Jesus to His disciples, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on 12 thrones, judging the 12 tribes of Israel.” [Special roles have been delegated to them.]
Jesus to everyone, “Everyone who has left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, wife, children, or lands, for My Name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” [1]
An hundred times of what they gave comes back to them, plus eternal life.
“God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His Name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” [2]
Then, Jesus told a parable in which a landowner hires four groups of idle workers. He offers each group the same wage. He hired the first group at 9 am, the second at 12 noon, the third at 3 pm and the fourth group at 5 pm. At the end of the day, the earlier groups complained to the landowner because the later groups received as much as they did. The landowner reminded them that they agreed to work for the wage that He offered them. Then, He asked them two questions, “Is it not lawful for Me to do what I wish with My own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?” Then, He concluded with two statements, “The last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.” [3]
I am grateful that the Lord called me to serve in His vineyard. All of us who serve Him receive an excellent wage and eternal benefits. Our Lord operates by the law of love and grace. He is good! In the end, those who prioritize being like Jesus, not like the world, receive the greatest reward, namely more of Jesus.
THREE TEACHING moments follow this parable.
THE FIRST TEACHING
He announces that He will be betrayed while in Jerusalem. The chief priests and scribes [who loved position and perks] will condemn Him and hand Him over to the Gentiles [the Romans] to be mocked, scourged and crucified. But on the third day, He will resurrect. [4]
THE SECOND TEACHING
The mother of James and John to Jesus, “Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom.”
Jesus to their mother, “To sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father.”
Jesus to His disciples, “Whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” [5]
THIRD TEACHING
Two blind men sitting on the roadside asked Jesus, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!”
Jesus asked them, “What do you want Me to do for you?” [When you pray, tell the Lord plainly you what you want Him to do for you.]
The blindmen to Jesus, “Lord, that our eyes may be opened.”
“Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.” [6]
This miracle of Jesus demonstrates the teachings that proceeded it. We who serve the Lord should keep our eyes fixed on the mission of Jesus, namely to open blind eyes.
The mission of the Church is prophetic in nature. We are to receive revelation from the Word of the Lord (the Bible) and prayer (the work of the Holy Spirit in us), and then share with others who want to see the Lord but are unable to do so. They need seers to help them see.
Our goal is to create communities of believers (disciples) among all nations who let go of this perishing world’s ways to embrace the ways of the coming kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Praise God! Jesus is willing to work with us. He knows our weaknesses. Just as He helped His twelve disciples work through their hangups, He helps us.
The Lord used His servant Hudson Taylor to make many disciples in China. He once said to a fellow missionary, “Brother, if you would enter that Province, you must go forward on your knees.” And he said to another, “God’s work is never intended to be stationary, but always advancing.”
[1] Matthew 19:27-30
[2] Hebrews 6:10
[3] Matthew 20:1-16
[4] Matthew 20:17-19
[5] Matthew 20:20-28
[6] Matthew 20:29-33
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