Our paragraph topic is: (Humility according to Christ's example) Part 3.
The disciples have expressed their anger and their frustration at James and John. They want to sit with Christ also. They want to be at his right and at his left also. They want to be first also and that is the problem. James and John did not express these wants, these desires. Their mother came forth and spoke to Christ about what she wanted for them. She came forth and spoke what was in their hearts.
What she did not realize was that her words opened the door to the hearts of the disciples. Her words exposed them to anger. He words exposed them to injustice. Her words exposed them to jealousy. And Christ had to speak to their hearts to help them understand what they were doing. He had to speak to the jealousy, and their anger and their heartfelt injustice. So he gave them an example. He told them of the lords of the Gentiles. He told them of their practices. He told them how they would become like the Gentiles, how the rulers of the Gentiles lorded their power over them. "And their great men exercise authority over them."
They wanted to be great. They wanted to be known throughout the land. They wanted to be like the lords and rulers of their time. This was the example that they knew. This was what they saw in their time. The rulers would parade through the streets with their guards and their attendants. They would receive privileges everywhere they went. The people would give them special recognition and this was what they thought that they would become being disciples of Christ.
Yet Christ wanted to give them a different image. He wanted to give them a different understanding of who they were and who they would become through him. For he was a lord. He was a king. He was the ruler of all the world. Yet he did not come to be a king. He did not come to be a lord, a ruler. He gave up all his royal trappings to become like an ordinary man. He gave up his crown and his glory and his majesty to become the pauper among us. And this was the example that he wanted his disciples to understand.
For without the power and without the glory, one does not assume a position of greatness. Without the majesty and the privilege one does not become haughty, and aloof and assume an attitude of being special. And without the attitude of feeling special the heart is closed to jealousy, and anger, and injustice. For Christ came to right the injustices of the world, he came to act as a sacrifice for the injustices. He came that the punishment may be lifted. He came that what was lost may now be restored. He came that his love for man would be established for all eternity.
We are here today to be witnesses to the love and the mercy and the forgiveness of our God and Father. We are here today to testify to his love. We are here today to become living examples of the life that is within each of us that others may see and know that they are our brothers and sisters in Christ. For he came and gave that we would have life. He came and walked among us that we would know the truth. He came and gave us an example, a history, and a path to follow that would lead us to him. He came to demonstrate his passion for us that would last throughout all eternity. It is that passion that carries us. It is that passion that guides us. It is that passion that leads us to him each day. And it is that passion that is available for all to know, to see, to feel, to become a part of their lives today. His love is there for the asking. His love is there for those who seek it. His love is there for all to receive it even if they do not know him. All you have to do is open the door to your heart and let him in.
Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage and then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ. The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in.
The disciples have expressed their anger and their frustration at James and John. They want to sit with Christ also. They want to be at his right and at his left also. They want to be first also and that is the problem. James and John did not express these wants, these desires. Their mother came forth and spoke to Christ about what she wanted for them. She came forth and spoke what was in their hearts.
What she did not realize was that her words opened the door to the hearts of the disciples. Her words exposed them to anger. He words exposed them to injustice. Her words exposed them to jealousy. And Christ had to speak to their hearts to help them understand what they were doing. He had to speak to the jealousy, and their anger and their heartfelt injustice. So he gave them an example. He told them of the lords of the Gentiles. He told them of their practices. He told them how they would become like the Gentiles, how the rulers of the Gentiles lorded their power over them. "And their great men exercise authority over them."
They wanted to be great. They wanted to be known throughout the land. They wanted to be like the lords and rulers of their time. This was the example that they knew. This was what they saw in their time. The rulers would parade through the streets with their guards and their attendants. They would receive privileges everywhere they went. The people would give them special recognition and this was what they thought that they would become being disciples of Christ.
Yet Christ wanted to give them a different image. He wanted to give them a different understanding of who they were and who they would become through him. For he was a lord. He was a king. He was the ruler of all the world. Yet he did not come to be a king. He did not come to be a lord, a ruler. He gave up all his royal trappings to become like an ordinary man. He gave up his crown and his glory and his majesty to become the pauper among us. And this was the example that he wanted his disciples to understand.
For without the power and without the glory, one does not assume a position of greatness. Without the majesty and the privilege one does not become haughty, and aloof and assume an attitude of being special. And without the attitude of feeling special the heart is closed to jealousy, and anger, and injustice. For Christ came to right the injustices of the world, he came to act as a sacrifice for the injustices. He came that the punishment may be lifted. He came that what was lost may now be restored. He came that his love for man would be established for all eternity.
We are here today to be witnesses to the love and the mercy and the forgiveness of our God and Father. We are here today to testify to his love. We are here today to become living examples of the life that is within each of us that others may see and know that they are our brothers and sisters in Christ. For he came and gave that we would have life. He came and walked among us that we would know the truth. He came and gave us an example, a history, and a path to follow that would lead us to him. He came to demonstrate his passion for us that would last throughout all eternity. It is that passion that carries us. It is that passion that guides us. It is that passion that leads us to him each day. And it is that passion that is available for all to know, to see, to feel, to become a part of their lives today. His love is there for the asking. His love is there for those who seek it. His love is there for all to receive it even if they do not know him. All you have to do is open the door to your heart and let him in.
Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage and then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ. The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in.
