OzThoughts Wednesday 11th March 2009.

OzThoughts Wednesday 11th March 2009.

(Please forward this OzThoughts to your friends).

“They just don’t get it!” How often have you heard those words? Certainly we could be excused for thinking that about the Disciples as we read today’s portion of Scripture from Matthew’s Gospel.

Matthew Chapter 20 records that Jesus was teaching his Disciples about exactly what would happen soon when they arrived in Jerusalem:
When we get there, the Son of Man will be betrayed to the religious leaders and scholars. They will sentence him to death. They will then hand him over to the Romans for mockery and torture and crucifixion. On the third day he will be raised up alive." (part of 17-19 )

Matthew then tells us about the request from the mother of two of the Disciples that they, James and John, should have the highest place in the Kingdom. Jesus answers her and involves James and John in his answer.

22 Jesus responded, "You have no idea what you're asking." And he said to James and John, "Are you capable of drinking the cup that I'm about to drink?"
They said, "Sure, why not?"
23 Jesus said, "Come to think of it, you are going to drink my cup. But as to awarding places of honour, that's not my business. My Father is taking care of that."

Jesus contrasts the way worldly rulers dominate others with the way it will be in God’s Kingdom:

26 – 28 It's not going to be that way with you. Whoever wants to be great must become a servant. Whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave. That is what the Son of Man has done: He came to serve, not be served—and then to give away his life in exchange for the many who are held hostage."

How do we respond to Jesus teaching and example in the way we live?

[Listen:
Vocal Solo: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_1139.mp3

or

Piano and organ: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/songs/songs_111.mp3 ]

And is it so? A gift from me
Dost thou, dear Lord, request?
Then speak thy will, whate'er it be:
Obeying, I am blest.
Chorus
I have not much to give thee, Lord,
For that great love which made thee mine:
I have not much to give thee, Lord,
But all I have is thine.

And dost thou ask a gift from me:
The talents I possess?
Such as I have I give to thee
That others I may bless.

And dost thou ask a gift from me:
The gift of passing time?
My hours I'll give, not grudgingly,
I feel by right they're thine.

And dost thou ask a gift from me:
A loving, faithful heart?
'Tis thine, for thou on Calvary
For me with all didst part.
Author: Richard Slater (1854-1939)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 475

Matthew 20:17-28 (The Message)
17-19 Jesus, now well on the way up to Jerusalem, took the Twelve off to the side of the road and said, "Listen to me carefully. We are on our way up to Jerusalem. When we get there, the Son of Man will be betrayed to the religious leaders and scholars. They will sentence him to death. They will then hand him over to the Romans for mockery and torture and crucifixion. On the third day he will be raised up alive."
20 It was about that time that the mother of the Zebedee brothers came with her two sons and knelt before Jesus with a request.
21 "What do you want?" Jesus asked.
She said, "Give your word that these two sons of mine will be awarded the highest places of honor in your kingdom, one at your right hand, one at your left hand."
22 Jesus responded, "You have no idea what you're asking." And he said to James and John, "Are you capable of drinking the cup that I'm about to drink?"
They said, "Sure, why not?"
23 Jesus said, "Come to think of it, you are going to drink my cup. But as to awarding places of honour, that's not my business. My Father is taking care of that."
24-28 When the ten others heard about this, they lost their tempers, thoroughly disgusted with the two brothers. So Jesus got them together to settle things down. He said, "You've observed how godless rulers throw their weight around, how quickly a little power goes to their heads. It's not going to be that way with you. Whoever wants to be great must become a servant. Whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave. That is what the Son of Man has done: He came to serve, not be served—and then to give away his life in exchange for the many who are held hostage."
[ In preparation for Easter read a Christian book during Lent which is now. ]


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