True Greatness (2)

Jesus demonstrates, and calls us to, true greatness: not to be served but to serve

Intro me

As we pick up the story this morning, Jesus is starting the final leg of his long journey to Jerusalem. This is something that’s been coming for a long time … but now it’s really nearly there. Most of you will know the way Jesus’ story will end, or at least seem to end, in Jerusalem so it’s hard for us to approach today’s story without “turning the page” in our minds; like reading the rest of a book after you’ve snuck ahead to that last chapter, or watching a movie after you’ve googled to check the hero survives.

The people inside today’s story don’t know where things are going, though. To be fair, at least some of them really should. Jesus has pretty much straight up read that last chapter to his disciples, giving them not just vague, difficult to interpret indications, but an explicit picture of what lies ahead in gory detail. The disciples really ought to be looking at one another as this final journey begins and saying, “I’ve got a bad feeling about this..”

It’s maybe one day’s walk from Jericho, where we start today, into Jerusalem - into the final scene. It’s a pretty serious walk, though. Who here has climbed Ben Nevis? Who’s been up the main path from near Fort William? Nice job, well done! I once watched someone carrying a mountain bike up - overtaking me, then riding it back down past me!

Fun trivia for the day: Jericho is the lowest inhabited city on earth, 846 feet below sea level. So the journey from Jericho to Jerusalem runs from -846 feet to plus about 2,474 feet - almost exactly climbing Ben Nevis in both length and height - so you can do it in a day, but it’s a fair old walk. We’re, like, one day, one walk, away from the final chapter.

And as we pick up the story, Jesus is busy saving the world - quite literally. In the eyes of the disciples with him and probably many of the crowd surrounding them, we’re on our way to the final showdown between hero and villain. This is it. The thrilling conclusion. The baddies are going to get it. See, they still don’t understand what Jesus really has in mind, what will really happen in this final scene - but at least they do understand this is it. Jesus’ moment has come.

Imagine the cinema version of this: The sun is rising over the ancient walls of Jericho as the city wakes, wood smoke and the smells of breakfast fill the air. The camera is behind Jesus as he gathers up his things and packs them away, preparing to set out . And as the musical score swells, he rises, turns to the camera, and we see his face, resolved, firmly resolved, set on the mission ahead of him: it’s time. He’s ready to tackle the arch villain - and nothing, nothing will stop him.

That’s the vibe as we dig in again to the next section of the story of Jesus as told by Matthew, one of his first followers. So let’s read together - and Rachel/Abraham is reading for us today. Come with me to Matthew chapter 20 and verse 29. Page 988 in our blue bibles. Matthew chapter 20 verse 29.

Matthew 20:29–34 NIV

As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. “Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.” Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.

Jesus is the proverbial man on a mission as he sets out for Jerusalem. The crowd follows along, right behind him, eager in anticipation. It’s showtime…

Then, in the background of our movie shot, almost unnoticed as the camera pans around to follow Jesus, we see two poor blind beggars just outside the city walls. Helpless and hopeless, with nothing ahead of them in life except struggle and dependency. Just one more story of pain and desperation in a world that would have been full to the brim of that. With no free healthcare, no modern medicine, no welfare state, no disability payments... There must have been thousands of people in similar situations. So it’s just another insignificant detail that can just be walked past and put aside as our story unfolds.

Then their voices interrupt our scene as they step out of the background and into the foreground. The least of the least, in the lowest place, are crying out for Jesus’ attention. “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” Two nobodies are trying to interrupt the great hero as he sets out on his ultimate mission. Trying to distract him from the earth-shatteringly important things he has ahead of him. Just who do they think they are?

Well, ironically, it’s the blind who truly see. “Lord,” they call him - that is, master, sir. The way you address someone in authority - and, in Matthew’s gospel, the way disciples, the way followers of Jesus, always address him. Somehow, these two blind men have seen something in Jesus. And there’s more:

“Son of David” they call him - that’s King David, the great King David, the high-point of Israel’s long story. But he lived about one thousand years before Jesus… What do they mean by calling Jesus his son? Are they just confused? No, since the days of king David, God’s people have been waiting for the one God promised would succeed him, metaphorically his “son”, picking up his royal sceptre, his royal calling. As Messiah, as the anointed one, this true “Son of David” would lead God’s people into victory - after a thousand years of defeat.

These blind men have seen clearly who Jesus truly is. And if you have good memory, you might feel a bit of deja vu here because way back in chapter 9 we already met two blind men - and they also saw who Jesus truly was, using this same title, seeing clearly who Jesus truly was. I don’t think this echo is an accident at all, or like some scholars want to claim, a careless copy and paste error, just the exact same story showing up twice.

These are chapter markers. Last time, the blind men seeing Jesus was truly this promised Son of David were told to keep it a secret. Jesus’ time hadn’t come. This time there’s no call to secrecy at all: the time has come. Jesus is about to very publicly and visibly own this title, play this role.

But wait, we’re jumping ahead. “Shove off, he’s busy” say the crowd. A bit like the disciples to those unimportant children a few weeks back. Jesus has important things to do - and he does. Jesus has important people to see - and he does. Jesus is focused on his mission - and he is. So shove off you unimportant distractions, say the crowd: we’re going to Jerusalem for the thrilling conclusion.

But these two blind men just won’t take ‘no’ for an answer. They don’t back down - they shout all the louder, making a right nuisance of themselves. “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”

Why are they making such a fuss? Why can’t they see Jesus has more important things to do? That they should shut up and sit down and get out the way? Because they are desperate and Jesus is unique. It’s not take-it-or-leave it for them: just one more potential donor passing by - another will be along shortly. It’s not just moderately important to them to get Jesus’ attention. It’s everything. It’s life and death. And it is a good thing they don’t back down despite the crowd - because this will be their only, their last chance to get his attention. Jesus will never pass this way again.

Now we’re going to hit pause for a moment right here. I have two important things to say.

First, mercy from Jesus is not just moderately important; it’s not like you could get mercy from Jesus or … or something else just as good might come your way from another quarter: you could get a new job, win some money on the lottery, meet that special someone. It’s all or nothing - like it was for those beggars. Either this whole Christianity thing is a total hoax, an utter waste of your time and life. Or it’s all real, and true - and of ultimate, eternal consequence, nothing more significant in the whole world. It cannot be just moderately important. That is utterly illogical given Christianity’s claims.

True Christianity is not something you can use to scratch that spiritual itch in your life. It’s not something you can just dabble in or make a hobby of among other things. Either this [bible] is either total junk, false, lies, messing up our lives and our world for nothing. Or this is really, actually, all true and it should shape your whole life. So which is it for you?

Maybe you’ve been dipping your toe into this for a while now. Paddling at the edge but careful not to get too deep. Hearing what we have to say, considering your options, weighing things up. Well, here’s the second important thing I need to say: mercy from Jesus will not always be available to you. Jesus was passing by and they had to get his attention - because he would never pass that way again.

One day it will be your last opportunity to call out to Jesus. And here’s the thing: you will not know it. You cannot see what’s ahead. Maybe you think you’re young, you’re healthy, you take care of yourself - so there will be another day to figure this out. But that’s not always true. No one knows when their last day will be. When Jesus will be passing by for the very last time. Maybe you’re older - but still, people live a long time now, you don’t have any serious health issues, and hey, you’re not, like, really old yet.

Mercy from Jesus will not always be available to you. And it’s the most important thing in the world. Call out to him today. Don’t let him just pass by.

We don’t do this all the time but today I want to make space for you to take action right now, to call out to Jesus. Here’s a short prayer you can use, whoever you are, whatever you’ve done, to cry out to him right now. This could be your last opportunity - no-one ever knows. I’m going to pray it. Pray along with me.

[prayer]

God, I was going the wrong way. I’m sorry. I want to go the right way.

Thank you that Jesus did everything right, yet took the punishment for all my wrong when he died on the cross

Thank you that Jesus rose into new life, and that I can share that new life because of him.

I want to follow you now - so as best as I know how, I give you my life.

Did you pray that prayer? Well here’s the big news from our story: Faith gets to Jesus. Jesus stopped. He listened. He heard you. He touched you. And your life has changed in an instant - just like those blind men - whether you feel it or not. Please would you tell someone. Tell a friend. Tell me. If you’re online, tell our host. Let us help you get started in this new life - it is now yours.

...

Jesus is off to save the world - but their cry of faith gets to him. “He stopped.” He lets his urgent and critical mission be interrupted for those two blind men. And at first I thought his next words were a bit odd. “What do you want me to do for you?” Well, isn’t that really rather obvious, Jesus? Do you really not have a clue? These men are blind. Pretty easy to figure out what they will want, right?

Now some commentators suggest Jesus is giving the blind men an opportunity to exercise faith: their cry of “have mercy on us” would be the same as every other beggar, and most of the time all they were really looking for was some money. Jesus’ question gives them the opportunity to ask for something much greater - if they have the faith for it. But I think their faith has already been tested by the crowd’s rebuke, and demonstrated in them shouting all the louder, demonstrated in what they call out, who they see Jesus is.

As I’ve been reflecting on this passage, i think the better explanation for Jesus’ seemingly unnecessary question is that he is making a point. To his disciples. Demonstrating, acting out right in front of them, what he’s just been speaking about. If you were here with us last week, think back. Or look back - just one verse before today’s story. His question, “What do you want me to do for you?”, is the precisely the question of a servant. “How can I serve you?” Jesus is asking, demonstrating exactly what he’s just told his disciples

Matthew 20:28 (NIV)

the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve

Jesus again chooses service. Serving those God has put in front of him, serving those God has put in his path. Serving even though they are insignificant. Serving even though he has other things to do. Other important things. Other good things. Praise God, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve. Because service is mark of true greatness in God’s Kingdom. Jesus, the greatest of all, our model for life, serves.

Jesus has compassion on them. At his touch, they are immediately healed. And then, finally, notice their response: not “Yippee! Now let’s go see all those sights we’ve never seen!”, a quick thanks and off about their own business. But Immediately they received their sight and followed him.

And by “following Jesus”, Matthew our author doesn’t just mean they are going to go to the same places as him, just walk around in the same direction a step or two behind. When he uses this picture, talks about following Jesus, he means they become part of the group who are trying to learn from Jesus and become like Jesus - disciples, we often call them. Mt 4:20, 9:9, 16:24.

Now you might think, “of course they do - they were blind and now they can see!” of course they’d want to follow the one who did that for them. Well, Jesus hasn’t just given us our sight back, he’s given us our whole life back, brought us from death to life, the Bible says. We stood under God’s just judgement for all the wrong things we’ve done, said and thought; what those things earned for us was the only thing ahead of us: the wages of sin is death. And Jesus has taken that for us, and instead of that sure and certain death, given us life - his life, life to the full.

If people who’ve been given their sight back immediately follow Jesus, surely people who’ve been given their life back should do just the same! And if we’re following Jesus, what sort of life should we follow him into? A life that’s “not to be served, but to serve.” This should be the bedrock of every Christian life. Our tiny echo of Jesus’ greatness. A life filled with service to those God puts in our path.

But one final thing before we’re done: Notice with me that serving someone isn’t always doing what they want you to. Yes, Jesus asks the blind men that question, “what do you want me to do for you?”, and then he does it. But come back with me to the passage we studied last week. I wonder if you noticed Jesus asks a pretty similar question there, too:

Matthew 20:20–21 (NIV)

Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons ... “What is it you want?” he asked. She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.”

That’s what she wants for them - or more likely what they want for themselves: To have power, greatness, significance, honour. So does Jesus go right ahead, do what they want and give them the great seats of the Kingdom? No - he serves them by saying “no”, and instead teaching them the path to true greatness: the way of service. Jesus came among us as one who serves - but one who serves with the deepest love and fullest understanding, one who serves for the truest good.

Your life might have you thinking “This is not serving me well Jesus, this problem, this pain, this difficulty, this pressure in my life.” Maybe you feel like you’re “blind” and you just want to see. You might be thinking “If you really were one who loved, one who served, Jesus, you’d make all this trouble just go away.” But we have to believe that Jesus is serving us with the deepest love and fullest understanding, serving for our truest good even though it’s hard.

He served us to the limit, giving up his life for us. That’s where our story is going: to the cross. How could we believe he would hold anything back, seeing him willingly go through with that for us? If Jesus isn’t “serving you” by doing what you want, the problem is not with Jesus. It’s with what you want. Let me say that again: If Jesus isn’t “serving you” by doing what you want, the problem is not with Jesus. It’s with what you want.

Serving someone isn’t always doing what they want you to. You don’t serve your children well by letting them stay up later and later every time they want. You don’t serve your boss well by being a yes-man, nodding at every word she says. You probably have friends who don’t want you to speak to them about Jesus any more - is doing what they want serving them well, truly best for them? Serving someone is doing what is best for them, not always what they want.

Let’s close with a minute to reflect quietly together. If I can invite the band back up, I want to ask us a series of questions to help us wrestle with all this before we sing together:

What do you most want Jesus to do for you?

What would Jesus do if he was truly serving you?

Who has God put in your path that you could serve?

What would truly serve them?

Will you do it, in love?

Jesus demonstrates, and calls us to, true greatness: not to be served but to serve