Sermon from July 24, 2005, on the Gospel Reading

Catch me, if You Can

Matt 13:44-52

July 24^th

† In His Name †

Grace and peace is yours, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Catch me, if you can

A few years ago, a true story was put to film, and the result was a movie called. “Catch me, if you can.” It told the story of a young man, who, having took off from home, started a checking account, and without realizing it, bounced several checks. Rather than getting caught at this, the young man soon became incredibly notorious, as one of the most prolific frauds in United States history. During his reign, he convinced people he was a pilot, a pediatrician, a college professor, and even got employed as an assistant district attorney, passing the bar after convincing the District Attorney that he was a graduate of a premier law school.

It made for a great movie, with one FBI agent, chasing down this young criminal genius, for most of his 7 year career. Several times, they missed each other by minutes. Eventually, in the south of France, the young man was caught by the FBI agent and the French police.

It was a great film, primarily because of the chase, and the unique relationship the two formed after the young man was caught. We will get to that later, for it bears on our parables from the gospel of Matthew.

1. The Chase
1. The worker
2. The merchant
3. The fisherman

Have you ever met a grandfatherly type gentleman, who was well aware, that in his favorite fishing pond, there was the “grandfather” fish, the one which eluded him all of his years, that must be 4 times larger than any other fish on record? The gleam in the fisherman’s eyes, as he talks about what he will do when he finally catches that one, elusive, huge, fish.

The same kind of look must have been in the FBI agents eyes, as he considered finally catching the elusive kid, who wrote more than 2 million dollars in false checks – back in the 60’s!

It is that, “I will get what I want” determination that we see in these parables. We see this in the parable, as Jesus seeks and finds His treasure. Perhaps you have heard of the first of these two parables, as Jesus being the treasure. For there is a cost to following Jesus, but it is one we pay, after we are found by Him. These parables of the kingdom, tell how Jesus will fill His Kingdom with that which He searches for, that which He treasures – his people.

We are, as impossible as it seems, the treasure in the field, that Jesus finds, we are the pearl the merchant has sought all of His career, and mostly, we are that net full of fish, some of us good, others of us rotten, that our Lord will do what He has to, to possess.

2. The Need for Righteous (treasure)
1. We weren’t his?
2. The price had to be paid

There is an obvious obstacle to Jesus possessing us though. The fact is, prior to the discovery, we belong to another. He does not have the rights to us, his treasure. We are in another’s field, we are in another’s shop, or like the fish, we are swimming on our own, desperately striving to avoid getting caught.

We are often so much like the young man in the movie, who started off breaking a law, and then find ourselves deeper and deeper in lawbreaking, that we cannot escape the maze we have created. We avoid the law, ignorant of the grace, and therefore believing we shall be punished to the fullest extent of the law.

We, as mankind, and as individuals, did not belong to Jesus, because we had sold ourselves in slavery to sin, to our self-centered desires. Finding ourselves there, we began to run from God, seeing him as the policeman of the universe. Nothing quite satisfies our desires, so we continued on, till the day we are found in the field.

One of the reasons I like this particular chase movie, is because of the end. While in prison, the young criminal is given a chance for freedom, assisting the FBI agent in other cases of fraud. Eventually, the young man is granted his freedom, and has become a internationally known consultant to banks and police, in cases of theft, embezzlement, and of course, fraud. The very man who pursued him, was the source of his becoming a valuable treasure.

In the case of our being imprisoned by our sin, there is a difference, the price was paid completely by Christ. We do not have to spend one day, or one more day, chained to sin.

For having been found, we have a Lord, our Lord Jesus, who bought us, who paid the price for our sins.

3. The Catch made…
1. The transaction
2. For the Joy set before him
3. Let us then celebrate – for we have been found and purchased

He gave everything He had. Philippians’ tells us how much,

⁶ who, though he, (Jesus Christ) was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
⁷ but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form,
⁸ he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

He gave up heaven, He gave up his life here, willingly, first by serving all, and taking no thought to his own pleasure, and then by dieing on the cross. He made the transaction described in the parables, a price only He could pay. He abandoned all He had, to purchase a treasure He desired.

In the first parable, there is a unique comment, that the worker went away, to make the purchase, with joy. It is one of the reasons, that I believe this is talking about Jesus. Compare that, to these words from Hebrews 12:2,

² looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2 (ESV)

Few of us, even as we see the kingdom, give up our old lives of sin easily. Yet, knowing the joy set before Him, Jesus did. He gave up all, to purchase our freedom, what church language calls our redemption. He met the terms of the law, and paid the price, His death. Paul describes it to Titus in these words,

³ For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. ⁴ But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, ⁵ he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, ⁶ whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷ so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:3-7 (ESV)

As we gather around His table this day, realize the love of God, that so loved each of us, that He considered it worth laying down everything, to purchase our salvation.

We, though we may not look like it today, are a treasure that God gave up His only son to redeem.

Live then, knowing the incredible peace of God, which passes all understanding, which comes to us in Christ Jesus our Lord.

AMEN!