My 2016 Lenten Journey--Day 37

March 17, 2016 ~ Day 37

My 2016 Lenten Journey: Exploring the Gospels to discover what following Jesus and becoming more like him would look like? ‘And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (John 12:32 NRSV)

Matthew 11:20-30 ~ Woes (the opposite of blessings) are pronounced on the cities that have rejected the good news of the kingdom. In chapter 10 the disciples have been sent out to proclaim that “good news;” and now we read that the message was not entirely welcomed!

The religious leaders of the nation rejected the King and His offer of the Kingdom. In the first place, he denounced them for their sin and hypocrisy, and they did their best to stir up the common people to reject him. In the second place, they wanted a political kingdom of their own making—a kingdom that would extend their power and control. Jesus’ kingdom was about serving.

And so, Jesus says, “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.” His words are confirmed by history: his kingdom has been received by people from virtually every ethnicity. It no longer is exclusively a Jewish movement.

Jesus then goes into a prayer of thanksgiving that the kingdom is being received by those for whom it was most intended, namely, the powerless.

Finally, the passage ends with the familiar saying—all too often taken out of context—“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (vs 28-30)

The burden of serving is always easier than the burden of sustaining control and power. Someone is always challenging those in power—for many reasons.

In the closing invitation Jesus is calling again: “Come… Take my yoke.” The first articulation of the call was, “Follow me.” That’s a term applied to students. Interns. Apprentices. Now the apprentices are being offered a partnership.

I think it was Coach John Wooden who said, “There is no limit to what you can accomplish if you don’t care who gets the credit.” Am I humble enough to take up Jesus’ yoke of servanthood and to forgo all those aspirations of greatness and recognition and power?

Whoever has seen me has seen the Father (John 14:9 NRSV)

‘And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (John 12:32 NRSV).

That's the way it looks through the flawed glass that is my world view.

Together in the Walk,

Jim