Burunche’s Blog

Matthew 21:23-27 Jesus’ Authority Questioned

“Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and said, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?”

But Jesus answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things: The baptism of John—where was it from? From heaven or from men?”

And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the multitude, for all count John as a prophet.” So they answered Jesus and said, “We do not know.”

And He said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

The Pharisees, Sadducees, and scribes are furious. Not only has this upstart carpenter from Galilee ridden into Jerusalem to popular adulation, but now he is teaching right on the teaching steps on the east side of the temple. The nerve of this man! Certainly, this despicable Galilean deserves to be publicly humiliated and shut down as quickly as possible. But shutting down Jesus turns to be a much tougher proposition than anticipated. This morning the chief priests and elders are planning a confrontation, but they are about to get a rude surprise.

“Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and said, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?”  There! That ought to take this gadfly down a few notches! Surely this carpenter will be unable to answer and will slink back where he came from. But things seldom work out as anticipated.

“But Jesus answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things: The baptism of John—where was it from? From heaven or from men?”  Now the attackers must defend themselves and they are caught in their own trap. John the Baptist brought hope and restoration to thousands, perhaps even millions, of the common people. Many are still quietly grieving John’s tragic murder by Herod and are absolutely convinced that John was a prophet. Now the authorities go meet in a corner to strategize.

“And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the multitude, for all count John as a prophet.” So they answered Jesus and said, “We do not know.” By now, the common people are chortling with glee. These haughty religious leaders are forever parading around with their noses in the air, obviously certain that they are much better and much holier than everyone else. But Jesus’ simple question has left them speechless.

“Hmph!” says one man in the crowd as he elbows his neighbor, “Why can’t these guys simply admit that John’s ministry was from God and be done with it? There’s no real shame in realizing you’ve made a major mistake.” “What? These guys? Are you kidding?” sneers the neighbor. “As far as these guys are concerned, they’re never wrong. Admitting a mistake is the very last thing these fellows will do.”

Meanwhile, Jesus is standing there, smiling, and waiting for an answer. All Jesus has done is to ask a basic question, but it’s one these men cannot possibly answer. These men scorned John’s preaching when he was alive; now that he’s dead, they must maintain their position or appear foolish, the very last thing they are willing to do.  

Finally, after giving his questioners plenty of time to change their minds, Jesus responds. “And He said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

While the religious authorities of Jesus’ day might not have wanted to publicly admit his authority, the disciples and the crowds realize that authority must come from God. The disciples particularly are going to need that assurance, for in a few days they will be witnessing Jesus’ death at the hands of these same religious leaders. A few days after that, the disciples will be rejoicing in the resurrection, realizing that Jesus has far more authority than they ever imagined. But what about us?

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Jesus will promise his disciples power and authority to be his witnesses throughout the world. They will encounter innumerable dangers and many of them will be martyred; yet, the Gospel will continue to go forward.

Today, many believers are tempted to “go along to get along;” however, this attitude leaves one in the unenviable position of being a mugwump. As illustrated, a mugwump is someone trying to compromise by sitting on a fence with his back side on one side while his front is on the other. Mugwumps frequently try to defend themselves by talking about compromise and conciliation; however, disciples must go in the authority of Jesus, and there’s no room for mugwumps in the Kingdom of God.

It’s easy to be a mugwump if you have never had an encounter with the One True Living God, for then you can easily blather on, making fine-sounding but meaningless statements. But when God has touched your lips as He touched Isaiah’s in Isaiah 6, you must speak with God’s authority or remain silent. When God begins moving in your life, He does so with His authority as Creator of the universe, and there’s no room for mugwumpery.

May all of us aspiring to be disciples realize that our authority never comes from men, but from God and it is God to whom we must answer. May we speak truthfully and with fidelity!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to acknowledge Your Authority and to be careful to say and do only what You want us to, nothing more, nothing less, and nothing else. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Matthew 21:20-22 The Lesson of the Withered Fig Tree

And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither away so soon?”

So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

Jesus has cursed a fig tree for having leaves but no fruit, and the tree has withered on the spot. The disciples can’t believe it. But if that sign is incredible, Jesus’ explanation is even more so. “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

Oh dear! The disciples have become accustomed to Jesus performing miracles; after all, he’s the Son of God, the Messiah. But now Jesus is saying that they, the disciples, are also going to do miracles and that God will answer their prayers for these miracles if they will only believe. Some of the disciples must be in despair at this point. Jesus can’t possibly mean that THEY, a ragtag group of fishermen and small-town businessmen, are going to perform the same kinds of miracles he has been doing. True, when Jesus sent the disciples out to preach earlier, miracles happened, but the disciples assumed those miracles were just for that particular time, not that they would continue. And the disciples were also assuming that it was Jesus’ faith and authority that was accomplishing those miracles.

What the disciples fail to realize is that Jesus is preparing them for the time when he will no longer be with them physically. At that point, if the disciples have not learned to pray and believe, nothing will happen. Jesus knows that at some point, God the Father will send the Holy Spirit to anoint these men, and they will later be accused of turning the world upside down by their faith and witness. Such wonderful events can only happen through believing prayer.

I’ve told the story before, but it’s worth repeating. When I was a third-year surgery resident, I helped care for a poor lady who had ovarian cancer. This patient had had all the chemotherapy, radiation, and every other treatment she could have. Her right leg was swollen three times the size of the left. We had to put a filter in her inferior vena cava to prevent blood clots from reaching her lungs. She even suffered appendicitis and required an appendectomy. No pain medicine was sufficient to relieve her suffering, and when I anointed her with the hospital lotion and prayed for her, all either of us thought I was praying for was for the pain to go away. I prayed very quietly and did not make any wild statements. The lady was discharged, and I forgot about her for two years. Frankly, I assumed she went home to die.

In the spring of my final year of surgery training, I entered the room of a patient scheduled for an incisional hernia repair the following day. The patient looked at me and then said, “You don’t remember me, do you?” This was my patient of two years ago! Her legs were normal, her tumor was gone, and the only reason she was admitted was for an incisional hernia repair. God had healed this woman completely! We had a praise session right in that hospital room!

I love to tell this story because neither of us had huge amounts of faith the day I prayed for this lady, but God healed her anyway. The one thing both of us did do was to trust a loving Heavenly Father to help this lady and to remove the pain. God in His infinite mercy chose to remove the pain by healing the lady, freeing her to testify to God’s grace and power. I also tell this story to encourage all of us to continue to ask, even when we think things are impossible.

There was a member of the Hell’s Angels motorcycle gang in California with a praying and believing mother in South Carolina. Despite all the horrible things this man had done, his mother continued to believe that God could deliver him. Eventually, this man came under conviction, and God did turn his life around. (The man was holed up in a phone booth with Hell’s Angels about to surround it when his mother had him call a local Assemblies of God minister. The minister turned out to be a huge guy who was more than a match for the Hell’s Angels and who delivered him from the gang, taking him home and leading him to the Lord. I heard the man’s testimony from his own lips in a church in Charleston, WV, and his mother told me her side of the story when I attended church with her in Charleston, SC.)

The prophet Jeremiah was very discouraged. God had ordered him to buy a field from one of his relatives, even though Jerusalem was about to be conquered, as a sign that things would eventually return to normal and that land transactions would again take place. God answered by saying, “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh (heaven and earth.) Is there anything too hard for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27) Our problem as disciples is that we look at ourselves and the puny amount of power we have. We know we are spiritual weaklings; however, we refuse to realize that when we pray, God weighs in on our side.

Jesus never intended for the disciples to have power in and of themselves but for them to be empowered by the Holy Spirit. When we become Jesus followers, we gain access to that Holy Spirit power, including the power to believe for miracles. But we must ask God for that power and then trust that He will do what is necessary.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to trust You for miracles and to ask for them. Thank You that You are the God of heaven and earth and that nothing is too difficult for You. We praise you in the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Matthew 21:18-20 The Fig Tree Withered

“Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away.”

If we don’t know anything about fig trees, we are likely to criticize Jesus severely for punishing this poor tree. Unlike other trees, fig trees produce leaves and then fruit very soon after the fruit, so leaves and fruit appear nearly simultaneously. If a fig tree is covered with leaves, it should also have fruit. Even though this fig tree had leaves in abundance, there were no figs. The tree LOOKED fruitful, but it wasn’t.

“But,” you might react, “it wasn’t really the season for figs.” Yes, and Mark notes that in his description of this incident in Mark 11:11-12. Obviously, Jesus also knew that it wasn’t the season for figs, so why did he punish the fig tree? Did Jesus hate that tree?

Jesus did not hate the tree; however, he was trying to teach his disciples a very important lesson. Since it was not the season for figs, the tree might not have had leaves at all. But when Jesus saw the leaves, he could reasonably expect that the tree was bearing figs out of season. Unfortunately, the tree looked fruitful, but it wasn’t.

This incident took place just after Jesus had entered Jerusalem, a city that appeared to be spiritually fruitful, but was not. While the common people hailed Jesus as Messiah, the religious leaders were incensed. Within a few days, spiritual leaders claiming to be waiting and longing for the Messiah would crucify the very One for whom they claimed to be waiting. Eventually, the Romans would attack Jerusalem, destroying the temple, leaving only the Western Wall, and slaughtering most of the remaining inhabitants.

Leaves but no fruit! Anyone desiring to be a follower of Jesus must be careful to bear fruit, rather than just leaves. When someone meets you, are they impressed by the love you demonstrate, or do they feel rejected and broken by your critical attitudes? Are you helping people to get free from the sins that have bound them for years, or are you putting more burdens on them?

There’s a story told of a young homeless man who wandered into a church during a Sunday morning service. The man’s hair was long and matted, his feet were bare, and he had obviously dressed himself from cast off clothing. This poor fellow didn’t sit in the back pew, but proceeded down the center aisle, eventually sitting on the floor in front of the pews and immediately below the pulpit where the pastor was preaching.

Seeing this stranger, the elderly head usher began his way to the front of the church. Many members assumed that the head usher would quietly remove this vagabond; after all, the man was disheveled and obviously hadn’t bathed in several days, perhaps even weeks. Imagine the shock of the congregation when the head usher quietly lowered himself to the floor, sitting next to the visitor. Noticing that the visitor’s bare feet were the same size as his, the head usher quietly removed his shoes and socks and helped the man put them on.

When the service was over, the usher hugged the man, inviting him to come home with him for a meal, a bath, and some clean clothes. By the next Sunday, this young man had found work at a local convenience store and appeared in church with clean clothes, his long hair shining. But the shiniest thing about this young man was the glorious smile on his face because now he too had become a Jesus follower. When queried about his actions, the head usher simply smiled and said, “That was me decades ago, and someone helped me. Could I do any less?”

Artists have attempted to paint portraits of Jesus for centuries, portraying him as tall, blond, and muscular with a halo surrounding his head. It’s quite possible that Jesus was actually short, wiry, and swarthy. None of the Gospel writers gives any physical description of Jesus. But no matter Jesus’ physical appearance, one thing is certain: when Jesus looked at people, he saw them with the eyes of love. Once people felt that love, they weren’t concerned about physical appearances, for they knew this man cared about them in a way nobody else ever had cared.

The question for us is simple: are we really bearing fruit, or are we just pretending, making a fine show of leaves without anything substantive? We cannot bear fruit all by ourselves; we must have the Holy Spirit living in us to do so. The good news is that when we choose to follow Jesus, then we also are choosing to follow the other members of the Trinity, the Heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit and they will come and be with us for the rest of our lives.

Is bearing fruit always easy? Far from it! Many times, the last thing we want to do is to be kind or loving. Galatians 5:16-26 tells us “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”

Because Jesus has defeated sin and death on the cross at Calvary, we can live victorious lives through the power of the Holy Spirit. Apart from that power, we will fail, just like that fig tree that looked fruitful, but wasn’t. Let’s pray.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to truly follow You so that we will always be fruitful and never disappoint those around us. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Matthew 21:12-17 Jesus Cleanses the Temple

”Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’”

Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant and said to Him, “Do You hear what these are saying?”

And Jesus said to them, “Yes. Have you never read,

‘Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants
You have perfected praise’?”

Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and He lodged there.”

Well! As if the disciples are not already thoroughly embarrassed and wondering what will happen next, Jesus is about to REALLY embarrass them. You see, people can’t just offer any old money in the temple but must offer temple money and perfect animals. Over the years, many men have established businesses right in the temple to “help” the worshipers. Of course, these guys are raking in money by employing crooked exchange rates and selling animals at a high profit. In addition, some of those animals might not even be as perfect as they are represented; nevertheless, the priests have allowed these foul practices to flourish on temple property. The result is that rather than there being a holy hush, the temple sounds like any marketplace with goats and sheep baa-ing, cattle lowing, and doves cooing. But today is the last day this situation will exist, for Jesus the Messiah has come to town.

Before anybody realizes what’s happening, Jesus strides into the temple and begins tossing aside money changing tables and driving out animals. “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’”  Jesus cries. Emboldened by Jesus’ presence, the lame and the blind come to him in the temple, something they are normally not allowed to do, and Jesus heals them. The priests and scribes are scandalized! The nerve of this fellow! How dare he disrupt the normal activities of the temple? How dare he allow these imperfect people to enter, even if he is healing them?

To make matters even worse, children have entered the temple and are crying out, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” CHILDREN? Now the priests are truly offended. What are these wretched kids doing here anyway? Where are their parents and why aren’t those parents controlling them?

Indignantly, the priests confront Jesus. “Do You hear what these are saying?”
Jesus replies, “Yes. Have you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants
You have perfected praise’?” The religious authorities are speechless and the disciples are humiliated but also gloating. After years of watching the abuses in the temple, today the disciples suddenly realize what God has intended to happen all along.

Sometimes being a disciple means defending Jesus even when he drags us into embarrassing situations. Face it, nobody likes to appear stupid. In all the years that the disciples have visited the temple in Jerusalem, they have secretly grieved over the mess that has developed; however, never in their wildest dreams have they imagined that Jesus might confront the religious authorities and come out on top. While the disciples are pleased that Jesus has taken such bold steps, they may also fear that they will never be allowed to enter the temple again. Those priests are nothing if not vindictive and they are carefully taking names of everyone present.

Discipleship means abandoning our own reputations to preserve the reputation of Jesus. Some disciples have found themselves in prisons witnessing to the very people who have murdered family members and maintaining active correspondence with those people. One lady doctor who fled Cuba later found herself mailing medicines to the very man who persecuted her family and tried to keep her from leaving for America. That’s the problem with becoming a disciple: we must take orders from Jesus rather than following our desires.

In the 1950’s a small-town preacher from a coal mining town in Pennsylvania found himself in one of the most dangerous parts of New York City witnessing to gang members. The story is told in the book The Cross and the Switchblade. David Wilkerson not only led gang members to Christ, but one of his first converts, Nicky Cruz, became a world-famous evangelist in his own right. Wilkerson also founded Teen Challenge, one of the most effective programs for those seeking to escape drug and alcohol addictions. Wilkerson was well aware of how foolish he appeared when he arrived in New York and how likely it was that he would be slaughtered; yet, he persevered and God worked miracles.

Perhaps today God is calling you to do something embarrassing. God wants you to get out of your comfort zone. Do it! For if you don’t you will never know how many miracles you might miss.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to surrender our comfort zones to You, realizing that You are the One from whom we must take orders. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Matthew 20:29-34 Two Blind Men Receive Their Sight

“Now as they went out of Jericho, a great multitude followed Him. And behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!”

Then the multitude warned them that they should be quiet; but they cried out all the more, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!”

So Jesus stood still and called them, and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?”

They said to Him, “Lord, that our eyes may be opened.” So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.”

It has been one of those crazy days where the crowds have been more insistent than usual. The disciples are exhausted from having to protect Jesus from being crushed. Now they are leaving Jericho after Jesus has ministered to all kinds of people. Jesus is tired, and the disciples are sweating and longing for rest. Just as the disciples think they are about to get a little break, they hear two men screaming from the roadside. “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!”

Those in the crowd are trying to hush these men. After all, these guys have been blind all their lives, so haven’t they adjusted by now? The disciples are fretting. Why didn’t these men come to Jericho when Jesus was healing there? Don’t these men realize that the time for Jesus to heal is over and that they are on their way somewhere else with a schedule to keep? But these men are desperate, and they make an appeal that Jesus cannot refuse; they appeal to him as the Son of David, the Messiah. Most of the crowd really has no idea who Jesus is; all they know is that Jesus can heal people and doesn’t turn anybody away. It’s these blind men sitting at the roadside who have actually realized Jesus’ true divinity.

Jesus stops, calls the men, and asks what they want. The men hustle to Jesus as fast as they can, perhaps being assisted by some of the members of the crowd. When the men make their specific request, Jesus grants it and restores their sight. This entire encounter may have only taken two minutes; yet, for these men, it is life-changing. Now these men can see, they can enter the synagogue, they can reunite with their families, and they don’t have to beg anymore.

You must sympathize with the disciples, for they are concerned for Jesus and are trying to protect him. But the disciples are feeling sorry for themselves as well. The incessant demands of the crowds seem overwhelming. Why can’t Jesus minister on some kind of regular schedule? Jesus can hear the disciples grumbling among themselves and he only smiles, for he already knows what they have been thinking. But Jesus is healing by the power of the Holy Spirit and at the direction of the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit works on his own schedule and not on anyone else’s.

Being a disciple is tough and demanding. True discipleship means that you must work on God’s schedule and not on yours. And God is amazingly tolerant of last-minute requests. Just when we are tired, just when we want to go eat, have something to drink, or lie down and rest, God brings one more person and orders us to help them.  

True story from my residency years: I had signed out and was home relaxing when I got a call from a female ward at the hospital across the street from my apartment house. A lady whom we had already discharged was complaining of stomach pain, and the nurses wanted me to do something about it. The last thing I wanted to do was to go back over there. I wanted to dump the problem on whoever was on call; however, the Holy Spirit insisted that I dress up and return to the hospital. My exact words to the Lord were, “OK, I’ll go over there. But if you don’t give me something to say, I’m going to keep my mouth shut.”

Don’t challenge God. When I returned to see this patient, I learned that her underlying problems were spiritual and not physical. Before I could even realize it, I was telling this lady about Jesus and asking if she wanted to become a Jesus follower as well. The lady eagerly prayed with me, and her stomach pain immediately disappeared. We hugged, and I returned home. Five minutes after I left this lady, the people coming to pick her from the hospital arrived. God kept those people from coming sooner so that this lady could hear about Jesus.

Jesus once told a story about two brothers whose father asked them to go work in his vineyard. One brother gruffly refused, but later thought better of it and went and worked. The other brother blithely agreed to work, but skipped out and never entered the vineyard at all. Even if our obedience is grudging to begin with, God still wants our obedience and is pleased when we do obey.

Being a disciple means working according to God’s time table and not our own. While obedience can be frustrating, it can also be incredibly rewarding. Romans 10:14-16 says, “But how can people call for help if they don’t know who to trust? And how can they know who to trust if they haven’t heard of the One who can be trusted? And how can they hear if nobody tells them? And how is anyone going to tell them, unless someone is sent to do it?” ) The Message)

As disciples, we must allow God to send us wherever He wants. Only God knows the hearts prepared to receive His Word and His Salvation. So the next time God asks you to do something when you’d rather not, remember those two blind men on the Jericho Road. Even though Jesus was probably hot and tired, he took time to heal those men, and God has preserved that story for eternity. It probably only took Jesus two minutes to heal those men. Only God knows what He can do if you will give Him two minutes.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to give You everything, including our time. Help us to be obedient, even when it’s costly or inconvenient, realizing that other disciples throughout the world are doing far more than we are. Help us to work for love of You, Jesus. In Your mighty and precious Name, Lord Jesus. Amen.

Matthew 20:20-28 Greatness Is Serving

Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him.

And He said to her, “What do you wish?”

She said to Him, “Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom.”

But Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”

They said to Him, “We are able.”

So He said to them, “You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father.”

And when the ten heard it, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers. But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

It was bound to happen sooner or later. Once the disciples grasped the idea that Jesus was truly the Messiah, the next speculations would involve the power structure of his coming kingdom. Granted that Jesus would be the head, who would be his immediate subordinates? How much authority would each of the disciples wield in this kingdom? While the disciples had undoubtedly been discussing this concept and arguing about it, Zebedee’s wife, the mother of James and John, decided to settle this matter and get her request in first.

Even though this lady came to Jesus and knelt before him, make no mistake; she was anything but humble. Kneeling was only the traditional way one made requests and had nothing to do with one’s ego. Zebedee was a highly successful fisherman and an observant Jew, so his wife was comfortable in her role as a social leader. Why shouldn’t she ask Jesus for special favors for her sons? John had become especially close to Jesus and James was also a good fellow, so their mother felt they were eminently qualified for high position.

Jesus knew this problem would crop up, so he warned James and John, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They said to Him, “We are able.”

So He said to them, “You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father.”

James and John had no idea what they were requesting. Later, James would be martyred and John would be exiled for several years on the Island of Patmos before finally dying somewhere in modern Turkey. Meanwhile, the other disciples were beyond furious! What nerve! How could these brothers think they were better than everybody else?

Just as things were about to erupt in fist fights, Jesus calmed the disciples, saying, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Now the disciples were really confused. Here they anticipated that Jesus was going to summon legions of angels and ride into Jerusalem on a white horse brandishing a flashing sword and routing the Romans and all those conspiring with them. Now Jesus was advising that the path to greatness in his kingdom lay through service and humbling oneself. Frankly, this was the very last thing that the disciples wanted to hear. They were really hoping that Jesus was going to announce some kind of hierarchy and then they could fight it out among themselves.

Much of the problem stemmed from the fact that the disciples had been steadfastly refusing to learn from Jesus’ example. Although there were people who traveled along with Jesus and the disciples, never do any of the Gospels even hint that Jesus was taking advantage of this situation. The only times Jesus withdrew from the crowds, he climbed into a boat anchored just off-shore so that people wouldn’t crush him. When Jesus went up into the hills, he frequently took the disciples along so he could teach them without interruption. Jesus responded to all kinds of requests from people of all social classes, from Jewish rulers and Roman centurions to prostitutes and tax collectors. Now Jesus was taking advantage of this uproar to emphasize the concept of servanthood leadership.

There was nothing particularly glamorous about servanthood; in fact, servants and slaves generally got stuck with the nastiest jobs. Low-level servants had to wash the stinky dirty feet of visitors, even when those visitors might have walked through cow dung. Servants always had to care for others before meeting their own needs. Servants were so common that they were part of the scenery, something to be ignored. Particularly astute servants or those working very hard might possibly attract their master’s attention, but generally, servants and slaves got no recognition or thanks of any sort.

If servants and slaves occupied such a low estate, why was Jesus identifying with them? Jesus knew that he had been born to die for the sins of the world. No matter what anyone had done, no matter how lowly they were, Jesus was going to die for those people. Jesus was going to be the ultimate servant making the ultimate sacrifice. The entire theme of the Kingdom of God was to be one of service-service to others and service to God.  Jesus knew that any service rendered with a clean heart was actually a service to God and would glorify God.

Jesus and the disciples were moving closer to Jerusalem and the time of Jesus’ death. Few lessons were more essential than that of servanthood and few were also harder to get across to the disciples. If the disciples failed to learn this lesson, they would simply descend into squabbling and would refuse to teach anybody about the Kingdom of God.

What held true for the disciples still holds true today. Those choosing to become disciples must also choose to become servants as well. There is no room for ego in the Kingdom of God, only actions done to glorify God. When we are serving God, we should not be concerned about being the Greatest of All Time but rather the humblest and the most useful.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, please give us servants’ hearts. Help us to be most concerned with Your perfect will for our lives and to seek to fulfill Your will. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Matthew 20:1-16 The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard

Matthew 19:29 – 30 ^“And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

Matthew 20:1-16 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went. Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive.’

“So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.’ And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius. And when they had received it, they complained against the landowner, saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’ But he answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’ So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.”

The division into chapters was done long after someone recorded the sayings of Jesus, so the last verses of Matthew 19 obviously belong with the story in Matthew 20. Jesus has reassured the disciples that their sacrifices will be rewarded, but now he needs to make a point: Rewards in the kingdom aren’t necessarily based on the time served as a disciple. To explain this point, Jesus tells this story.

The landowner employs several men at the beginning of the day for a denarius, the standard day’s wage. Subsequently, the landowner finds more men standing around and employs them, promising the same wage. Finally, only one hour before the end of the working day, the landowner employs even more workers. When the workers are receiving their wages, those hired at the last moment are paid as much as those who have been toiling all day, working hard and sweating in the heat. Is this fair?

Jesus wants his listeners to understand that God the Father will reward those who become disciples at the last moment in the same manner that He will those who have been disciples al their lives. Why is God doing this?

No matter how hard we try, none of us can earn our way into heaven. We are only saved by faith in Jesus Christ and his blood sacrifice for our sins. Here the denarius represents eternal life, and that reward is the same for all believers, whether someone becomes a believer as a child or as an elderly adult. We are not saved by our own efforts; indeed, we should serve God because we love Him and are grateful to Him for His many benefits. We honor God most when we use the gifts and talents He has given us to work for His glory.

Nana Roberta Hampton taught school in America until the age of 60. That’s when Nana Roberta’s second career as a missionary literacy teacher began. For the next twenty years, Nana Roberta trained trainers to teach literacy classes in a host of languages in Ghana. Even after Nana retired, she was still returning to Ghana to train instructors and maintained an active email correspondence until her death at age 89. Only in eternity will we know the fruits of Nana’s ministry; yet, her reward will be the same eternal life as that of someone accepting Christ with their last breath.  

Described as “the evil genius of the Nixon administration,” Chuck Colson accepted Christ while in prison at age 42. Once saved, Colson founded Prison Fellowship International, a ministry that continues to bring the Gospel and hope to prisoners around the world. Colson lived to the age of 80, accomplishing great things for the Kingdom of God; yet, his reward in heaven will be the same eternal life as someone who has believed at age 5 or someone who has accepted Christ on their death bed. Jesus assured the thief on the cross that he would be with Jesus in Paradise.

The problem with these fellows who griped was that they pitied themselves for working long hours through the heat, even though they agreed to work at the beginning of the day and could well anticipate how hot and tired they might become. Although these men had agreed to work for a day’s wage, they couldn’t help being angry at the landowner when he rewarded the late comers with that same wage. But what if the landowner knew things these complainers did not? It sounds as if the landowner hired everyone available at the beginning of the day. What if the landowner realized that the latecomers had traveled long distances or that they had major problems in their families that had kept them from reporting to the pool of workers earlier?

Not only is this parable a teaching on eternal life but it also applies to the dynamics of Christian groups. Sometimes old-timers in a group resent newcomers, fearing the newcomers will take over or will be favored; yet, all are working for the same Master, Master Jesus. Jesus knows our hearts better than we do. Let those of us who have borne the heat of the day not resent those who come later, for we have no idea what those people might have suffered on their way to faith.

There is no wrong age at which to become a disciple; every age is good. 2 Corinthians 6:1-2 tells us, “We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”

We only have today in which to decide. Choose to follow Jesus. Choose to become a disciple.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help all who read these words to choose to follow You NOW, not later! Help them to fully commit themselves to You for their entire lives. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Matthew 19:16-30 Jesus Counsels the Rich Young Ruler

“Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”

So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

He said to Him, “Which ones?”

Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”

The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?”

Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

With God All Things Are Possible

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”

But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Then Peter answered and said to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?”

So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

They call him a rich young ruler, a man who has everything., a golden boy. Born into a wealthy family, careful to observe all the Jewish laws, this young man appears to have it all. But somehow, all these riches, all this popularity, and all this social position has left this fellow with a gaping hole in his heart. So this young man questions Jesus, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”

The answer Jesus gives is anything but satisfactory. This guy is hoping for affirmation; perhaps Jesus will say, “Oh, you are already doing enough. You are on your way to eternal life.” Or perhaps Jesus might say, “Well, here are a few more things for you to do to earn eternal life” and then give a list of requirements. This man is certain that whatever Jesus advises, he is fully capable of doing. But Jesus pulls him up short.

“Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” “Great!” says the young man. “I’m already observing all the commandments. What else?” And that’s where reality sets in, for the next thing Jesus tells him is, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” Say what? This fellow has extensive possessions and is so wealthy that he pays a steward to keep track of everything for him. Pierced to the heart, the young man leaves, wondering how he can ever do what Jesus has just asked.

The disciples are shocked, horrified, and mystified. While the disciples have left everything, some of them didn’t have much to start with. But this young man has it all, so how can Jesus possibly demand that he abandon such riches and social position?

Jesus advises the disciples that following him is one of the most difficult things anyone can do. According to Wikipedia, the “Eye of the Needle” has been claimed to be a gate in Jerusalem, which opened after the main gate was closed at night. A camel could not pass through the smaller gate unless it was stooped and had its baggage removed. In the same way, Jesus is saying that anyone wishing to become a disciple must be willing to abandon all those things they think will make them fit for discipleship. Only faith in Jesus Christ can fit any of us to become a disciple.

At this point, the disciples are really worried, for they have left everything behind. Jesus reassures them that they will have a heavenly reward. But Jesus also says that there will be many others who will also reap rich rewards in heaven.

Many of us might be wondering if we fit into the same category as the rich young ruler. Be encouraged that many traditions suggest that this young man was Mark, who later interviewed Peter and wrote one of the Gospels and who accompanied Barnabas on missionary journeys.

Millard Fuller was a highly successful businessman who became a millionaire by age 29; however, these riches failed to satisfy him. Fuller and his family abandoned their wealth, moving first to a Christian commune and then to Zaire, where Fuller first became aware of the crying need for affordable housing for the poor. Eventually, Fuller founded Habitat for Humanity, a charity that has built houses all over the world using donated materials and volunteer labor. Millions of people have gotten safe and secure shelter because Fuller abandoned his quest for money to follow Jesus. Once committed to Jesus Christ, Fuller never looked back. (Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has worked on many of the Habitat houses in America.)

Must one give up everything to become a disciple? Not necessarily. The lesson for would-be disciples is simple: Hold your possessions lightly, so that if God asks you to give them up, you can do so readily. God may call you to use your possessions to reach others; for example, you might be a member of a yacht club. Your fellow members need to hear about Jesus just as much as anyone else. A retired pastor friend in Ghana is witnessing effectively to chiefs because he too is of royal blood and can therefore get a hearing where others would not.

God can use you and your resources in magnificent ways when you give everything to him. But remember that narrow gate. Camels could only pass once they had unloaded everything. We too can only come to the Kingdom of Heaven after abandoning our baggage and allowing the Blood of Jesus to cleanse us from all sin. If we give everything to God, He can bless it and return it for our use. If we hang onto anything, God cannot bless it or use it. The choice is ours. Choose wisely.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to realize that when we give everything to You, You will bless it and use us in ways we cannot imagine. Help us to trust You for heavenly rewards. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.