January 4, see and value
Jesus stopped, called them, and said, “What do you want me to do for you?” Matthew 20:32
If we do not slow down from the hype of the crowd to see what Jesus sees, we will never value what Jesus values.
The big picture. For just a moment, consider the “big picture” that surrounded Jesus on that day recorded in Matthew 20. Jesus had been teaching His disciples about the kingdom, and there were large numbers pressing in to hear as well (Matthew 20:1-16). Jesus then took His disciples to the side privately (away from the crowd) and prepared them for His coming arrest, crucifixion, and resurrection (Matthew 20:17-19). (The full history of the Gospels would later prove that the disciples really didn’t comprehend what Jesus shared about His death and resurrection). Sometime after this conversation, the mother of James and John seemingly interrupted Jesus to talk about her sons’ potential for advancement in His Kingdom.
20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. 21 “What is it you want?” He asked. She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.” 22 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” “We can,” they answered. 23 Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.” (Matthew 20:20-23).
Talk about embarrassing – your mother calls your boss to make a pitch about your advancement.
So, in summary, recount the big picture that day (Matthew 20:1-28). But, this time, see the events as Jesus may have seem them. The crowd presses in to eavesdrop on your conversation with your disciples, but you know that most of them are looking for wonders and will soon leave. You pull your disciples aside to prepare them for your coming arrest, crucifixion, and resurrection only to see that they were dismissive and missed most everything you had just shared. And then the mother of two of your strongest followers echoed what the sons themselves must have felt, and she interrupted to ask if James and John could sit beside Jesus in His kingdom. Wow! In human terms this was not exactly what you would call a successful day. But thankfully, Jesus doesn’t operate in “human terms.” As you remain in the story, watch where Jesus’ eyes move to next.
As Jesus and his disciples left Jericho (which located them just beyond the Jordan and on route to Jerusalem), a large crowd followed them. At that precise moment two blind men cried out for help, and they specifically cried out for Jesus (having heard through the crowd that He was approaching). Referencing Jesus as Messiah with the title “Son of David,” they cried out in desperation. The crowd rebuked the blind men under the assumption that their lifelong infirmity could not compare with the importance of Jesus’ approach to Jerusalem. And, then it happened. Jesus stopped. He stopped amid all the hype of the day, and all the activity of the bigger picture, and He paid attention to two blind men. The Son of God stopped, stepped into their lives, and saved them from their infirmities. As they were healed, the two blind men became followers of Jesus. What an incredible story of Jesus leaving the big picture of the disciples and the crowd to step into someone’s small picture. Jesus saw the need of two people, and He valued them.
As the new year unfolds, why should we desire a clearer spiritual vision? The answer is found in the story of Matthew 20. We need a clearer spiritual vision because we need to see what Jesus sees. If we do not slow down from the hype of the crowd to see what Jesus sees, we will never value what Jesus values. Personally, if you stay with the hype of the crowd, you may find yourself anchored in the hype and not in the mission of Jesus. So today, take time to see what Jesus sees so that you can value what Jesus values.
Be blessed as you walk forward in faith with a clearer spiritual vision!