Thursday 7 September 2023

Matthew 20:17-19

¹⁷ Now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. On the way, he took the Twelve aside and said to them, ¹⁸ “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death ¹⁹ and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!”

The parable of the “Vineyard workers” is immediately spoken by Jesus before this scripture is about the workmen who start work at varying times in the vineyard.  The owner “pays them the same amount” no matter how long they worked.  Jesus follows this passage by a teaching on serving others.   No matter when someone comes to the Kingdom, whether on their death bed or as a child, Jesus welcomes them in.   It is so not about “what or how much we do, give, serve, etc”.  We are saved by grace, and grace alone.  None of us are worthy.  HOWEVER, …

Jesus pulls his disciples aside to tell them about his soon death, exactly what will happen.  Religious leaders and teachers of the law will sentence Him; Romans will whip and crucify Him.   Judas is with them.

I think I would have said, “Jesus let’s go, let’s run away, we can get a boat and go to an island …”  But NO.  Jesus was born to die.  Without His death mankind would be lost – we would be lost.

You and I have been “bought” for a price and a purpose.  Our lives should not be predominately about having fun, doing what we want, etc…  It should be focussed on God’s purpose and plan every day of our lives.  There are opportunities waiting for all of us – every day.

As I waited for the train this morning to go to town, I spoke with a man on his way to funeral.  I said I was a Pastor…and then he shared about the very deep faith of the colleague who died (from cancer in her 50’s).  I decided to challenge him to see the world as spiritual not just physical … I spoke a seed of truth and asked him to consider Jesus.

What does God want you to do? 

Lord Jesus, give us courage at every opportunity to share the hope that we have in us.  Lord, open our eyes and ears to those who are searching for truth, those searching for more.  Give us courage and the right words, to help them begin a search for YOU.  In Jesus name, Amen

Written by Ps. Sue Botta