the judgment. People could to keep track of how many good things they did, and they could separate themselves into the groups of those who had done enough and those who had not. But Jesus tells us that he is the one who separates the sheep from the goats, because Jesus is the only man who can see who has faith in his heart or not. In addition, when he calls the believers to go to heaven, he tells them that his kingdom is something that they inherit, not earn. He tells them that his kingdom has been prepared for them; they don't prepare it for themselves. From start to finish, the Bible is clear that we cannot get into heaven by what we do. We are saved through faith alone in Jesus our Savior.

Nevertheless, Jesus does describe the good works that Christians do, because good works are important to him. He wants people to do what is good, not what is evil. Since we cannot see inside other people's hearts to know whether or not they have faith in Jesus, the only way that we can judge people is on the basis of their actions. For this reason, at the last judgment Jesus will point to people's actions as the evidence of their faith.

Jesus says that the goats have not done good  works, because of their lack of faith in him. Unbelievers certainly can do things that are outwardly good and helpful in this world. But they don't fit God's definition of a good work: something that a person does out of thanks to Jesus for being his or her Savior.

We see from Jesus' words that hell is a very real and serious matter. Some people think that hell sounds like fun because they think they can keep being naughty there. Other people think that hell is just a temporary place of discomfort. Jesus calls it eternal fire. It is the worst kind of pain and it will last forever.

But Jesus never intended that people would have to suffer in hell. He says that it was prepared not for people, but for the devil and his evil angels. Jesus died to save all people. Jesus wants all people to go to heaven. When he sends the goats into the eternal fire, it is only because they have rejected him as the Savior and have chosen to side with the devil and his angels. They will claim that it is not their fault that they do not show their faith. But Jesus will show them how they have not even kept his simple command to serve him by taking care of other people.

Jesus says that whatever we do for the most insignificant of his people, we are doing it for him. That is what he wants us to do in our lives. But if we are honest, we all have to admit that we haven't always served the needs of the people around us. We've often hesitated to help others who are in need. Sometimes it's because we think that we would just be wasting our time. Or we may be ashamed to spend time with needy people. Sometimes we just don’t care what happens to certain people. Maybe we're just too stingy with our time, talents, and possessions, to share them with anybody else. By nature, all of us are so proud of the things we have accomplished that we don't think we need to do the good things that Jesus requires.

If Jesus really were to judge us on the basis of how much we've helped others, we would never have eternal life. We haven't done enough good works. On our own, we belong with the goats. We should be sent into the eternal fire.

Jesus is the only person who perfectly cared for every person. He took care of the people he met during his ministry with his miracles and other acts of kindness. He took care of all people by dying for the sins of the world and giving us all the salvation we need more than anything else. Because Jesus' perfect record is credited to us, he looks at us and sees people who have perfectly cared for everyone. Although we should be goats, Jesus makes us his sheep through faith!

That is not all Jesus does for us with his righteousness, though. The righteousness that Jesus credits to us also shows itself in our lives. He asks us to thank him for what he has done by doing what is best for other people. And so we care for them in their needs. Even though our care for them is imperfect, because we are still sinful, Jesus forgives our sins, and he sees our works as good!

We Christians serve our neighbors in ways that unbelievers can't. Although non-Christians can do kind things for others, they cannot do it in the freedom that Christians have. We're not trying to earn anything from God by our service. In Matthew 25, the sheep don't even remember the good things that they have done for others, because they don't keep track. We have been set free to live in joyful thanks for all that Jesus has done.

Then where do we find people to serve? You don't actually have to go out looking for them. They find you. We take care of the hungry, thirsty, sick, imprisoned, naked, and strangers within our life's vocations. If you have children, then you've fed the hungry, clothed the naked, and cared for the sick. Even if you don't have children, you probably have other relatives, friends, and associates who have been imprisoned, in the hospital, or in need of food and clothing. God gives us opportunities to do this by putting people who need help in our lives.

We carry out our concern for people's needs together. That's why our congregation has the Love Fund – so that we can help people among us. That's why we also take collections for WELS Christian Aid and Relief – to help people all over the country and world who are suffering from disasters.

People who suffer are dear to Jesus. Did you see how closely he identifies himself with his people? When we serve them, we are serving Jesus himself! So when it seems that nobody notices the good works that we do, Jesus notices and remembers them.

Jesus doesn't point to great and impressive works, but the kind of stuff that nobody notices – not even the one who does the works. When you look at your life, what is the greatest thing you have done? You may think you haven't done anything good enough for God. But he doesn't care about the stuff we think is impressive. He likes the small stuff. Did you feed and clothe your children? Did you clean up their vomit when they were sick? Have you taken care of elderly people in your life? That is what it looks like to serve the least of his people. In this way, you are serving Jesus.

Today Jesus tells us that he is coming to judge all people, including you and me. As you prepare for the judgment, how do you impress Jesus? Certainly not with the things that impress people! And not by being proud of what you have done for yourself. Jesus doesn't tell us that we have to impress him in order to get to heaven. Rather, trust in him because Jesus has done everything that impresses God for us. And show your thanks to Jesus by helping those who need it. That may not impress other people, but Jesus will point to your service to others as evidence of your faith in him.