4 men tell the story of Jesus in the Bible. Their stories are the first segments of it second section.
Matthew, a Roman Tax Collector turned Christ-follower, is the first writer to be recorded. His recounting of the Journey from Galilee to Golgotha – the Lenten Journey – begins in the 20th Chapter.
Matthew remembers Jesus explanation of the Journey.
“Jesus, now well on the way up to Jerusalem, took the Twelve off to the side of the road and said, "Listen to me carefully. We are on our way up to Jerusalem. When we get there, the Son of Man will be betrayed to the religious leaders and scholars. They will sentence him to death. They will then hand him over to the Romans for mockery and torture and crucifixion. On the third day he will be raised up alive.”
It couldn’t have been clearer. He, the Christ, Israel’s Messiah, their long anticipated King, destined to rule the world was going to die. He would relinquish His power. Out of the ruins of His life He would be “raised up alive.”
No sooner was He finished explaining what this trip would be like when the Mother of two of His followers came to Him with a request. “What do you want Jesus asked.” She said,
“Give your word that these two sons of mine will be awarded the highest places of honor in your kingdom, one at your right hand, one at your left hand.”
Jesus replied forcefully, “You have no idea what you’re asking.”
What was this meddlin’ Mother thinking? She was thinking like most Jews had been thinking for thousands of years. She was thinking this Man – Jesus of Nazareth – is Messiah; the “One.” He would re-establish the Throne of David and throw off the chains of Rome’s oppression. He would establish, forever, Israel’s Worldwide Supremacy. She saw her Sons as Prime Players in that Mighty Kingdom.
Perhaps, you say, she heard Him say he’d be “raised up alive” and was exhilarated at the thought of her sons as Vice Regents in the “Eternal Kingdom.”
Whether she did or not the men Christ had called certainly did not. They were completely obsessed with power; and position; and privilege. Jesus, here and now, at the Trail Head of the path to His crucifixion, once again defines the nature of his Kingdom – the “Cup He would drink.” Jealous, and angry with these two Brothers the other 10 became completely disgusted at the thought of their being subservient to these “Momma’s Boys.” “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’”.
The “cup” Jesus “would drink” would be just that. The Sacrificial Love willing to pay any price; suffer any humiliation; literally “turn the other cheek”; take another’s guilt and shame on itself; surrender its power; trust another with its life; is that “cup.” Our walk with Him to Gethsemane and Golgotha will give substance to that “Grim Grail.” Holding Him after the Resurrection His Followers knew their Life would mean drinking it to the very last drop just as He had done; surrendering their power.
This Lesson of Lent would be incomplete if we didn’t remember Jesus final instructions to these Followers. They would have no power, He told them. They would have to “wait in Jerusalem,” until they were filled and empowered with “power from above.” The “Holy Spirit” would come on them and then that Heavenly power would be theirs. “Not by might, nor by power,” but by the “Lord’s Spirit,” they would be “witnesses; Special Representatives of a New Humanity,” re-created Children of God; “like Christ.”
No comments:
Post a Comment