22 Feb 2026, Matthew 4:1-14, Sermon: Laying Down the ""The"—Finding Jesus in the Wilderness

My very first placement in an English-speaking ministry was at Payneham Road Uniting Church. Although I had some experience as a student minister and a hospital chaplain, this was the first time I was responsible for leading a whole ministry in English.

I still remember those early days so clearly. A few kind members went out of their way to help me 'polish' my English. One person offered to meet for coffee every week just so we could practice talking. Another lovely member even offered to record my sermon scripts in their own voice, so I could listen and practice my pronunciation. It was such a gift.

It was a brilliant plan, but there was just one small problem: I could never actually finish my sermon by Saturday! And because I was probably the first non-native speaker many of them had ever really worked with, I can only imagine how struggling they must have been with my accent at first.

But you know what? After a month or two, they all... quietly disappeared I mean, they gave up. I think they realized it was much easier to train their own ears to understand me, than it was to train my mouth to sound like them! Of course, I was giving it my absolute best, but in the end, we simply met somewhere in the middle.

I remember a funny story involving a wonderful administrator named Sharon McKenzie. I don’t recall the exact situation, but at one point, I happened to say, 'I am a minister at Payneham UC.'

Sharon stopped me right there. With a smile but a very firm correction—she said, 'Do Young, in this situation, you must say, "I am THE minister at Payneham." Because you are the only one here!'

I was a bit confused at first, but I thought, 'Well, she’s a native speaker, so she must be right!' So, I took her advice to heart. Later on, in a completely different setting, I confidently put my new knowledge to use. I stood up and said, 'I am THE minister.'

But once again, Sharon stepped in. "No, Do Young," she said kindly. "In this case, you should say, 'I am A minister.'" I was completely baffled! Last time it was "The," and now it’s "A"? I finally had to ask her: "Sharon, why?! Last time you told me I was THE minister, but now you're saying I'm just A minister. Which one is it?"

It took me a while, but I finally got it. I use 'the minister' when I’m claiming my specific title and role like saying, 'I’m the one and only here!' But I use 'a minister' when I’m just describing what I do, as one of many ministers out there.

But honestly, who has the time to calculate all that in their head before speaking? By the time I’ve finally decided between 'a' and 'the,' the conversation has already moved on! It reminds me of my high school English teacher who always said, 'Don't ask why, just memorize it!'

So, these days, I’ve found my own way to introduce myself. I usually say, 'My name is Do Young, and I am serving the community at Athelstone Uniting Church.' Then, people often follow up and ask, 'So, are you a pastor? A minister?' And my answer is always a simple, 'Yes, I am.'"

Through this struggle with 'a' and 'the,' I’ve realized something deeply important: My title is not who I am. What truly defines me is simply who I serve and where I serve. I’ve come to see that I don't need to cling to a 'The' to justify my ministry or my identity.

And that is the beauty of this journey. In these small, confusing moments, God reminds me: I don't need to be 'THE' anything. I don't need a special article before my name like Rev. Dr. Do Young Kim to be special. I am just Do Young, serving God, and that is more than enough.

Last Tuesday morning, Book club as looking at Chapter 6 of Dick Johnson’s book, The title was 'Christ: More than a Surname,' and it shared such a powerful insight.

The author explains that in the Gospels, the writers and even the disciples always call Jesus 'the Christ.’  But later in the New Testament, Paul and the other authors start calling Him 'Jesus Christ,' almost like it’s His last name.

That little word 'the'... it just quietly disappears. Was this a mistake? Was it just a change in grammar? Doesn’t that make you wonder? Well, here is the truth: It happened because of the cross and the resurrection. The cross and the resurrection were the ultimate turning point. After the death and resurrection of 'the Christ,' the disciples went through a deep, inner change. They finally realized who Jesus was to them personally and also as a community.

He was no longer just a distant figure and something grand that people were waiting. He became their Saviour. Their Friend. At this turning point, the word 'the' simply fell away... and a real relationship began.

Let’s look at some famous examples. Before the Cross, Peter confesses, 'You are THE Christ, the Son of the living God.' In the Gospel of Mark, he says it again: 'You are THE Christ.' Even John the Baptist asks from his prison cell, 'Are you THE One who is to come?'

But look at the transformation after they experienced these two life-changing events! Paul, who met the risen Lord, doesn't just use a title. He writes, 'Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus.' He tells us to have the same mindset as 'Christ Jesus.' He declares that if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation.

The change in Peter is even more amazing. The same Peter who once said, 'You are THE Christ,' writes after the Resurrection: 'Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ.' He praises the 'Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.'

And what about John? In the beginning, he says, 'We have found the Messiah' which means THE Christ. But later, in his letters, he speaks of our fellowship 'with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.'

They all started calling Him 'Jesus Christ' almost like a name. Is this just a coincidence? Absolutely not.

Let’s think about this seriously for a moment. Why the change? It’s because, for the early church, Jesus was no longer just a 'Title' to be studied or proved. After sharing breakfast with Him on the shore, and after feeling the warmth of His forgiveness... Jesus became so much more. He was no longer a distant concept. He was the living Christ, real, their very life.

This is exactly why that little word 'the' disappears. Because once you truly know someone, you don't talk about them like a category anymore. You speak of them as your very life. 'The Christ' is theology. 'Jesus Christ' is relationship. And this brings us to the real question today: Is Jesus still just 'the Christ' to you? Or is He 'Jesus Christ'—the One in whom you live, touch, move, and are made new?

We see this same pattern in the wilderness. In Matthew chapter 4, every temptation begins the exact same way: 'If you are THE Son of God…' Notice that little word again. 'The.'

Satan wasn't just trying to make Jesus sin. He was trying to make Jesus prove His identity. He was saying, 'In other words—show me that you are THE Son of God. Cling to the label. Protect your status. Prove who you are through your power.'

But there is something crucial we often overlook. The wilderness wasn't just a test of willpower; it was where Jesus’s identity was revealed. It wasn't about Him claiming a label or a rank; it was about Jesus simply being Jesus. We spend our whole lives collecting labels. Successful, smart, the perfect parent, THE minister... but in the wilderness, God peels all those labels away, so we can just be who we are in Him. And that, this is the heart of Lent this year.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, Today is the first Sunday of Lent. It’s that time of year when we slow down a bit and take a real look at Jesus. My hope for 2026 is that this season isn’t just another religious routine, but a time when something truly shifts inside us.

As we begin this journey, we encounter Jesus in the wilderness. He fought a good fight. It was a battle between Satan urging Him to hold onto the "The"... and Jesus choosing to let it go. It was a struggle to release His "The" for our sake. Because Jesus knew that as long as the article held Him, He could never fulfill the mystery of humility the mission of the Cross.

So, here is the heart of it: Lent is a season for finally dropping the 'The' from our own names.

I did not learn the difference between "The Minister" and "a minister" merely as grammar. I learned it through my own mistakes. At first, I used to think that losing the "The" meant losing my authority. But I was wrong. I’ve learned that there is so much beauty in letting it go. When I gave up trying to be a "special person," only then could I stand close to you. Not someone separated from you, but one of you.

And when that article fell away from "The Christ," He didn't become less important; He became closer. He was no longer a distant King on a far-off throne; He became a friend who knows our names and understands our messy lives. He became Jesus Christ! our Christ!

So I want to ask you: Do you want the One we love to remain "The Christ," or to be Jesus Christ who is tempted, is walking, and is dreaming with you? Do you want me to come to you as "The Minister," or as "a minister"?

And what about in your own homes? Do you strive to be "the" mother or "the" father…a figure of untouchable authority? Or do you want to be "a" mother, "a" father…a true friend who feels your children's hearts? Love doesn't happen through power; it happens through being close. It's in the simple grace of just sharing life. This is the beautiful secret discovered by Peter, John, and Paul: the name "Jesus Christ."

So, let’s let go of that "The God"…the God we try to define and control for our own blessings. Let us say goodbye to the Jesus who merely turns stones into bread. Instead, let us fall in love with the real Jesus, the one who stays by our side even when the stones remain stones.

It is time to stop trying to believe in a "perfect, distant, and un-failing" Jesus preserved in our heads. Instead, let's meet the real Jesus, the one who hungers with us in the wild and prays for us night and day.

Lent is not a time to become 'more holy'; it is a time to become 'more and more honest.' The wilderness is not a place for overcoming or enduring; it is a place for letting go.

As we prepare for our AGM next week, let us bring this same spirit with us. Let’s not gather as "The Church" on a piece of paper, but as "a community" of honest disciples. May our meeting be less about defending a status and more about sharing our lives and following Jesus together.

During this 40-day journey, let us leave everything at the edge of the wilderness. Let us meet the Jesus who is hungry with us, silent with us, and stands with us in the face of temptation. He is not a distant "The Christ." He is our Jesus.

May our Lent be less about correct grammar and more about a corrected heart until all that is left... is Jesus. And in this wilderness, may we be blessed to encounter this very Jesus, the One who doesn't need a title to love us, and the One who is more than enough to be our everything. 

Amen.