Matthew part 35
Making it Big in the Kingdom of Heaven
Have you ever looked into color-blindness? It’s a bizarre phenomenon for myself because I am not colorblind at all. I have seen images that illustrate what some people see, and it is so bizarre to me. But now we have glasses that actually help correct the problem. If you haven’t seen any of the videos that float around the internet of people seeing colors for the first time, it is well worth the watch. Some of the most heartwarming are when babies born with poor eyesight try on glasses for the first time and see their parents. It is a such a beautiful moment when someone can see clearly for the first time.
I actually have a color blind test here you can take a look at. Do you find the numbers? Can you read all of them? If not, you might want to look into some of those fancy color correction glasses.
There is another type of blindness, though, that we forget about. It is the spiritual blindness that happens in life when we forget that this physical world isn’t all that exists.
The Cup Jesus Must Drink | Matthew 20:17-19
And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them,“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 and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.”
Matthew 20:17-19
This is the third time in Matthew Jesus has said he would be persecuted and killed by the religious leaders. But he also lets them know he will be raised on the third day. It is a clear mission for him, but the disciples continue to be confused by these announcements. We know they never fully understand, or perhaps remain in denial, simply because we can look at their response to Jesus’ death. When he is captured, they run. The ones that do stay nearby do not stay too close, and Peter even denies knowing Jesus.
But they’re response is understandable. First, people don’t tend to rise from the dead. Second, the miracles they have seen of someone returning to life were done by Jesus. If Jesus is the dead one, who would be able to raise him? Last, they fully believe Jesus is there to destroy the hold the Romans and religious hypocrites have on Israel. He can’t do that if he’s dead…right?
But this announcement is not just a reminder to the disciples. It sits between the lesson Jesus just gave on the generosity of God and a lesson on true, godly leadership. Now, before we get to the lesson on leadership, let’s consider what Jesus has announced (a third time) in light of the preceding verses.
Jesus just completed a lesson on “the last shall be first, and the first shall be last.” The generosity of God is not based on human merit, but rather His good nature. He chooses to bless those He blesses simply because He wants to. Regardless our situation in life, if we serve the Lord, we will inherit the blessings of eternal life. In fact, the economy of heaven is so different from the world, that Jesus’ greatest act on earth will be exactly what the world would say is his greatest defeat.
Jesus’ greatest victory comes through what the status quo perceives as his greatest failure.
If Jesus is supposed to overthrow earthly authorities, he should be gathering a military army. Instead, he gathers disciples who are called to follow the path of love and forgiveness.
Jesus is supposed to stand as King in victory, and yet he will be tried as a criminal and executed.
Jesus is supposed to establish the Israelite religion as the one true religion of the world, and yet the Jewish religious authorities will be the ones to turn him over to the Romans.
This scenario is the exact opposite of what the disciples expect of their Messiah, and yet it is exactly what the Messiah will do. BUT, Jesus says, he will be raised on the third day. His time on earth is not done at the cross.
It is an amazing reversal of what the world would expect from a world leader. And this reversal is the whole basis for what comes next and what preceded.
Jesus’ announcement is a reminder that the kingdom of heaven requires us to look beyond ourselves to serve and lead.
Let’s unpack that point with the next passage.
A Foolish Request | Matthew 20:20-28
Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. 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.” 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.” 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.” And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. 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. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Matthew 20:20-28
This mother asks an interesting request. This would be an example of what is now known as “helicopter parenting.” She asks that her sons sit at the right and left of Jesus in the kingdom of heaven. Now, it may seem like a foolish request (and it is), but this mother is simply wanting her sons to be elevated in the kingdom.
But her foolish request provides an opportunity for Jesus to explain leadership in the kingdom of heaven is not like leadership on earth. The goal of earthly leadership is power and to exert that power over the populace. The goal of heavenly leadership is to serve the populace and build up others. Not too many people understand the notions of servant leadership, a government for the people, humble rulers, and the similar, all exist because of what Jesus taught. It is possible to find traces of this in writings prior to Christ, but none of them caught on. The most notable exceptions might be Plato or Aristotle, but even those could be argued, and the Greeks and Romans certainly did not make servant leadership a normalized part of civic life.
Christian leadership seeks after the good of the congregation not the good of the leader.
Now, it’s easy to pick on the pastors and ministry leaders with this teaching, but I remind you Jesus’ teachings extend to every believer. As we serve in the capacity God has given us, we must continually remind ourselves, the church does not exist for our whims and desires. It exists as the extension of the kingdom of God on earth. We serve others in service to our King.
Jesus gave up his life for our salvation, and also as an example of what it means to serve others. Read that last verse again. “But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not the be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” If we desire a position of honor in heaven, then we must desire to serve others.
Our greatness in the kingdom of heaven is measured on what we have done for others.
Remember, the kingdom of heaven is not like the earth. The One who is elevated above every name is the One who took our sins to the cross and gave his life up as the ransom for us. What should have been his greatest failure is actually what makes him supreme.
If we desire to be honored in heaven, we must get rid of the desire to be honored. The better question is how we can honor others and make Jesus known.
Opening the Eyes of the Blind | Matthew 20:29-34
And as they went out of Jericho, a great crowd followed him. 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!” The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be silent, but they cried out all the more, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” And stopping, Jesus called them and said, “What do you want me to do for you?” They said to him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” And Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight and followed him.
Matthew 20:29-34
I want to end today on these verses, not just because it ends the chapter, but because it brings us to the answer to the question we dare not ask on a Sunday morning in church. The question is, “How can I live the servant life Jesus calls me to, when I don’t actually want to?” You see, the appropriate Christian response to this chapter is “Yes, Lord, help me be a servant.” And yet, in my humble experience, Christians can have a tremendously difficult time serving their fellow humans. In fact, history is replete with examples of ‘good Christian folk’ who fail to lift others up and serve those Jesus came to save.
The answer is actually right here. It is the same prayer these blind men send to Jesus. “Lord, let our eyes be opened.”
And I am not just pointing out an interesting coincidence. Scripture routinely uses blindness and sight, darkness and light, as metaphors for understanding. The phrase “God is light” is very much a metaphor John uses in order to help us understand if we want to understand anything that is true, we must seek the Lord.
Blessed are the people who know the festal shout, who walk, O Lord, in the light of your face,
Psalm 89:15
The psalmist proclaims blessings to those who walk in the light of the Lord’s face. John takes this idea further helping understand God is the source of life, of understanding, and of all goodness. But it doesn’t matter how bright God shines in this world if we are blind!
These poor gentlemen wanted to see. They wanted to understand and truly perceive the Messiah who is right in front of them. The crowd told them to be quiet, but they refused to be silent when Jesus was right there!
And Jesus stops and gives them sight. He opens their eyes, and they follow him.
Sometimes…in fact many times…when we want to follow Jesus, we may not fully see or understand what Jesus is trying to show us. Even more, when we start hollering for Jesus to help us see better, it is not that uncommon for the crowds around us to tell us to be quiet. What is ironic here in the story is that this crowd is the same crowd that says they want to follow Jesus, too. What is ironic in life is that many times when we start to veer off the common ways to follow Jesus, there is usually a crowd of church people that will tell us to be quiet.
“Don’t be too zealous.”
“Don’t be too loud.”
“Don’t ask us to do more.”
“Don’t point out our lack of faith.”
“Don’t shake the boat.”
And all the while we know Jesus is calling us to something more than just sitting on the street begging for scraps, but the crowds want to keep us “in our place.”
As a Christian, you will hear many people in this world tell you to mind your business or keep to the side. But just keep crying out to Jesus, because He’s going to stop and ask, “What can I do for you?” And that is when Jesus can open your eyes.
Or perhaps you might relate more to the crowd. You just want to hear Jesus teach and celebrate this phenomenon that is Jesus. But there are these riffraff making a ruckus. They want Jesus to give them attention, but let’s face it, they are on the street blind because of their own life choices. Maybe if they had tried harder in life they wouldn’t be just begging. Maybe if they were nicer, someone would have brought them into their home and took care of them.
But then Jesus does something that goes against every social norm. He stops and talks to these beggars. And even more, he actually heals them! Could it be that what the crowd believes about Jesus and what it means to be blessed is actually wrong?
You will never see the Truth of God and His Kingdom unless you ask Jesus to heal your own blindness.
Today, it is time to cry out to Jesus and see the Truth. For some of you, it may be seeing for the very first time. You have no idea what is on the other side of taking that first step of faith!
For others, perhaps you are like this crowd, and you have been following Jesus, but you still hold some of your old ways of thinking. Ask Jesus to help you see better and with heavenly eyes.