The Last Will Be First

I came across this cute post-Christmas story the other day and thought I should share it with you.

One year after Christmas a pastor was cleaning up decorations when he noticed that the baby Jesus was missing from the nativity scene. Just about that time a little boy came walking up pulling a little red wagon. As the boy got closer the pastor noticed that the figure of the infant Jesus was there in the wagon. So he asked the boy, “Hello there, young man. Where did you pick up your passenger?”

“I got Him here, from the church.”

“And why did you take Him?”

“Well, about a week before Christmas to the Little Lord Jesus, and told Him that if He would bring me a red wagon for Christmas, I would give Him a ride around the block in it.”

I have one more nativity scene joke, then we will move on. This one reminds me of my friend, Chris, because he moved out here to the country from the big city. So he isn’t familiar with many of the “country-isms” that we are all used to out here.

There was a small rural church that decided to do a living nativity scene one year in the front lawn of the church. It quickly became the talk of the community and everyone was driving out to see it. A family from out of state who were new to the area took particular interest in the three wise men who were dressed as firemen carrying canvas hoses. Perplexed, they finally asked someone in the crowd about them, “Why do the wisemen have fire helmets and hoses?”

Frustrated, the lady standing next to them answered quickly. “Have you never heard the story? Or at least sang songs about it? Everyone knows that the wisemen came from afar!”

The video we just watched is the latest video from the Bible Project team called, “The Last Will Be First.” This topic is one that we could spend forever studying. Not only is the topic itself one that is full of interesting thoughts and scripture, but like most things in the bible, diving into it will lead you down countless interesting trails.

Today, I want to focus on what Jesus taught about being first. Despite having all of these thousands of years to be better people than we started out as, the world really hasn’t changed much. Really, when it comes down to it, about the only thing that has changed are the creature comforts. We traded in the camels for cars and the smoke signals and stone tablets for cell phones.

Beyond that, the world is still full of people trying to get to the top of the ladder and gain more power. The people with the power tend to rule it over the people below them. The less fortunate tend to get taken advantage of for someone else’s gain. These are the same problems that God has been addressing since the beginning of time. We see it reflected over and over again, both in Jesus’ time, and in the OT.

I love the examples that the Bible Project give with Cain and Abel, then Ishmael and Isaac, and Esau and Jacob. In biblical culture, the firstborn were given unique privileges and responsibilities. Very much like a monarch system where kingdom rule is passed down to the oldest child in a royal family.

In each of those 3 stories, God flipped their world upside down by overturning their status and giving it to the younger. Why would God do that? It just seems so mean. While I can’t tell you what God is thinking, I can tell you something that I have learned. When I read the bible it’s easy to notice a lot of selfishness. Most of what God teaches His people to do works toward developing them into more SELFLESS people. A great example of this is in chapter 20 of Matthew.

One might think that hanging out with Jesus every day would make you the ultimate Jesus follower. Trump would even say that you were the BEST Jesus follower. You would never say that because you could be the best, but being the best you could never say that you were, in fact, the best. But others have said it, so you just might be the best.

However, the disciples were still human and making mistakes. In fact, even after spending so much time with Jesus, they argued about who was the best in front of Him at the last supper. Jesus’ response to them that night was similar to His response to them in the story in Matthew. Starting in verse 20 in chapter 20 of Matthew, the two disciples that were brothers, James and John, approached Jesus with their mom. You KNOW it’s serious when mom walks up to the teacher with her two kids to have a little chat about their status in the group.

Fortunately, the other disciples had learned a lot about being servants, so they were cool with it. The especially didn’t want to have another Jacob and Esau situation within their group, so they were like, “Yeah, that would be cool. Both brothers on either side of Jesus as He rules in His kingdom.” YEAH RIGHT! Verse 24...

Matthew 20:24 NLT

24 When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant.

They were angry! Those two think they are better than us? They need their mommy to come in win them special privileges with Jesus? That’s not fair! I’ve been here longer! I work harder! You remember that guy a few miles back that was texting on his papyrus and almost walked into that street sign. You guys were laughing at him, but I ran over and stopped him from hurting himself!

Earlier I said that Jesus response to the disciples was similar to the next time they would have this argument. Here is what He said to them…

Matthew 20:25–28 NLT

25 But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. 26 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. 28 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

The first will be last. The Father has been trying to teach humanity this from the beginning, but we keep selfishly taking whatever we think belongs to us. Firstborn rights, seniority, stature, whatever it is that makes us say, “I’ve earned that. I deserve it. It’s mine.” Though we don’t vocalize it like Randy in the movie “A Christmas Story” we often think or act much like he did on Christmas morning as he jumped from present to present that sat under the tree and repeated, “COOL! Look at that, that’s mine! WOW! Look at that, that’s mine!”

Jesus taught the disciples that it shouldn’t be that way with them. As followers of Christ we don’t rule over other people with our authority, we serve them. If you want to be #1, you have to be a slave. Like Christ Himself did. The King of kings, came to serve and give His life. That lesson went over the heads of Cain, Ishmael, and Esau when God tried to teach it to them.

Cain got angry, just like the disciples. Only, when God told him to cool it, he didn’t listen. He lured Abel out into a field and killed him. Ishmael persecuted Isaac. Even at a very young age, he mocked Isaac. Esau was just as angry as the others and planned to kill Jacob. That bitter rivalry spanned generations as their children fought each other.

As a side note, something that is super interesting to me is who Esau partners with to attack Jacob’s descendants. It’s super confusing and difficult to study, but if you look through the names of the descendants of Cain and Ishmael, you will come to the women who Esau marries. He literally partners with Cain’s bloodline and Ishmael’s bloodline to attack Jacob’s descendants.

God is continually challenging our idea of first and last. Then Jesus continues the theme and teaches that principle face to face. When I look at each of these stories, and even more examples in scripture that we didn’t look at, one thing becomes abundantly clear to me. Going from wanting to be first to wanting to be last is very VERY difficult.

Who WANTS to be last? Who WANTS to be a slave? Who WANTS to just serve other people ALL… THE… TIME…? If I look at this idea of the first being last, and it isn’t difficult for me to do, or it just feels like it comes natural to me, then I must not be doing it right! It’s not a natural thing. If it was easy, God would have said it once and that would have been the end of it. Instead, Cain killed because of the idea of being last. The others may not have killed, but it wasn’t for lack of trying! While Jesus was here, walking around with His disciples, they argued multiple times over it. Right in front of Jesus!

Willingly choosing to go from first to last is difficult. Putting someone else ahead of yourself at your own detriment is difficult. Sometimes it even feels like everything we thought was ours is being taken away from us. I am sure that is how the brothers saw their situations. Their rights were being taken away. They probably thought it wasn’t fair. Have you ever felt that way? Like something that belonged to you had been taken away and it wasn’t fair?

It is difficult. When it comes to facing difficult situations, the author of Hebrews gives us a great perspective for enduring difficult situations while at the same time learning and growing in the practice of putting the last first.

If you want to take a few notes, I want to share 3 thoughts from Hebrews that could help you change the way you view first and last in your life. The first thought is this… When my first suddenly becomes last, God could be giving me an opportunity to learn something.

THE FIRST BECOMING LAST…

1. IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR DIVINE DISCIPLINE.

Maybe I am supposed to learn something from this. God chose Abel’s offering instead of Cain’s, and Cain had an opportunity to learn something. God even said as much to him, but he chose not to learn and let anger control him. God may be making room in your life for an opportunity to learn just like Cain. What can you learn here?

I love the way chapter 12 of Hebrews words it by calling it “divine discipline.” The word discipline brings images into our minds of teaching our children not to play in the street. We may discipline them because we love them. We don’t want them to give up when we correct them, but learn from their mistakes so they will become better and smarter.

Hebrews 12:5–7 NLT

5 And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, “My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you. 6 For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.” 7 As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father?

I’m gonna tattle on Macayla for a second. Amy and I hadn’t been married for very long when I had one of my first real experiences with having a kid in the house. I was coming home from work and before I even reached the door I could hear commotion in the house. Upon opening the door I saw Amy’s mom, Mary, sitting on the couch running her hands through the hair of this cute, little, innocent, demon child laying on the couch who was moaning and carrying on like she was about to die.

“Ooohhhhh..... AAAAAHHHH!!! Uuuuuuggghhhh....”

Mary said, “I don’t know what’s wrong with her, but she’s been feeling like this for a while now.”

“Okay. Thanks for taking care of her, I have it from here.”

Sure, we hadn’t been married long, but it had been long enough that I knew exactly what was going on. As soon as Mary was gone I said, “ALRIGHT!” I had to yell because Macayla was being so loud. “ALRIGHT! Get up! If you feel this bad, you don’t need to be on the couch. Time to go to your room and get in bed.”

“But I can’t! It hurts to bad to move!”

“Then let me help you.”

Yes, I picked her up. Yes, she carried on more. Eventually, she managed to crawl, drag, hobble, and hunch her way to her bedroom. She was too broken to climb up into her bed and wouldn’t let me lift her up there, so I made a cozy pallet for her on the floor.

Now, some of you may think I am a big meanie head! Hopefully most of you know exactly what was happening. Less than 5 minutes later (I barely made it out of the hallway.) A spry, young, not demon, Macayla came walking out into the living room with a smile on her face.

“I’m feeling much better now.”

“Yeah, I bet you are.”

Now, I know that isn’t a typical discipline story, but from her perspective it may have felt that way. She may have even felt like she suddenly went from first to last. But, from that day forward she never cried wolf again. At least, in a serious or memorable way.

Hebrews 12:10–11 NLT

10 For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. 11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

When we are removed from our position of utmost importance and made last, it is a learning opportunity. An opportunity for divine discipline. The second thing it does is strengthen the people around us.

THE FIRST BECOMING LAST…

2. STRENGTHENS OTHERS.

By it’s very nature, serving someone else and putting their needs ahead of our own will build them up and strengthen them. The author of Hebrews knows that in order to do this, you will have to stand up on tired legs, grab hold with trembling hands, and force your feet to move. I love the way the very next verse in this chapter is worded and the imagery and inspiration that it brings with it…

Hebrews 12:12–15 NLT

12 So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. 13 Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong. 14 Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. 15 Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.

The last part of that passage talks about the purpose for enduring the difficult work. To lead each other toward the grace of God. Not allowing bitterness to corrupt God’s message. That’s what it’s all about. And it’s our final thought…

THE FIRST BECOMING LAST…

3. SEEKS FORGIVENESS INSTEAD OF REVENGE.

Holding on to what you think you deserve and what you think is fair will cause you to become bitter like Esau who held on to his bitterness which fueled a family feud that lasted for years and years. Throughout generations. That isn’t the love and selflessness that God has called us to. Like Jesus told the disciples, “Among you it will be different.” And it will be different because you know that the first will become the last. When we want what we think is fair, we seek vengeance. Like the blood of Abel. Jesus brought us a new covenant, a new way. His blood brought forgiveness.

I want to close by reading this last part of chapter 12. It’s kind of long, but absolutely beautiful. In fact, I would even encourage you to read it later when you can focus on it a little better. I’ll read this and then immediately close in prayer…

Hebrews 12:18–29 NLT

18 You have not come to a physical mountain, to a place of flaming fire, darkness, gloom, and whirlwind, as the Israelites did at Mount Sinai. 19 For they heard an awesome trumpet blast and a voice so terrible that they begged God to stop speaking. 20 They staggered back under God’s command: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.” 21 Moses himself was so frightened at the sight that he said, “I am terrified and trembling.” 22 No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering. 23 You have come to the assembly of God’s firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God himself, who is the judge over all things. You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect. 24 You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel. 25 Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven! 26 When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: “Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also.” 27 This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain. 28 Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. 29 For our God is a devouring fire.