It's eerily ludicrous that the mother of the Zebedee brothers thought her two sons should be awarded the highest places of honor in heaven (20:21). Made me ponder on what parents today pursue for their children---what do we demand from God to provide for our children? The disciples were disgusted with the request. Jesus answered: Whoever wants to be great must become a servant. Jesus came to serve, not be served (20:28). Have we placed our family priority on being servants? "Seek not great things for yourselves" (Jeremiah 45:5). [Scripture interprets Scripture.]
In Jericho, blind men cried out: "Master, have mercy on us! Jesus' question to the blind men is the same to each of us this day: "What do you want from Me?" (20:32). God, may You be deeply moved by what we want, just as you were for these men.
Isaiah 44:21 (The Message)
ReplyDelete21-22"Remember these things, O Jacob.
Take it seriously, Israel, that you're my servant.
I made you, shaped you: You're my servant.
O Israel, I'll never forget you.
I've wiped the slate of all your wrongdoings.
There's nothing left of your sins.
Come back to me, come back.
I've redeemed you."
“Hosanna to David's son!" "Blessed is he who comes in God's name!" "Hosanna in highest heaven!"
ReplyDeleteIt’s Palm Sunday at Pearls today. I’ve always loved and hated this service in the liturgical church. One minute we’re saying (in loud voices) “Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest” (Jesus save us! Salvation is here!)and singing “All Glory Laud and Honor” with trumpets and angels and all the company of heave with our woven palm crosses, and then each one of us must say the words (just as loudly) “Crucify Him!” And who among us is any different than the angry crowd of Jesus’ day? We’d like to think we’d love Jesus if He walked in the room, but our words, our lives betray Him. I sent Him to the cross because of my actions, but thanks be to God, He had a better plan. So let us sing “Hosanna” this day, let it be our praise, our firmly planted assurance. Salvation belongs to the Father, and His Son Who has come. He has saved us from ourselves—our guilt, our sin, our hopelessness. Hosanna! Hosanna indeed!
We each read the same reading each day and God touches us uniquely in our own place. I read what you write, and then the same Scripture touches me from another vantage point. So thankful to each of you who share your hearts each day. Lord, like the two blind men, we want to see. Have mercy on us and touch us! Give us eyes to see You, and never to miss the bounty of Grace found in Your Word! Amen.
I see me in these passages today.
ReplyDeleteGentile Deborah.
Throughout these passages are a reminder that an unproductive group would be set aside to make way for a productive group.
The fig tree that was barren.
The disobedient son.
The murderous farmhands.
Another would come and do the work.
And the wages would be the same for all. The last one hired received the same as what the first one hired received.
My father and I were talking the other night and I mentioned Christ's anger at the temple and his turning over the tables of "merchants" that had set up shop at the temple. He shared with me that where the merchants were set up was were the Gentiles were allowed to come to the temple and worship. Christ made room for the blind, crippled and uncircumsized to come.
And then, of course, He shares with His disciples the way to be first in God's Kingdom. We must be a slave to each other.
Matthew 20
23Jesus said, "Come to think of it, you are going to drink my cup. But as to awarding places of honor, that's not my business. My Father is taking care of that."
24 -28When the ten others heard about this, they lost their tempers, thoroughly disgusted with the two brothers. So Jesus got them together to settle things down. He said, "You've observed how godless rulers throw their weight around, how quickly a little power goes to their heads. It's not going to be that way with you. Whoever wants to be great must become a servant. Whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave. That is what the Son of Man has done: He came to serve, not be served—and then to give away his life in exchange for the many who are held hostage."
Father, I thank You that my sins have been covered by the precious blood of Your Only Son, Jesus Christ. I am one who was held hostage by the enemy, by my sins. But Jesus gave his life in exchange for me. Thank You. I hear You asking me the same question You asked the blind men. Obviously, they are blind. But You asked them "What do you want from me." And my response is that same response they had, "Master, I want my eyes opened! I want to see!" Have mercy on me, Master, O Son of David. Hosanna in the highest. Let me work in Your fields...no one else has hired me. Let me be Your slave here on this earth until You call me home. You have a place for me and I treaasure that today. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Deborah, I loved what you said when you wrote: "An unproductive group would be set aside to make way for a productive group." Set apart.
ReplyDeleteThe fig tree cursed...what was fig leaves used for? To hide the shame of Adam and Eve's sin.
Unproductive lives from murderers to thieves to followers wanting first place. Love the thought that Peterson made that Christ was making room for the blind, the crippled...making room for me!