the last supper of heaven’s king

Posted on July 18, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

Matthew 26 29 Matthew 26:1-29.  The officials in Jerusalem are even now plotting to have Jesus arrested and killed.  A woman anoints him with expensive oil, and Jesus allows the extravagance because she is preparing him for burial.  Judas conspires to betray him.  Jesus prepares for his last Passover, and celebrates it with his disciples.  He institutes a new ritual at the end of the celebration.  A simple snack of bread and wine symbolizes the most important event of all time.  His body is about to be broken, and his blood “poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (28).  Believers will celebrate God’s grace by partaking of this ritual from then on.  But he will not “until that day” that we will celebrate together at the marriage feast he has prepared.

LORD, may we never partake of communion without remembering that it is a celebration of grace – an anticipation of our mutual joy.

“until that day” (26:29).

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being ready for heaven’s king

Posted on July 17, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

Matthew 25 13 Matthew 25.  Jesus had taught his disciples that they “must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (24:44). He concludes his eschatological discourse with three parable illustrating the need for that readiness:

  1. Five foolish virgins had let their oil run out, and were off buying more when the Bridegroom came, so they were shut out of the wedding feast (1-13).
  2. One of the master’s servants refused to invest the resources given to him to invest.  He lost the little that he had (14-30).
  3. The “goat” people were surprised that their lack of kindness toward Jesus’ brothers was the measure by which they were judged and condemned (31-46).

LORD, may we keep ready, keep growing, and keep loving so that we are ready for the main event.

“watch therefore” (25:13).

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three questions for heaven’s king

Posted on July 16, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

Matthew 24 44 Matthew 24.  In verse 3, the disciples asked Jesus three questions about the future.  Each section of the eschatological discourse answers one of those questions.

Matthew 24:3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be,

and what will be the sign of your coming

and of the close of the age?”

  1. Jesus had predicted a generation in which ethnic Jews would kill, torture, and persecute his true followers (23:34-36).  The disciples asked when will these things happen.  Jesus answered “this generation”!  Within 40 years, the Jewish persecution of Christians would end with the desolation of the temple and the destruction of Jerusalem [70 AD] (15-22; 32-35).
  2. The disciples assumed that the destruction of Jerusalem would be the end of the age.  Jesus taught that the age would last a much longer time, with many signs appearing and disappearing throughout the age, like labor pains (3-14).
  3. The disciples did not want to miss Christ’s second coming.  Jesus taught that the coming could not be missed. It would be sudden, climactic, and unmistakable (23-31; 36-44).

LORD, make us wise servants, who take care of our master’s household until you return.

“you also must be ready” (24:44)

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children of hell and heaven’s king

Posted on July 15, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

Matthew 23 13 Matthew 23.  Jesus pronounces judgment upon the religious professionals in Jerusalem and warns his disciples not to follow their hypocrisy.  With seven prophetic woes, he condemns them for seven sins:

 

 

 

  1. They shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces (13-14),
  2. They make their converts children of hell (15),
  3. They are blind guides (16-22),
  4. They major in the minor things, and neglect the weightier matters (23-24),
  5. They appear clean on the outside, but are inwardly defiled (25-26),
  6. Their outward beauty covers deadness (27-28),
  7. They celebrate the righteous of the past but do not live it in the present (29-31).

He concludes his prophetic condemnation by predicting three things that he will elaborate on in the next chapter: the persecution of Christians, the destruction of the Jerusalem temple, and his second coming.

LORD, grant us the courage to be genuine in a world of counterfeits.  We want to be servants of heaven’s king, not children of hell.

“Woe to you”  (23:13)

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hard questions and heaven’s king

Posted on July 14, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

Matthew 22 46 Matthew 22:15-46.  The various religious and political parties in Jerusalem had decided to get rid of Jesus by publically humiliating him.  They each chose a hard question to ask him “to entangle him in his words.”

 

  1. Jesus shows the Pharisees and Herodians a coin, telling them to render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s (15-22).
  2. Jesus explains to the Sadducees that the hope of the resurrection is real because of who God is (23-33).
  3. Jesus tells the Pharisees that love is the greatest obedience (34-40).

Finally,  Jesus turns the whole event around by entangling the Pharisees in their own words.   He shows from Psalm 110 that the Messiah is more than the Pharisees say about him.

LORD, your wisdom surpasses all the intelligence of any age.  Give us the good sense to stay true to your words.

“… no one was able to answer him a word” (22:46)

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the source of heaven’s king

Posted on July 13, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

Matthew 21 42Matthew 21:28-22:14.  Jesus had been confronted by the chief priests and elders at Jerusalem. While he was teaching in the temple courts they demanded that he reveal the source of his ministry.  He would not tell them outright, but he did reveal his source in three parables.

  1. His source was the Father of two sons: one who claimed to be obedient, but failed to obey, the other who said no, but repented and obeyed (21:28-32).
  2. His source was the master of the house, who leased a vineyard to tenants.  those tenants rebelled against him, and did not give the fruit due him (21:33-46).
  3. His source was the king who planned a wedding feast.  Those initially invited would not come.  He sent servants to invite other guests, and troops to destroy those who rejected the first invitation (22:1-14).

LORD, give us the wisdom to accept your invitation to our future, by being obedient to your will today.

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prayer and heaven’s king

Posted on July 12, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

Matthew 21 13Matthew 21:12-27.  Three stories from Jesus’ time at the Jerusalem temple highlight the ministry of prayer.  In each story, an obstacle must be overcome.

 

  1. Jesus cleansed the temple by overturning the tables of commerce that had been set up.  The temple courts were intended for prayer-business, but money-business was getting in the way.  Once the distractions were eliminated, the healing and praise came naturally, because Jesus was there (12-17).
  2. Jesus rebuked the fig tree because it looked like it was fruitful, but it was not.  He challenged his disciples to pray in faith.  Once the doubt is eliminated, the mountain will move (18-22).
  3. Jesus forced the chief priests and elders to admit that they were rejecting God’s work.  Their ploy of remaining agnostic as to the source of John’s ministry meant this: They did not want the Messiah to come.  Prayers (like the prayers for the Messiah to come) have to be genuine (23-27).

LORD, eliminate the obstacles that we set up that hinder our prayer ministries.

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serving and heaven’s king

Posted on July 11, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

Matthew 20 28 Matthew 20:17-21:11.  Zechariah’s prophecy that predicted the triumphal entry on a donkey’s colt goes on to say “because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will set your prisoners free” (Zech. 9:11).  This deliverance would only come when the master of all became a servant of all – surrendering himself to be mocked, flogged, and crucified (20:19).  Two stories in this passage highlight the call to serve:

  1. The mother of James and John could not persuade Jesus to make them greatest in the coming kingdom.  But Jesus did use that incident to teach that whoever would be great must serve.  Even he came not to be served but to serve, and give himself as a ransom for many (20-28).
  2. Two blind men sitting in need of help.  Jesus stopped to serve them.  Serving the needy is what greatness is for (29-34).

LORD, may we seek not to be served, but to serve – as you did.

“the Son of Man came … to serve”  (20:28).

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grace, equality, and heaven’s king

Posted on July 10, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

Matthew 19 30 Matthew 19:1-20:16.  In each of the stories Matthew records here, there is someone who considers himself better than someone else.  The lesson is about God’s grace – how it levels the playing field and makes us all equal.

  1. The Pharisees demanded that Jesus accept that men are better than women – in that they have authority to divorce wives that do not please them.  Jesus said that was going against God’s commandment and intention (3-12).
  2. The disciples rebuked parents for bothering Jesus with their children.  Jesus rebuked them (13-15).
  3. The rich young man thought that he was better than others.  Jesus knew where his loyalty was (16-22).

So, Peter asked if everybody in the kingdom was equal by grace, what could be gained by forsaking all to follow Jesus.  Jesus promised thrones, the hundred-fold return, and eternal life – all at his second coming.  But those who think they are first will be last.

LORD, thank you for your grace.  You are the master.  We agree to your terms of employment.

“many who are first will be last” (19:30).

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humility and heaven’s king

Posted on July 9, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

Matthew 18 3 Matthew 18.  The disciples had just asked a stupid question.  They wanted to know who was the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  Jesus called a child, and presented him as an example to the disciples.  He told them that whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest.  A truly humble person is capable of playing nice – of getting along with others. He has a healthy fear which keeps him from getting into trouble. He forgives easily, and does not seek to get others in trouble.  That is greatness in the king’s eyes.

LORD, grant us the discernment to live truly great lives for you.  May we accept your unmerited grace, and model it for others by living lives of humble fear and forgiveness.

“…unless you turn and become like children…” (18:3)

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