Key Verses
26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Meditation Jesus’s generosity is counter-intuitive and His followers will love and lead in ways that are counter-cultural. Today’s reading opens with an illustration of the Kingdom of God, a master choosing laborers in a way that highlights undeserved grace and (seemingly) unequal generosity (1-15). The emphasis of Jesus (v 16) is the same line ending chapter 19: “The first will be last and the last will be first.” (Matthew 19:30) Jesus applies kingdom logic to His life and the leadership of His disciples. In an upside-down kingdom, the last is first and suffering precedes glory. For this reason, Jesus was going to Jerusalem to suffer and die (17-19) before He revealed glory on the other side. Jesus’ disciples must not buy the world’s lie! The first among disciples is the slave of all, the greatest is the servant, because true love suffers for other’s gain (20-28). In the Kingdom, even blind men see the One who came to die is the Lord of life (29-34). Jesus is patient with disciples struggling to comprehend His counter-intuitive generosity. Jesus did not condemn Peter and James for getting their mom to ask for positions of authority. Jesus didn’t condemn the disciples for their slow comprehension. Jesus displayed His long-suffering love for disciples before going to the cross to die as our substitute. Jesus came to serve and give His life as a ransom for our sin- The greatest One is our servant! Followers of Jesus must “walk in love as Jesus has loved us, giving Himself up for us…” (Ephesians 5:1-2) Today’s Reading “For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace,4 and to them he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’ 5 So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same.6 And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ 7 They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’ 8 And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’ 9 And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. 10 Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. 11 And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, 12 saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ 13 But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. 15 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’ 16 So the last will be first, and the first last.” Jesus Foretells His Death a Third Time 17 And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, 18 “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death 19 and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.” A Mother's Request 20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. 21 And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” 22 Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” 23 He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” 24 And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers.25 But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Jesus Heals Two Blind Men 29 And as they went out of Jericho, a great crowd followed him.30 And behold, there were two blind men sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!”31 The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be silent, but they cried out all the more, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!”32 And stopping, Jesus called them and said, “What do you want me to do for you?” 33 They said to him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” 34 And Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight and followed him. Richly Dwelling -What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially the counter-intuitive grace of God and the counter cultural call for the life and leadership of Jesus’ disciples? -Why is it difficult to trust that suffering precedes glory, living as the least and serving others as if they are the greatest? -How does the work of Jesus compel us to love and lead like Him? Grace invites us to begin again, as dearly loved children, to walk in love. What does this look like for you? Be specific. Key Verse 26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorPastor Mitchell celebrates twenty-five years of marriage with Lisa & together they have four adventurous children. |