Scripture

Jesus answered them by saying, “You will indeed drink from my bitter cup. But I have no right to say who will sit on my right or left. My Father has prepared these places for the ones He has chosen.”

Observation

Jesus takes the twelve disciples aside and tells them privately about His imminent death and resurrection.

The mother of James and John comes and asks Jesus to allow her sons to sit next to Him when He takes His Kingdom. Jesus replies that she doesn’t know what she is asking for. To follow Him means to drink from the same cup of suffering that He must drink.

He goes on to tell the disciples that anyone who wants to rule in His kingdom must first become a servant. Jesus came not to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.

Application

To follow Jesus means that we must be ready to suffer for Him and for His Kingdom.

The path of Jesus has always been as odds with the world and the demonic powers that control it. Suffering is almost inevitable.

The so-called prosperity gospel promises wealth and success to those who believe in Jesus. While it is true that God’s favour can result in earthly advancement, it is also true that the world hates those who follow Jesus.

Persecution has been the lot of the majority of christians in the ages. But their experience has been that there is enormous blessing in suffering. Suffering for the faith brings an added dimension of the presence of Christ that those who follow Him in a place of comfort cannot understand.

We do not go out looking to be persecuted, but when suffering comes we should not flee it. Christ is always with us.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, when times of testing come, may I be found faithful. Amen.

Scripture

“Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?”

Observation

Jesus tells a parable about a landowner who needs to hire workers for his vineyard. He goes out at dawn, 9 o’clock, noon, and again at 5 o’clock. He tells the workers at each stage he will pay them what is fair.

After sunset, he calls the workers and pays them all exactly the same amount- a full day’s wage. Those who were employed first argued with this. The landowner points out that they had agreed to work for the usual wage. If he paid the latecomers the same amount they were not cheated in any way.

Application

Everyone who labours in the Father’s vineyard gets the same reward regardless of how long they serve Him. We all get eternal life whether we are born christian, so to speak, or whether we meet Jesus minutes before we die.

To complain that one person does it very easy while another does not is to miss the whole point. We get to live forever with our Father.

We do not serve the Lord for a pay cheque. We serve Him in love.

Jacob served Laban for seven years to get Leah, whom he did not want, and another seven to get Rachel. He effectively worked 14 years for Rachel his beloved and not a day for Leah. Which did he love more?

The idea of working and receiving payment is the opposite of grace. Yet some people cannot help but think this way. “If I do this for God, He will save me.” They fail to see hat the price has been paid and our salvation does not depend on what we do for God.

Prayer

Thank you Father for the promise of heaven. I don’t have to do anything to earn your favour because you already love me. Hallelujah!

Scripture

“Everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life.”

Observation

A young man comes to Jesus and asks Him what he must do to have eternal life. Jesus tells him he just needs to keep the commandments.

The man tells Jesus he has kept them all. Jesus tells him he just needs to do one thing- to sell his possessions and give the money to the poor, and then come and follow Him.

Jesus tells the disciples that it is very hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. It is easier to pass a camel through the eye of a needle. He goes on to tell them that in the kingdom age, everyone who gives up anything for His sake will be rewarded a hundred times over, and will also inherit eternal life.

Application

The rich man was badly addicted to his money, or to be more accurate, the lifestyle his money made possible. He could not give that up, even for the sake of eternal life.

The pandemic has brought about immense changes to people’s lifestyles because of restrictions imposed by authorities. While many people have lost businesses built up over many years, the biggest question for many seems to be “When can I travel overseas?”

Jesus constantly nails the one thing we are dependent on and asks us to yield it to Him. He promises that whatever we yield to Him He will restore a hundred times over.

Bu tit is always the one thing I have set my heart on or worked hard for. He wants me to give that thing up, and I can’t because it is my identity, my achievement, my idol.

The good thing is that once we have decided that everything is His, we don’t even mind giving it up for Him.

Our idols keep us rooted in this planet. Jesus gives us vision for eternity. When we give it all to Him, He returns it and eternity as well.

Prayer

Lord, please show me the idols of my heart, and give me grace to surrender them to you. Amen.