 |
| Photo by Nik Shuliahin on Unsplash |
Who is this Jesus? That is the question we are asking as we explore the Gospel of Matthew. By meditating on His words and actions as recorded by the apostles, we can come to know the one we call Savior a little bit better.
In the last post, I left off two important points that help set the stage for the following chapters. My focus there was on what was revealed about Messiah. But, there was still an aspect of Jesus’ identity that remained concealed to the disciples. Even as Peter recognized Jesus as the Messiah, the son of the Living God, in the very next verses it becomes clear that he didn’t fully grasp what that meant. He was still expecting a conquering king. But, Jesus declared that this battle would be won through humility. What’s more, he expected his followers to do the same. “Take up your cross and follow me.”
The following chapters expound upon this point showing how the disciples brush up against it again and again. Several stories will help illustrate this point.
Who is the greatest?
Straight to the point, the disciples ask about who the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven is. Before Jesus answers the question directly, he corrects their heart: “Unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Their concern with greatness was becoming an obstacle to even entering the kingdom. To get in requires humility. Only after this corrective does Jesus answer the question directly. Humble yourselves like children.
Jesus then goes on to express his concern for the little ones. These are the ones that tend to get left behind, looked over, and despised. Jesus warns his disciples that it is precisely these, the least of all, that God is looking upon in compassion. Therefore, they should do the same. Do not cause them to stumble, but build up stepping stones for them to rise. Do not ignore them, but go after them when they are lost to bring them back. In Jesus’ Kingdom, taking up your cross means seeing and loving the vulnerable.
70 X 7
Jesus then moves on to the one who sins against you, talking about how to restore such a person to the congregation. Peter asks, “how often will my brother sin against me and I forgive him?” Jesus answers with a parable.
As much as our neighbor may owe us, we owe God more. And as hard as it may be to forgive our neighbor, God has forgiven us more. Jesus reminds us that we are mere servants of our King and how we treat each other should be a reflection of the grace that God has shown us. Whatever power we may think we have over our neighbor, we must remember that God is master of all and he will look after his servants. So humble yourself. We are all dependent upon God’s grace. Just as Jesus looked from the cross and said, “Father, forgive them,” so we too must take up our cross and forgive.1
Treasure in Heaven
A rich man comes to Jesus asking what good deed he must do to inherit eternal life. From a legal standpoint, he claims to be blameless. But, Jesus points out that he still has cultural idols in his life. He cannot part with his riches for the sake of the Kingdom. His power and his greatness reside in his wealth rather than in Jesus.
Jesus teaches us that everyone who has left houses or family or land (these things are inheritance and security in their culture) for His name’s sake will receive a hundredfold. Many who are first will be last and our own sense of fairness and equity finds itself sunk beneath the flood of our Father’s unending generosity. True greatness is found in generosity and trust in our one true Provider. Taking up our cross means laying down everything else that we place our trust in for security.
The Servant
By this time Jesus had foretold his death three times. He had taught twice how we are to enter the kingdom like little children and twice how the first will be last and the last will be first. And the sons of Zebedee ask (with their mother’s help) to sit at Jesus’ right and left hand.
To be sure, John and James seem to be favored among the disciples. They had a special place with Peter at the transfiguration and would again in Gethsemane. But, they still did not quite understand greatness. The way of the cross was one of service. Of laying down one’s own life for another. Jesus set the example. He is our King, and as our King He washed our feet. He laid down his glory and honor and power to become one of us and find a glory that can only be found in serving.
I am afraid that we are like the disciples–we read these words over and over again, but we are so steeped in American culture that they don’t penetrate. We are blinded by the cultural idols of merit, profit, power, and influence. Cognitive dissonance allows us to somehow silo what Jesus is telling us into just those areas that we want to allow it to affect.
The good news is that Jesus is leading us on a journey, continually calling us higher. When he calmed the storm, the disciples were astounded, wondering who this man could be. They came to know Jesus in His power. Then, he called them higher, calling Peter to walk upon the waves of the storm. At that time the disciples saw a little bit more of who Jesus was, declaring “Truly, you are the son of God.” They came to know Jesus in his faithfulness. Then, after Peter makes the same confession, Jesus begins declaring how He must be crucified. He’s calling them higher still, so that they may come to know Him in His humility.
It is the same with us. As we continue on this journey of life, Jesus is continually revealing Himself to us in new ways. Let us continue to seek after him, praying as the blind men did, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” Let us humble ourselves and allow our preconceptions to be reshaped as Jesus makes Himself known to us in ways we might not expect.
It should be noted that Jesus is not writing a blank check for abusers here. This parable follows upon the heals of a procedure for reconciliation (which itself must also not be treated with legalistic rigidity), indicating Jesus does have concern for due process and boundaries. Indeed, Jesus’ words about the little children should be enough to remind us that he does care about the vulnerable and victimized enough to support healthy boundaries, even in the midst of forgiveness. ↩︎
No comments:
Post a Comment