Today’s Reading: Matthew 19:13-30; 20:1-16, 20-34
FORGIVENESS. FREEDOM. MERCY.
One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could lay his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him.
But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” And he placed his hands on their heads and blessed them before he left. – Matthew 19:13-16
The disciples had this idea that Jesus could not be bothered by the littles in the crowd — those who were seen as the least. They still had so much to understand about this man; they had so much more to learn from Jesus.
As Jesus and the disciples left the town of Jericho, a large crowd followed behind. Two blind men were sitting beside the road. When they heard that Jesus was coming that way, they began shouting, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”
“Be quiet!” the crowd yelled at them.
But they only shouted louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”
When Jesus heard them, he stopped and called, “What do you want me to do for you?”
“Lord,” they said, “we want to see!” Jesus felt sorry for them and touched their eyes. Instantly they could see! Then they followed him. – Matthew 20:29-34
These two men cried out for mercy and Jesus responded from the heart of a merciful God. While those around them were annoyed by the volume of their needs, Jesus was touched by the strength of their faith. They were treated by their community as the least but Jesus had something to teach all who would listen.
“But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.” – Matthew 19:30
“So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.” – Matthew 20:16
When the mother of James and John was bold enough to ask if her sons could sit on either side of Jesus in His Kingdom, the disciples began to argue with each other.
But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” – Matthew 20:25-28
We can see in Jesus’ words the reflection of the heart of God. Just as he was responding in mercy to the needs around them, God responds in mercy to our needs today; just as Jesus led from the desire to serve others, we should also humble ourselves in a willingness to serve those around us.
THE FIRST SHALL BE LAST AND THE LAST SHALL BE FIRST.
Lord, teach us what mercy looks like in our lives. May we live in response to the mercy we have received, willing to extend mercy to others with the same generosity you have shown us. Give us confidence in who you have called us to be, while making us humble in the way we respond to the needs of others. May we define importance through the lens of mercy, and continue to learn what it means to be a true follower of Christ. Amen.