Do you know what verses 1-16 remind me of? When someone who has been a member of a church for a long time doesn't think a new member should be in charge of anything because they haven't put their time in yet.
Do you know what jumps out at me in verses 20-23? The boys mommy asks for their promotion (kinda like having mom set you up with a girl), so Jesus asks if they can take the heat. They say yes, so Jesus basically says, "Ok, you will get the heat, but not the promotion...that is up to managament."
Verses 24-28 are fummy because everyone else gets ticked off because 2 of them actually had the nerve to request what they wanted. I think that we Christians think it isn't ok to ask for what we want; as if we have to go through life denying ourselves of everything...including a really nice spot in the kingdom of God. Therefore, the courage to actually ask for God's favor is looked at as bad. Jesus does not scold the brothers, instead he simply tells everyone how to be great...serve others.
How poorly do we look upon those with the courage to request good things from God? Look at verses 29-34. When 2 guys who are blind ask to see, the crowd tells them to shut up! THEY ARE BLIND...CAN'T SEE...WANT A LITTLE MERCY! Here is the conversation that follows
Blind guys- Jesus have mercy on us.
Jesus- What do you want?
Blind Guys- Sight.
Jesus- OK.
No Longer Blind Guys- Where ya going? Can we come?
I see in this chapter a willingness by Jesus to give, a warning to be careful what you ask for, and instruction on how to get the best gift of all. What is missing and keeping us from following Jesus, giving him our all, and serving our neighbor? Here is an idea. Why not ask Jesus to provide what is missing. What is the worst that could happen? He could say no, and a bunch of church folks might get grumpy at me. But who cares! It costs me nothing, and in my experience those church folks are always grumpy at someone...might as well be my turn.
I love the parable of the vineyard workers. It always reminds me that whether we accept Jesus in the early days of our lives, or in the very last moments, we all receive the same thing...his all...his best...a place with him forever!
ReplyDeleteIts funny how some of the parables can hit you on so many levels. You read it once and take something away from it. Read it later and you see it from a different perspective. Susie..the first time I read it I felt the same way you did about the passage. It doesn't matter where you are in your life, the beginning or the end, you still receive the same amazing gift! And then I read it again 5 mins later and I picked up on the grumbling of the workers that had been there longer. And like Rob, I thought of churches where sometimes the ideas and thoughts of newcomers are often dismissed by the people that have been there longer. That's certainly not the way God operates.
ReplyDeleteThe last few verses really have the message that hit me as an example to follow. Why don't I ask for same thing that the blind men asked for. They asked for mercy and when Jesus asked what they wanted, they asked that their eyes be opened. I need to do the same thing and ask that God open my eyes so that I can see with his vision (and not my own). But...I need to remember...I gotta ask!