STILL Not Getting It

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 5

Psalm 5 ESV

To the choirmaster: for the flutes. A Psalm of David. Give ear to my words, O Lord; consider my groaning. Give attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you do I pray. O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch. For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you. The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers. You destroy those who speak lies; the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man. But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house. I will bow down toward your holy temple in the fear of you. Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your way straight before me. For there is no truth in their mouth; their inmost self is destruction; their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue. Make them bear their guilt, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out, for they have rebelled against you. But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you. For you bless the righteous, O Lord; you cover him with favor as with a shield.

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 53:7-9

Isaiah 53:7–9 ESV

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.

Sermon

Good Morning Church! I was glad when they said to me let us go and worship in the house of the Lord!

There are some words that I usually try to live by. It is great advice: “Don’t feed the trolls" Translation, there are people on the internet that seem to have as their sole purpose in life to be annoying and dumb and stir up drama and ignorance. These people are called trolls and some of the best advice that You could ever receive is to not engage them, just don’t even start. you will never change their minds and a fight with them will only serve to raise your blood pressure and get you mad, which is more than likely their entire purpose.

Why do I bring this up? Well it is because this week I didn’t follow my own advice. I found myself on what I thought was a message board for reformed people and i saw what I THOUGHT was an honest question. Hey, I thought, I have some knowledge in this area, I can be a help to someone here, I thought. But then, the truth of this person was revealed they were just looking to pick a fight. And here is where I failed. The correct response I should have had is immediately log off and pretend like it never happened. If I were to do that I would have wasted maybe 10 minutes in my initial response. not a great tragedy. Then it would be a “fool me once” sort of situation. But no. Pride and annoyance took over. and i allowed this person to live rent fee in my mind all day. Back and forth for no value. By the time I got to the end of the day i had to tell Desiree, if you EVER see me responding to anything online ever again stop me. So you might be thinking: Why do you bring this up? 2 reasons. One is I am desperately seeking to find a way to redeem my time wasted, so using it as a sermon illustration seemed like my best option. but 2 it is because while I have no idea the heart of the people that I interact with on the internet, we have for us in scripture story after story of our Lord and savior interacting with people perfectly. He sees through to their hearts, he knows the intentions and the thoughts of all men and so he perfectly interacts with them. And so Today I would like to see how Our savior teaches and works with people who, in honesty are much better than internet trolls, but who just cannot seem to understand him.

WE will be covering Matthew 20:17-28 this morning, but I would like to approach it a little differently than we would normally. Instead of reading the whole thing, we are going to break it up into chunks to properly understand the teaching of Jesus. So lets start with the first portion, Matthew 20:17-19

Matthew 20:17–19 ESV

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.”

These are the words of the Lord for us this morning, Lets open with a word of Prayer.

Our Holy Father in Heaven, Powerful Mighty and Holy is your name. We thank you for the precious gift of your son. Given that we might find life and healing, restoration and full pardon form all our sins. thank you for your grace and mercy. Thank you for making a way for us to be reconciled back to you. Thank you for the spirit at work within us, moving us, shaping us, changing us into the image of jesus Chrsit our Lord. Thank you for your word, given that we might know you., open our eyes and ears, speak today through your servant and through your word. May you be glorified in all this. In Jesus name we pray. AMEN

This is not the first time Jesus has predicted this would happen, its not even the second time that he has said that he has predicted his death and Resurrection, but rather the third.

Matthew 16:21 ESV

From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.

Then Matthew 17:22-23

Matthew 17:22–23 ESV

As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day.” And they were greatly distressed.

But if we pay attention the details are getting more clear, the suffering is brought more into focus. In the first one he will “suffer many things, and be killed” in the second he will be “delivered into the hands of men and be killed.” But here, he pulls the disciples off to the side and tells them point blank. We are going to Jerusalem, but it IS NOT going to be the fun and happy and victorious march that you may have in mind.. I will be delivered up before the chief priests, but not just that, they will hand me over to the gentiles, but It is not as if I will just languish in Prison, no, i will be MOCKED, FLOGGED and CRUCIFIED.

and here really is what I would call the beginning of the beginning of the end. From here to the end of chapter 20 we wrestle with Jesus prediction here and then starting in 21 we are at the end. Chapter 21 starts with the triumphal entry, and we are in Jerusalem where these things Jesus has predicted will take place.

WE have the benefit of knowing the end of the story, we know what will happen, for from our point of view it HAS happened. but this all must have been very strange for the disciples. Peter has once before been rebuked for not understanding what Jesus is talking about here, and in his defence and to his credit we don’t have recorded here that he will disagree with What Jesus said, maybe he is starting to get it, maybe he just assumes that this is more parables or just some of the crazy things Jesus says, Either way Jesus has now laid it on the line. and (spoiler alert) the people around ate STILL not going to be getting it. Because frankly NONE of it makes sense.

He is the messiah, the Christ the son of the living God. it is not for him to suffer humiliation. This is the one we have been waiting for to save us to deliver us, to REDEEM us. WE are going to Jerusalem, our deliverer and the one who will free us is here. It doesn't make sense that he would go to die. and so this misunderstanding or this refusal in some way to understanding Jesus plays out.

And it is here we find our first interaction. This one with two of his disciples and their Mother.

Matthew 20:20–23 ESV

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.”

If our thought is that people are still not getting it, this first interaction highlights a misunderstanding of who Jesus is.

The First Interaction: Misunderstanding JESUS

It is a misunderstanding where they do not understand who he is and what he truly came for.

I went through many iterations on how to frame and how to make these points. At first I had folly, or even words that hinted at sin, but I landed on misunderstanding, because I want to point out that we are quick to label these things as sin or folly but I don’t think that is the right attitude to go with here. The mother of the sons of Zebedee comes and shew comes humbly. She kneels before Jesus. And what she is asking for I don’t think is most proper to read as “my sons are the best, they deserve the best, i want this for my sons forget everyone else.” I just do not read that attitude here. She comes before him verse 20 Kneeling. She wants to ask Jesus something. Jesus I have a request. it is Jesus who seeks this information from her. and truly what mother would not want the best for her sons?

She comes in faith knowing what peter has seen and said, this is the Messiah, this is the one who will rule and reign. This is the one we have been waiting for, and so she asks: “my sons who have given up everything top follow you” The mother is here, we don;t read of any father, maybe he is done with these boys and their following after folly in Jesus, maybe he just wishes they would come back to the family business, we do not really know their whole situation and story. But his mother sees in Jesus her hopes and her dreams for her beloved sons.

It turns out She was right. her sons are given a position of high blessing and honor. they are and forever will live in a position of great esteem and honor. They went from, the way the disciples are described in acts, maybe not in particular these two but this was the general consensus of the disciples these are “uneducated common men”. Had they not been disciples of Jesus they would have disappeared into the obscurity of history. but she didn’t understand how jesus would make this all happen. “Let my two sons sit on your right and left hand when you come into the kingdom”. Jesus said, verse 22 “you do not know what you are asking.” it is not going to be that easy. We are heading to Jerusalem so that I may be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes. They will condemn me to death then hand me over to the gentiles so that I may be mocked, flogged and crucified. Do you want your sons to endure even that?

Practically speaking there are a lot of lessons here. the cost of following Jesus. our inability possibly as parents to understand what God is doing and working in our children and so therefore our need to trust God in all things especially for our children, he knows what is best for them. I think that is all here. But at the heart of it this mom does not understand who Jesus is and what he truly came to do.

Because Rome was not the enemy, though it was an oppressor. ROME was not the problem, though it was A problem. The problems of all mankind are sin and death and Jesus came to conquer THOSE enemies. So you do not know what your are asking. But after saying that he turns to his two disciples. If we read carefully. In verse 17 we are told he took the twelve aside and gave them the full explanation at the center of our text today. So it makes sense form that point of view that the mom wouldn’t know what she is asking. but he looks to these two. To James and John and asks them: are you able to drink from this cup?

The cup of God’s wrath. the cup that Jesus himself will ask: let this cup pass from me nevertheless not my will but yours be done. This Cup, sons of Zebedee, are you able to drink from it. They said: WE ARE ABLE. We can do this. again, we know the end of the story. They were not initially. as jesus is being delivered they are hiding and cowering. i don’t blame them, I don't think any of us would be doing much better. But they didn’t understand what the cost would be.

The beauty and before we move on to the next misunderstanding I want to see the promise. Jesus tells them: you will drink my cup. OK you are right. It may take you time and you may fail at first, and it is not for you in this first trip to jerusalem to suffer this, but don’t worry, you will. We don’t think this way, but by the grace of God you will get to become martyrs. Exiles. Hated by the world for the sake of following Christ. and yet, disciples, beloved followers of the living God. the one who will, we just read about it in chapter 19: Matthew 19:28 “Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

Jesus is faithful to teach us and show us, though wee often do not have a full and rich understanding of what he is calling us to he will prepare us. I fact, our ignorance is often what he uses to get us into the positions he has called us too. If I would have known the particular struggles and trials that would accompany the calling he placed on my life I may have chosen differently. but now, being in it and knowing the beauty and highs to which this position has i would not trade it for all the comfort and ease in the whole wide world. he prepares us, and he blesses us.

But now I would like to turn our attention to the second misunderstanding or second interaction in our passage, because now it is the other 10 disciples.

Matthew 20:24 “And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers.”

OK. Bro, you called your mom in. Like you needed her to fight your battles? You guys brought your MOM in to rack up sympathy or what? Like, you didn;t want to actually duke it our with us, you didn;t want to try and earn this you went for the cheap pity route and brought in your MOM? that's weak guys.

Jesus hears this then verse 25 and following:

Matthew 20:25–28 ESV

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.”

The disciples misunderstanding even knowing and hearing these thighs, and Jesus is telling them i am going to be crucified and all of these things they still do not understand the nature of the KINGDOM

The second interaction: Misunderstanding THE KINGDOM

So whereas in the first interaction, the misunderstanding is who is Jesus what did he truly come to do and how is he going to accomplish that but HERE we come back to the disciples and there is STILL misunderstanding about how the kingdom works. the kingdom they have been proclaiming mind you. The kingdom they have been tasked to proclaim: The kingdom of heaven is at hand. And they have been going out and doing this. The kingdom of heaven is here but they don’t even understand the nature of the kingdom.

Even after We had Jesus trotting literately bringing children in front of them and saying: BE LIKE THIS. Even after we had lessons Just last week “The first shall be last and the last first” twice! Matthew 19:30 “But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” Matthew 20:16 “So the last will be first, and the first last.””

This arguing about left and right and who is going to sit where and they don’t understand that is not how the kingdom works.

Be a servant

It is almost as if, the disciples are upset at these two sons of Zebedee because there mom comes in and asks for this position of honor and they think that is mine, but these other 10 should be coming and saying: We love them too, yes Jesus, give them a position of honor. In humility make others more important than yourself. Paul would say:

Have this mind among you which is yours in Christ Jesus who, though he was in the form of God did not count equality with God as a thing to be grasped but humbled himself even to the point of death even death on a cross.

The high king of heaven, God incarnate, god made flesh has entered into creation. he therefore is due, he deserves, and is worthy of all glory honor and praise. he has all dominion and power and strength and might and yet, verse 28 he didn't come to be served, but TO serve. In the most profound and important way possible. to give his life as a ransom for many. To in himself, build the kingdom. Where we are all being join together with Christ as the head and chief cornerstone, built on the foundation of the prophets and the apostles. So here these 10 are all arguing, how dare you two, James and john, getting your mom to fight your battles. Peter stands us Hey guys don’t you remember the whole “on this rock thing” that's me, where are you coming from with this whole we get to be left and right stuff? Judas, probably really upset and possibly even now thinking how he can profit just thinks I want to be first, the money and the wealth. but here all of them are verse 10 again, INDIGNANT.

But they misunderstand the nature of the kingdom. they misunderstand the nature of what Jesus came to build they must, verse 26: Matthew 20:26 “It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,”

The nature of the kingdom, this is they way I like to think through it and how I like to teach it. Jesus Chrsit, is our LORD and our savior and our king. He came to serve. he cane to be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes that they would condemn him to death then hand him over to the gentiles to be MOCKED and FLOGGED and CRUCIFIED. that is what he came for. if that is the position of your king, how should we live our lives? there is no room for selfishness or pride, but rather humble adoration and service to God and the people around us.

There is an old chorus that I believe is very applicable here. I first remember hearing this song on an old cassette tape of Psalty the singing songbook. If you are not familiar you are missing out. A cassette for kids with a bunch of songs and stories. Filled with drama, a lot like adventures in odyssey but less adventures and more singing hymnals. But that is all besides the point, here is the chorus:

Make me a servant, Humble and meek

Lord let me lift up those who are weak

and may the prayer of my heart always be

Make me a servant

Make me a servant

Make me a servant today!

That is how we are to understand the kingdom. Lets Pray.

PRAY