Phil Firth - Sunday, 2 April 2023
Being disciples together
Scripture References: Matthew 18:1-14, Psalms 14:1-7, Philippians 2:1-8
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Close“I am the greatest”. You probably know who made that statement. In his usual understated way, Mohammed Ali made this claim in February 1964, before one of his fights with Sonny Liston for the Heavyweight Boxing title of the world. He seems to have been generally applauded for it. In Matthew’s Gospel today, the question that immediately draws our attention is similar to Ali’s. “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Is this a question that should be occupying the disciples? Most of us won’t be “great” in worldly terms. But many of us want to do something significant in this world. The disciples’ question gives Jesus the opportunity to remind the disciples (and us) about how to gain entry into His kingdom and to also teach His disciples about what is valued in His kingdom. Importantly, Jesus does not stop there. He goes on to talk about how the members of His kingdom are to relate to each other as they live as His disciples. If we are to be true members of His kingdom, true disciples, we need to listen and learn as our King speaks.
Scripture References: Matthew 18:1-14, Psalms 14:1-7, Philippians 2:1-8
Related Topics: Matthew | More Messages from Phil Firth | Download Audio
Jesus has finally made it to Jerusalem. As Matthew prepares us for His entry into Jerusalem, he helps us confront Jesus’ authority, and the way in which it restores the concern of God for the outsider, and confronts the insider. This is the start of the Passover week. Jerusalem is a roiling maelstrom of religious and political fervour. And Matthew organises the narrative of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem around displays of His authority, rooted in recognition of His ‘old power’ – four Old Testament quotations structure the passage. As we come face-to-face with Jesus’ authority, three truths stand out. First, Jesus’ authority is extensive and all-encompassing. Second, Jesus’ authority is for the outsider, and rooted in God’s deep commitment to bring the outsider inside His kingdom. And, third, Jesus authority confronts the insider, and urges them to repentance. Come and meet Jesus, the King, in all His authority, as He enters Jerusalem!
What is greatness? In particular, what is greatness in the kingdom of God? That is the question addressed in the passage from Matthew today. Jesus is approached by two different groups. First, the family of Zebedee: James and John and their mother. Second, two blind men. Jesus asks both groups the same question “What do you want me to do for you?” What they request is quite revealing. And so is Jesus’ response to their requests. The Zebedees request position, status, reward for effort. The blind men request mercy, for their eyes to be open. Which request lines up with Jesus’ teaching previously? Which request do we tend to go to ourselves?
The Department of Home Affairs has an Australian Values Statement on its website. Visa applicants for residency/citizenship must sign this. And one of its key principles is that we are a ‘fair-go’ country. We would all agree with that. I suspect, too, that we would summarise our ‘fair go’ culture by stating that ‘you get what you deserve/what you work for’. In fact, many of us have established our relational, social and work ethics on this very principle. But is that what the ‘kingdom of heaven is like’? What is its value statement? What is the hallmark of such a kingdom, and its ruler, even its citizenship? Today, after Jesus has assured his disciples that the dependent will be provided for by their king, he now uses the same ideas to issue with them a warning not to abuse, misuse, ignore or become entitled in the face of the kingdom of heaven hallmark—which is grace.
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