International Welcome

I often talk to international students in Newcastle about the projects they are working on. And it's a fascinating mix: transforming mobile phone networks in Africa, creating GPS devices, innovating driverless cars and even brewing organic beer for sale in Taiwan! These students are hoping to make important discoveries to benefit people all over the world. But how are great academic discoveries made? Is it luck or hard work? It's interesting to observe that in academic history some great discoveries are made by complete accident – and others by careful research.

Some great academic discoveries are made by complete accident

One famous example of a discovery made by complete accident is the discovery of penicillin. In August 1928, the Scottish biologist Alexander Fleming went off on holiday. When he came back to work on 3rd September 1928, he observed a strange fungus on a culture he had left in his laboratory, which killed all the surrounding bacteria. He had discovered penicillin! Just like that! Some great discoveries are made by complete accident.

Some great academic discoveries are made by careful research

But some great discoveries are made by careful research. A good example of this is the discovery of the light bulb. This was developed by a physicist from Gateshead, Joseph Swann… but it took many years of hard work. In 1850 he began his experiments. In 1860 he produced a working device and got a patent, but the lightbulb design was too inefficient. Finally in 1880 he got a patent for this new type of lightbulb and began installing it in homes all over the country. Thirty years' hard work! Some great discoveries are made by complete accident – some by careful research. It's true in academic research. It's also true in God's Kingdom. Please turn in your Bibles to Matthew 13.44-46. Let me pray before we look at the Bible.

Father God, please teach us about what your Son's Kingdom is like – and change our thinking to match with your thinking. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Jesus is teaching about God's Kingdom using parables

Let me briefly explain the context. In Matthew chapter 13, Jesus is teaching about God's Kingdom – that is the Kingdom of which he is the King. Jesus is the rightful King of the world, but his Kingdom doesn't grow by political influence or military strength, but by people discovering that he is King. And Jesus is teaching about God's Kingdom here using parables. These are stories which contain a spiritual meaning. They communicate the truth about God's Kingdom to those who will listen carefully, but hide the truth from those who won't listen carefully. Here he's teaching about what it's like to enter God's Kingdom. And he tells two stories. Let's listen carefully. Firstly,

The Story of the Farmer

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. (Matthew 13.44)

I want you to imagine a farm worker who is working on a farm near Hexham, to the West of Newcastle. He's ploughing the land in a nice new tractor and then suddenly the tractor bumps into something which makes a funny sound. So he stops the tractor, he steps down onto the field and looks under the back wheels. And he sees coins! He picks up one of them and sees a Latin inscription. He has just discovered a chest of Roman coins! He discovered it by chance! He wasn't even looking for treasure and he found it! So what does he do? He turns the tractor around and drives to his boss. He says: 'You know that field down by the river. Is that still for sale? I'd like to buy it.' His boss smiles: 'Well, you can buy it, but it'll cost you your nice new tractor!' The worker says: 'This tractor is all I've got, but I'll happily give it up for that field.' And he hands over the keys of the tractor and runs home singing!

What is the meaning of this story? It's this: God's Kingdom is like the treasure that the farmer discovered by complete accident.

As I look back over the years, I can think of several international students like the farmer. They seem to hear about Jesus, the King of God's Kingdom, by complete chance. One Chinese PhD student I know said this publicly when he decided to follow Jesus:

I came to the UK several years ago to study at Newcastle University. I started coming to Globe Cafe, attending weekly Bible study groups and going to church services. My initial motivations for going to these events included socialising, food, music, making friends, learning English and knowing British culture better. Knowing about God and Jesus Christ was of no interest to me at all.

Was this student looking for Jesus when he came to Newcastle? No! He was looking for food, friends and English practice at Globe Café! But later he found Jesus and willingly followed him. Maybe that's you here this morning – you're a farmer! If you're totally honest, you have no idea why you're here! Maybe you walked in off the street! Or a friend invited you and you couldn't say no! And yet, as you're listening to Jesus' words, you have a sense of excitement building within you that maybe you've found treasure – by accident. If that's you, you're heading in the right direction. Keep learning from the Bible and you will find the treasure – because the Bible will lead you to Jesus.

And if you're already a Christian this morning, can I say please don't give up on your farmer friends who seem to have no interest in the Christian faith at all. Remember that they are always just one step away from bumping into the treasure accidentally. Keep praying for them and look out for opportunities to speak about Jesus. Now,

The Story of the Merchant

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it." (Matthew 13.45-46)

I want you to imagine a jeweller in Cairo. He has been in the business for 20 years and has a great collection of jewels: the finest lapis lazuli from Kabul, black opals from Australia, trapiche emeralds from Columbia. All other jewellers envy his collection. But he is not satisfied. He travels the world. He keeps checking on the internet. He keeps reading magazines. He keeps looking and looking… until one day he sees it there at an auction in Brazil: the one pearl he wants! The bidding starts…'One hundred million pounds' A rich man steps up, keen to impress his wife with a very special 25th wedding anniversary present, 'I'll take it for five hundred million pounds.' The crowd gasp. But then our jeweller says: 'I'll take it for one billion. All of my jewels I give away, this one jewel I keep.'

What is the meaning of this story? God's Kingdom is like the pearl which the merchant discovered by careful searching.

As I look back over the years, I can think of students like the merchant, who are keenly searching, looking for the pearl. They are looking for answers to the big questions of life: What is the meaning of life? Where can I find truth? Why is the world so beautiful and yet so broken? Why are human beings capable of such kindness and such evil? What will happen to me after I die? How can I know God? How can I find real love? Another international student I know said this publicly when she decided to follow Jesus:

My life before becoming a Christian, in many people's eyes, was filled with love by my friends and family. But I knew that in the depths of my heart, I lived in fear. I was afraid that one day these people around me would not love me anymore.

She was searching for real, full, unconditional love, but she could not find it anywhere in the world. She continued later:

Jesus' love for God and God's love for me has totally changed my understanding of love. Love from the outside world is fragile and it won't last forever. But, God's love is different. If you believe in Jesus, God's love is in you anytime, anywhere; not only in this world, but also in the world after death.

This student found Jesus. Like the merchant finding the pearl of great price, she found unconditional and unbreakable love in Jesus. Maybe that's you. You're like the merchant! You're asking big questions about life. You're searching for truth. You're wondering if God is there. And as part of your searching, you're here today! If that's you, start reading the Bible – why not come to JPC Internationals on Friday and keep asking questions? Don't give up searching for the pearl of great price because you haven't yet found it yet! It is out there! Jesus is the pearl of great price!

God's Kingdom is the most valuable treasure in the world

Both stories show us that people enter God's Kingdom in different ways – some accidentally, some deliberately. But both stories also show that people who enter the Kingdom make the same response. Just as the farmer and the merchant both realise that they have found real treasure – and give up everything for it – so for us today, however you discover it, God's Kingdom is the most valuable treasure in the world – and it's worth giving up everything else to have it.

But why is it so wonderful to know Jesus? It's for all the reasons we are singing about in our songs this morning! And many more…

• He saves us from God's anger.
• He cleans our hearts from all our moral impurity.
• He protects us from evil spirits.
• He welcomes us into a massive worldwide family.
• He calls us to serve him and gives us work to do.
• He offers eternal life in a perfect new world.

God's Kingdom is worth giving up everything else to have it

And because knowing Jesus is so wonderful, God's Kingdom is worth giving up everything else for. Even if that's costly. Very costly.

A few years ago I received an email from an Iranian student who studied at Newcastle. He became a Christian in the UK. But when he told his Muslim parents, they were frustrated. They threatened to cut off his funding. They wanted to force him to go back to Iran so they could convert him to Islam. He wrote this:

So, if I want to continue my studies I have to renounce my faith. I am unwilling to turn my back to God and Jesus, who I have strongly received in my heart and felt his presence in my everyday life.

The cost for this student was very high. No contact with family. No entry to Iran. No money. No finished studies. But he thought this was worth it. Because he had received Jesus strongly in his heart and felt his presence in everyday life. He discovered that God's Kingdom is the most valuable treasure in the world. It's worth giving up everything to have it and hold onto it. Here's an email I received from another student from China. She wrote:

…my parents… are angry about me but they have accepted this fact [the fact that she had become a Christian]. Although my mum thinks I'm crazy and one time she was nearly going to throw away my [Bible] as I read it daily and talk about our Father and the Son a lot to them…

She has suffered much for Jesus. But does she want to give up? Oh no! She wrote at the end of the email:

I feel grateful about these hard days. I am sure you will understand, the more sufferings you have, the more blessings from our Father you will receive.

She has understood that God's Kingdom is the most valuable thing this world has to offer. It's worth giving up everything for it. And again, I want to give a word of encouragement to those of us who are already Christian. Don't rule anyone out from following Jesus! Maybe you think: 'They are interested in Jesus, but they'll never become Christian, because they belong to another religion: it's too costly!' Friends, remember the merchant! There's hope!

Christians should appreciate the treasure of knowing Jesus more and more

And if you are Christian, remember to appreciate the treasure of knowing Jesus yourself too. A good question to test of how you're doing spiritually is: Are you appreciating the spiritual blessings you have more and more every day (that's how we grow spiritually) or are you taking them more and more for granted every day (that's how we backslide)? Elsewhere the Bible says that in knowing Jesus we have all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

If you are Christian, here today, make it your number one aim in Newcastle this year to appreciate more fully all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge that are available in Jesus. And as Colossians 2 says, this is something Christians should do together. So join a small group so you can help other Christians to grow too.

But I want to finish with a question for those of us who do not yet follow Jesus. Today, you have heard about the treasure of knowing Jesus. Maybe you've heard about it by accident – maybe you've searched for it for ages… But you now have a choice before you: Will you discover the treasure? Or will you walk past the treasure and just carry on with your life? Let's pray.

Father God, for those haven't found the treasure of knowing Jesus yet, please help them to see the true value of it. For those of us who have found the treasure of knowing Jesus, help us to better appreciate the treasures of wisdom and knowledge that are hidden in him – and please use us this year to point others to the treasure. In Jesus' name, Amen.