Read Matthew 20 online here.
Man of Sorrows! What a name
For the Son of God, who came
Born with a death sentence, every minute of Jesus’ life he knew his destiny and yet he kept doing the next thing. Always proceeding and forging on with preparing the people to understand the events that were going to take place in their lifetime.
They didn’t get it.
Three times in Matthew, Jesus tells his disciples, “I’m going to have to die.” The first time in Matthew 16:21, Peter vehemently denies that anything like that could ever happen. The second time in v.17:23, Matthew states simply that the disciples are "greatly distressed". And this third time in Matthew 20:18-19, Jesus gathers his core group and says, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!"(NIV). This time the proclamation is seemingly of no consequence since Zebedee’s wife can only think to ask for a place of honor for her sons.
We, like the people in Matthew 20, become so focused on the physical—what others have received, or what we “need” or deserve. We have a good case of the gimmes.
Gimme, gimme, gimme.
Gimme #1 – I deserve more; I worked longer and harder.
Gimme #2 – I’d like special recognition please.
Gimme #3 – I’d like a miraculous healing.
In the midst of the gimmes Jesus quietly reminds his closest followers, “Hey, I’m gonna die.”
Ruined sinners to reclaim.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
In the light of what you know about Jesus from scripture, can you hear that gentle voice in the midst of your prayers, deepest desires, and ... ?
The voice Jesus saying, “I gave it all; you’ve got everything you need.”
Get a case of the "you gots":
You Got #1 – completely forgiven/debt free
You Got #2 – adopted into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade, kept in heaven for you who through faith a shielded by God’s power until the coming of the Salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last times.
You Got #3 – a new life with a purpose.
Just as Jesus walked the earth always aware of what his earthly life would require of him; we too have a destiny and know what is required of us.
Lest I forget Thy thorn crowned brow,
Lead me to Calvary.
Today's article written by Cary Nodine.
1 comment:
Thanks, Cary, for your well thought out comments. Quite fitting to consider in our own lives the gimmmes and the gots. Your perspective has helped me today. I've got it all! Thank You, Jesus! P.
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