November 1, 2014 A Sign

The Sign

Matthew 21:1-5 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.” 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: 5 “Say to the Daughter of Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”

GOD’S prophets gave to His people many prophecies and many signs to know the Messiah when they would see him. That’s one of the reasons the Jews kept pressing Jesus for more signs. They had seen false teachers come to say, “I am the Messiah.” and the Jews had seen these men prove false.

     Now as the week of Passover began, Jesus will ride into Jerusalem as the fulfillment of a sign given by the prophet Zechariah: Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. (Zechariah 9:9)

     Yes, he comes in the manner of the King proclaimed to come to save. He comes to deliver himself into the hands of His enemies, to tell the Jews their King comes in victory.

     The remarkable truth of Jesus’ victory is that it would occur only as he was murdered by His own people He had specifically chosen in a city He had given to them. Jesus’ greatest sign would come out His greatest humiliation and abuse.

LIFE Link: The King has come.

October 31, 2014 Answered Prayer

Answered Prayer

Matthew 20:29-34 As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. 30 Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” 31 The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” 32 Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. 33 “Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.” 34 Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.

JESUS is on His way to Jerusalem to the final week of His earthly life. Many people are with him, and they’re anxious, hopeful and fearful. Jesus is fixed on his purpose.

     Then comes the cry, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”  Who calls? Why they are the two blind beggars. And they call out, “Son of David.” Why would they say that?

     They do so because it is true. The Jews know the Messiah will come from the family of David. The men’s cry is a profession of faith that the Messiah has come. They have heard the news of Jesus. Perhaps they have heard him teach. Thus, as Jesus walks by their begging place, the prayer of faith goes up to Jesus.  

     We have seen how many learned men and even Jesus’ disciples have been blind to Jesus’ true identity. But these blind men clearly saw that the Son of David had come to His people. They pray in faith for their sight.

     What do you need? Cry out to Jesus. He knows your needs. He wants to hear your faith.

LIFE Link: The cry of the faithful falls fully on Jesus’ ears.

Oct 30, 2014 Servant Rule

Servant Rule

Matthew 20:24-28 When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. 25 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

THE ten disciples were indignant – incensed, put-out – that James and John had made a special request of favor in the coming Kingdom of God. I think we can hear them say, “Who do you think you are?” Certainly they were upset, likely angry with their spiritual brothers who sought special favor. Perhaps each disciple thought Jesus had him in mind for kingdom ruling positions!

     But, alas, the ten essentially committed the same error as did the two.  None of the disciples still understood what Jesus’ kingdom would look like and especially what it would require of them.

     That’s when Jesus spoke to teach them. He pointed, as he always did, to the Kingdom of God being very different from any kingdom on earth. Leaders would not be chosen by the whim of the king or through a high position in society. God’s kingdom leaders, instead, would need “Servant” on their resume to qualify to true leadership.

     Even more, Jesus said that he had come to serve in a way that he would “give his life as a ransom for many.” Ultimately, the disciples learned there was no room for “self”, only room for their “Savior” in their lives.

LIFE Link: A Savior-centered heart

Oct 29, 2014 The Ask Response

The Ask Response

Matthew 20:22-23 “You don't know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” “We can,” they answered. 23 Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.”

BROTHERS James and John, through their mother Salome had just asked for special privileges in the Messiah’s Kingdom. Now Jesus responds with, “You don't know what you are asking.” In a sense we feel a bit embarrassed for Salome and her sons. We can easily see that their petition was in error, born of a fundamental misunderstanding of the Kingdom of God. Being wrong is embarrassing, isn’t it? But being wrong can be an important step to the truth.

     That’s why I believe Jesus dealt tenderly with the three. In His love for the them, he points James and John to their true destiny. When Jesus says, “You will indeed drink from my cup.” He knows they will, indeed, receive a special place in the Kingdom. But first they will have to experience what He will experience. Suffering and martyrdom are ahead of James. And John, who will suffer greatly, is saved from a martyr’s death only through a special intervention of the Holy Spirit. They will, indeed, drink the cup of glory one day, but first they will drink of suffering.

     Then note that when Jesus tells his disciples “it is not for me to grant”, He demonstrates His submission to the Father’s will in the Spirit’s power. The triune God is at work here preparing two men and their mother for the suffering path to true Kingdom glory.

LIFE Link: The Savior’s cup

      

Oct 28, w014 A Big Ask

A Big Ask

Matt 20:21 “What is it you want?” he asked. She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.”

JESUS asked Salome, the mother of James and John, “What is it you want?” because she had asked him for a favor (Matt 20:20). Salome then responded to Jesus’ question with a big “ask”. She petitioned the Lord that her sons would have the highest rank in the Messiah’s kingdom, to have a ruling authority in what she and her sons anticipated would be Jesus’ rule on earth!

     Yes, Salome asked. She was willing to lay out her desire for her sons with the full faith of one who anticipated great things to come. She believed Jesus could fulfill her big desires for her sons. When Jesus inquired of her desires, she didn’t hold back and say, “Oh, nothing.” Nor did she ask with doubt: “If it’s possible, Jesus could you remember my boys in your new kingdom?” In full faith and seemingly in full humility, Salome went on her knees to her Lord to see what he would do.

     How many times in the Gospels do we see people coming to Jesus to see what he would do? Some came to trap him in their restrictive religious structures. Some came for healing. Some came with eternal questions. Some came to celebrate the possible Messiah. Some cried, “Heal me!” Others begged, “Remove the demons.” Salome said, “Grant this favor to my sons.”

     Many asked for big things, and many were rewarded. Not all requests, including Salome’s, fit into God’s will, but we see God’s remarkable grace pour onto His people who asked for big things.

LIFE Link: Ask your desires and hear God’s response.