Day #32: February 1, 2009 - Matthew 19:23 - 20:16

A new month. Time passes so quickly. For my own peace of mind and soul, I want to make sure I'm not just spinning my wheels here with this blog, and that it is actually a benefit. So, in this next week, would you mind shooting me an email to share the benefit, if any, this daily blog through the New Testament has had? pastormike@covsanramon.org

This morning, we see read in this passage that Jesus looked at his disciples and taught them a lesson from this incident with the rich young man. Jesus explained that it was very hard for a rich person to get into the Kingdom of Heaven (not impossible, but hard). Jesus used a common Jewish proverb of a camel unable to go through the eye of a needle to describe the difficulty of the rich entering God’s Kingdom. Wealth can be a stumbling block. The rich, with most of their basic physical needs met, often become self-reliant. When they feel empty, they can buy something new to dull the pain that was meant to drive them toward God. Their abundance and self-sufficiency become their deficiency. People who have everything on earth can still lack what is most important—eternal life.

The disciples wondered what Jesus meant. The Jews looked upon wealth as a blessing from God, a reward for being good, a sign of his special favor. If the rich—those who from the disciples’ vantage point seemed to be first in line for salvation—cannot be saved, then who in the world can be saved? In reality, it is not just the rich who have difficulty, for salvation is not possible for anyone from a human standpoint. No one can be saved by his or her wealth, achievements, talents, or good deeds: Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But the situation is not hopeless, for God has an entirely different plan: With God everything is possible. Salvation cannot be earned; God gives it to us as a gift.

Peter mentioned that the disciples had given up everything to follow Jesus. Peter’s question, “What will we get out of it?” emphasizes that the disciples had done the ultimate in self-denial and had followed Jesus’ call. While Peter’s question seems somewhat selfish, he was merely thinking about rewards from the standpoint of his Jewish background. In the Old Testament, God rewarded his people according to his justice, and obedience often brought reward in this life (Deuteronomy 28). But Jesus explained to Peter that obedience and immediate reward are not always linked. If they were, good people would always be rich, and suffering would always be a sign of sin. The disciples’ true reward (and ours) was God’s presence and power through the Holy Spirit. The reward also includes the assurance of salvation and eternal life.

Peter and the other disciples had paid a high price—leaving their homes and jobs—to follow Jesus. But Jesus reminded them that following him has its benefits as well as its sacrifices. The Jews looked forward to a restoration at the messianic age at the end of the world based on Old Testament prophecy (Isaiah 65:17; 66:22). They believed that a golden age similar to the days when David ruled the kingdom would be restored. This would occur when the Son of Man is seated on his glorious throne in the Kingdom. Jesus made it clear that this was an event still in the future. The disciples had been hoping that it would happen immediately, but Jesus’ constant talk of his coming death made them wonder what would happen to them in this whole scenario and who would rule in Jesus’ absence.

Jesus clarified that the time would come when he would rule. They, in turn, would sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. This may refer to the apostles ruling the tribes of Israel at Christ’s return. The exact time and nature of that role is not specified. But it may also picture the disciples overseeing the church, which will have a prominent place in God’s plan. Jesus assured the disciples that anyone who gave up something valuable for his sake would be repaid a hundred times over, although not necessarily in the same form. For example, someone may be rejected by his or her family for accepting Christ, but he or she will gain the larger family of believers with all the love it has to offer.

Here is the answer to the rich young ruler’s question about how to obtain eternal life. Jesus explained that by submitting to his authority and rule, making him top priority over all else, and giving up anything that hinders following him, each person can have eternal life. For the rich young man, that meant giving up money as his idol. For each person the sacrifice may be different, though no less difficult. We may have little or much, but are we willing to give it all up in order to have eternal life?

Jesus had already shown that the “greatest” are like “little children”. In the world to come, the values of this world will be reversed. Those who believe but who still seek to be important here on earth will be the least in heaven. Jesus may have been referring to the disciples’ mixed-up motives. They had given up everything and hoped for rewards and for status in God’s Kingdom. Jesus explained that yearning for position would cause them to lose any position they might have. Christ’s disciples who have humbly served others are most qualified to be great in heaven. Rewards in heaven are not given on the basis of merit or “time served” or other earthly standards. What matters in heaven is a person’s commitment to Christ. Radical discipleship is a willingness to follow totally and accept the consequences, a willingness to surrender everything to and for the service of Christ. It is the only path to reward.

In this next parable of the workers in the vineyard, we see that God is the owner, believers are the workers, and the vineyard is the Kingdom of Heaven. The landowner went out early one morning to find some workers to whom he agreed to pay the normal daily wage. Then the owner went out again at nine o’clock in the morning and hired more workers. They agreed to be paid whatever was right at the end of the day. He did the same thing at noon and again at five o’clock that evening. These last men were willing to work for that last hour, even though they would not earn much money.

At evening (referring to sunset), the workers were called to collect the day’s wages. This was required by Jewish law so that the poor would not go hungry (Leviticus 19:13; Deuteronomy 24:14-15). The landowner paid a full day’s wage even to those hired at five o’clock. When those who worked less time received a full day’s wage, the laborers who had been hired earlier and had worked throughout the day assumed they would receive more. (more tomorrow)

SO WHAT (what will I do with what i have read today?)

I am impressed with the price that the disciples paid to be followers of Christ. They left their lives as they knew them - they left their jobs. They were away from their families for long periods of time. They were persecuted and downtrodden. They were mocked and ridiculed. They were despised and rejected. Yet, by faith they believed and followed. I am reminded of Hebrews 11 - the hall of faith. (here's a short sample of the price paid by those who preceded us in the faith)

"...and what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated -- the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground." Hebrews 11:32-38 (NIV)

Drew (my son) and I were talking yesterday about Dietrich Bonhoeffer's book - "The Cost of Discipleship". Bonhoeffer predicted way back in 1931 that the church would begin to water down the message of the Gospel and soon thereafter would have little or no effect on culture because of a neutralized generation of believers. Lord, help COV be a church that bucks that trend. Raise up true disciples here. Raise up folks who will live out Luke 10:27.

PRAYER

Lord, give us the proper balance between reaching those who don't know you with the message of hope and love and mercy and grace and forgiveness. But, Lord help us also spell out clearly the cost of following You. Give Sharon and Kelsey and Matt and Drew and Katie and Emily a heart to follow You and pay whatever price is associated with following You. Lord, help me set the pace and be the example. Give the people of COV a heart to leave the comfort and security "zones" of life and follow hard after You. Give them a heart to pay the price.

Anytime, anyplace with anyone at whatever cost.

And Lord, walk with Pastor Dave and Cathy and their entire family. We ask once again that You would heal Pastor Dave. Give them the grace and strength to walk through these days. In light of this Pastor Dave' scan, put it on the hearts of our people at COV to care for them and be the hands and feet of Christ to them.