Opportunities in the vineyard
Key Verses: 2, 10, 15, 18-19, 21, 25, 33
This story gets at the root of the religious leaders’ problem with Jesus offering forgiveness to everyone, especially the worst of humanity. They thought they had been doing what they were supposed to be doing to please God. They were out there working. They had been working since the beginning. Now Jesus is offering the prize to people who show up at the last minute. It isn’t fair! They don’t want Jesus to extend grace to the Gentiles.
Jesus again lays out before His disciples the reality of His coming trials, death and resurrection. Matthew records this here to, I think, help his readers see that grace isn’t fair. The two sons of Zebedee want the power positions, or at least their mother wants it for them. (A couple of mama’s boys!) But He tells them that there is a price attached to those positions. They will pay a price, but it is not something that can be bargained with. Power in the Kingdom is not determined by length of service. Instead, giving your life for others places you at the top. He came to give His life for us. The disciples need to learn to serve like this.
Jesus has bottom up leadership. Servants lead. The blind men know exactly what they want, their sight. Even the crowds try to put them in their place, but Jesus flips ‘important’ on its head. These two men who are at the bottom of the ‘important’ list get Jesus’ grace. These blind men lived at the edge of society. So often, illnesses were considered God’s punishment. Therefore those with blindness received the “you got what you deserved” look. They would also be avoided, just in case it is catching. And yet Jesus touches them (a forbidden activity), and He heals and restores them.
We can’t expect positions of leadership based on our ‘important’ list. Jesus sees the heart. He wants servants, not celebrities. He wants to be the center of attention and adoration, because He deserves it. He is the ultimate servant. I wonder if we had a TV show called The Ultimate Servant if anyone would watch?
The Arnold Journey 