Titles

Matt 23:8-10 "But you, do not be called 'Rabbi' for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.  And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ."

 

Titles. We get so wrapped up in them. In fact, our identity most of the time is centered on a title. I know that when a guy meets another man for the first time, one of the first things that comes out of either's mouth is: "What do you do?" In other words, "what is your title?". If I tell people I am an attorney, that kind of wraps up what I do…but it does not address who I am. There is a difference.

 

The deal with the scribes and Pharisees was that they were really into this title thing. Their big deal was "I am a Rabbi" or "I am a temple father" or "I am a teacher". This didn't just encompass what they did, it identified who they were…deep down who they were. It really identified the fact that they had this deep inner need for recognition. They had this deep desire to be looked up to and admired and respected and revered. And it revealed that deep down, they thought that they were better than your average Joe out there. Deep down they thought that they were pretty hot stuff. They would be offended if someone told them that they were just a person, just like everyone else, who needed to be forgiven for their rotten sin. No. They were better than that. They didn't need anyone to tell them what to do. Instead, they told people what to do and gave others heavy burdens to bear.

 

Jesus' advice: "Stay away from that." Stay away from titles. Stay away from the deep desire for recognition. Stay away from this prideful heart. Instead, humble yourself. Be a servant and realize that "you are all brethren." We are all the same. No one is better than the other. There is only One who deserves recognition. There is only One deserves the title of Rabbi, Father, Teacher…Jesus.

 

It is weird, but as I have written before, I am a guy who wants recognition. I am a guy who struggles with wanting to hear my name spoken in front of people. Stop it. As James MacDonald said in one of our studies, when this desire rears its ugly head I need to tell it to "Shut up!".

 

The other weird thing is that the other night I received a phone call from a guy in our church who is fairly new to our body. He called me to ask about a Bible that he recently bought. Then he said: "Thank you." For what? "For accepting me. My wife and I love you and Georgann." You see, this guy had this mindset that as an attorney he didn't think that I would give him the time of day. That I was some hot stuff. Nothing can be further from the truth. I am small stuff. I am one of the "brethren". The ground is level at the foot of the cross. The only One who deserves to be recognized, exalted, lifted high who deserves any high title at all is Jesus. The rest of us are all the same, all brethren, all people who need the cleansing blood of Christ. No titles. No pretense. No pride. Take it all away.

Hosanna

Matt 21:9b "Hosanna to the Son of David! 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!' Hosanna in the highest!"

 

Here is the picture. Two of Jesus' guys grab a donkey from a guy in a city opposite of Bethphage. It may have been Bethany, we really are not sure. Anyway, Jesus was close to the Mount of Olives, a short distance outside of Jerusalem. These two bring the donkey to Jesus and Jesus mounts it and rides into Jerusalem on it. As Jesus is riding into the city a crowd gathers. They are yelling. They are cheering. They are excited. They are so excited, they are taking off their coats and laying them on the road for the donkey to walk over. If they did not have a coat, or if they already used their coat, they cut down branches from the trees around them and put them on the road in front of Jesus. They basically were giving Him the "red carpet treatment". As they were doing this they were yelling out: "Hosanna to the Son of David." And they were quoting the first part of Ps 118:26 – "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord." But they didn't stop there. They kept saying: "Hosanna in the highest." I think that it would be an understatement to say that these people were really into greeting Jesus.

 

The word Hosanna basically means: Propitious. It means Favor. It was a greeting that these people were giving to Jesus which basically said: "Long live the King." They didn't just say: Hosanna, they also said "Blessed". This means: "Praise". It means: "Prosper". May God's prosperity and favor rest upon You. Then they followed it up with another Hosanna but they added "in the highest: which means "most high, in the rank of God." Look out. Here is this crowd, giving Jesus the red carpet treatment, saying "Long live the King", saying "May God's prosperity rest upon You." Saying: "Long live the King who is as high as God." Yikes! Dangerous, but true words exiting the mouths of the people. Dangerous because this was the beginning of the end. This is all the religious leaders could stomach. This was the straw that broke the donkey's back. This was it. But true because "Out of the mouths of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise." V16.

 

As I think through this, I wonder what my praise is like? I know who Jesus is. I have seen Him work in my life. He is my Savior, my Lord, my Rescuer, my Forgiver, my Healer, my King…and how excited do I get? Would I lay my coat down? Would I climb a tree to cut down branches? What words come out of my mouth? Are they fit for a King? Are they fit for the Lord in the highest…the Lord most high? Do I shout out "Hosanna…Blessed"? Or am I too reserved? Am I afraid of what people would think? It's just not my personality? I shout at stadiums rooting for the Browns or Indians…what should I be like when I root for my Savior? I should be loud sometimes, and I should be silent at other times. Something to think about.

 

Recognition

Matt 20:26-28 'Yet it shall not be so among you; but 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."

Position. Recognition. Authority. We all want it. We all want to be placed in positions where we are recognized. At least I do. This is one area that I really struggle. People don't see it in me, but I see it in myself. Deep down, in my heart of hearts, in my inner man I want people to mention my name. I want them to point me out when I have done something worthwhile. This is nothing but stinking pride, and I hate it…but I have to deal with it.

Jesus' disciples were the same way. Here is the God of the universe, who just told them that He was going to be betrayed to the chief priests and the scribes who were going to deliver Him over to the Gentiles to be mocked, and scourged, and then finally crucified, but that He would rise from the dead on the third day. You would think that this kind of news would shock them. You would think that this kind of news would result in concern for their Friend. You would think that this kind of news would result in a desire to protect, to take up arms, to fight…but no. After Jesus told them this news Mommy comes up to Jesus and said: "Let my boys sit in places of authority when You come into your kingdom. Let them sit on your right hand and your left hand. Let them be recognized. Give them position. Give them power." Unreal. Yet here comes a teachable moment.

Jesus then said: "Do you want to be great?" Of course the answer to that is: "Yes." "Then the way up is down. The way to lead is to serve. The way to be first is to be last." We don't like to hear this. We don't want to go down, serve and be last. We want to be in charge. But this is not how it happens. In fact, Jesus set the example throughout His life. He didn't come to take over. He didn't come to have people serve Him, although He could have. He is God. He could have demanded that everyone bow. He could have demanded that everyone submit. He could have demanded that everyone serve Him, but He didn't. Instead, He was humble. He was a servant. He taught, and healed, and fed, and helped others. He never had His eyes on Himself or His own needs. He only considered the needs of others…to the point of death. He only considered my most basic need for cleansing, for forgiveness from my sin and He did something about it and submitted Himself to the cross. Talk about the ultimate Servant. He didn't want recognition. He didn't care about power. He didn't strive for position. He came to serve.

Somehow, someway, I need to develop this attitude. Never ever caring whether I am recognized or not. In fact, I need to serving others so they can be recognized. That is how I have to live. God help me.

Famous Mottos

Matt 19:26 "But Jesus looked at them and said to them, 'With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'"

The setting is this: A rich guy comes to Jesus and asks how he can inherit eternal life. Jesus gives him an interesting answer…an answer that we would not give: "Keep the commandments." In other words, good works will get you to heaven? No. That was not the point. In fact, Jesus was trying to make a point, but this guy was not getting it. How do I know. Because he said that he had kept all of the commandments. Pretty good. This guy thought he was perfect. Jesus had to debunk that. He had to show him that he was not perfect. He had to show him his need, so He hit him between the eyes. Jesus knew that this guy was rich so He told him to give it all up. Well, there was no way. Even though this guy had a significant need, the need to put God first, the need for a Savior, he decided that he would have to stay in his imperfection because he liked it too much.

I wonder how often I am there. I like my imperfection too much. I don't want to give up a pet desire. I don't want to let go of a cherished attitude. I don't want to eliminate a habit. Jesus does not want any competition. He is God. He wants complete allegiance. In this guy's case it was all of his stuff.

Next comes the lesson for Jesus' guys. "It is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven." V23 His disciples wondered about this. If a rich guy can't get in, then who can get in? I mean, you would think that the rich would be able to get in and if they can't, then certainly the poor can't get in. I am not sure that they were grasping what Jesus was getting at.

This then brought about the main lesson: "Man can't do it. It is impossible. But with God all things are possible." Even the rich can get in. Even the poor can get in. Even the proud can get in. Event the humble can get in. Even the thief can get in. Even the honest can get in. Even the hateful can get in. Even the loving can get in. How? Through the unbelievable work of God. No, you can't stay in the state that you are in. You have to repent. You have to change. You have to trust. You have to come to God and surrender…but we all can get in, not because we keep the commandments, because with man that is impossible. But we can get in because with God all things are possible…Jesus death on the cross made it all possible.

Beyond this, however, I have to think about this statement: "But with God all things are possible." Believe it or not, this is the State of Ohio's motto. I wonder if we really believe it? Where is our trust? What do we put our confidence in? Our smarts?. Our abilities? Our money? Our wisdom? Or do we really trust God? Do we say: "God, we have this 8 billion dollar shortfall this year. We don't know how to get out of it, but You do. Give us the wisdom to get out of it because with You all things are possible."

Or, what about me? Do I believe this? Sure, for my salvation…but what about my life? What about my needs? What about my future? What about the stuff I am concerned about? Am I trusting God or am I relying on my own abilities? I think that maybe this was what Jesus was getting at with the rich guy and His disciples. It isn't you…it's all God…trust Him. That leads me to another famous motto: "In God we trust." Do we? Really?

Hear Him

Matt 17:5b "This is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!"

If there is any question what we are to focus our attention on as believers, as a church, as the Church universal, God the Father dispelled it with this statement. And here we are toward the end of Jesus' ministry on earth. A few verses after God made this declaration Jesus told His guys that He was going to die but He would rise from the dead. (vs 9, 12, 22-23) So, at the beginning of Jesus ministry God the Father spoke from heaven when He was baptized and said: "This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." Matt. 3:17 and now toward the end of His earthly ministry God said: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him." Same statement but with an addition. "Hear Him".

A couple of years ago our men's ministry went through a study by Robert Lewis called "Men's Fraternity" Robert Lewis said that this statement showed two things about the Father's relationship with the Son. He loved Him and He was proud of Him. (His point was that every boy should know that their Dad feels this way about them.) God's love for His Son was and is immeasurable. Yet even in His love, He allowed Jesus to die. Even in His love He turned His back on His Son as He hung on the cross because the Father could not stand to look at the sin that Jesus carried for me and the whole world. No wonder He could say that He was well pleased. No wonder He was proud of Him. And this love and this pride did not waver. Jesus came to do and say the things that His Father told Him to do and say. He was obedient even up to death and the Father was pleased. (Try to wrap your brain around this verse: "Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand." Is. 53:10) God had pleasure in His Son, He had pleasure in His death, and He has pleasure in His reward.

No wonder He said that we need to "Hear Him". There is no one like Jesus. There is no one who has the truth…Jesus is the truth. There is no one who has the words of life…only Jesus does. If we want the truth, if we want to really live we need to listen to Jesus. We need to pay attention to Him. We need to soak in everything that He has to say. We have to concentrate on Him. We have to fix our eyes on Him. No other message, no other distractions, no other person…only Jesus.

Why? Because: "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God." "This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him."

This is It

Matt 16:16b "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

This is it. This is the big enchilada. This is the major truth of the Gospel. This is what everything in Christianity rests upon…that this man is the One and only, the Christ, the Messiah, the Chosen One of God, the anointed One of God. There is no other. Not only that, but this man, is not only the Messiah, but He is the Son of the living God. He is God's Son. He is God's "only begotten Son". He possesses all of the qualities of God the Father. He is One with God the Father. Frankly, He is not just a man He is the God/man. Without this truth, without this belief all of Christendom falls. If Jesus is not the Messiah, the Son of God, God in the flesh then we are all wasting our time, energy and money. But if Jesus is who Peter declared Him to be, we need to fall on our faces in His presence and declare our total and complete allegiance.

Not only that, but it is this statement, it is this truth that the Church of Jesus Christ, His body of believers is built upon. It is this truth that He said He would build His church on. This is the foundation and it is a strong foundation, it is a sure foundation, it is a rock solid foundation that will not move. It will forever stand. The gates of hell cannot and will not prevail against it. It is this truth that the Church is built upon. It is this truth that our lives our built upon.

It is weird, but so many times we get away from this truth, as individuals and as a group of people, and we start to rely on other foundations. We think that our programs will do it. Or we think that our ideas will win the day. Or we think that different methodologies will grow the church. We rely on things like church growth methods, or purpose driven methods, or seeker sensitive methods…and Jesus says: "Guys, this is it. I am the Christ. I am the Son of the Living God. Upon this truth I will build my church." There is no other truth. There is no other way. There is no other life. Don't center on methods, or ideas, or programs. Center on this: "Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God." That is it. That is all.

What is true for the church is also true for me. "Jesus, the One and only. Faithful, pure and holy. He's the Son of righteousness, worthy of all glory. Jesus Christ, the One and only."

Talk is Cheap

Matt 15:8 "These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me."

In other words: "Talk is cheap." Jesus was putting it to the scribes and Pharisees. He was chastising them because they paid more attention to their tradition than the commandments of God. He said that they talked a good game but when it came to actually practicing and doing what God commanded them to do, they ignored it. They did what they wanted. They sounded good, they sounded holy, they sounded righteous but deep down inside they didn't care about God…they only did what they wanted to do to keep their power and authority over people.

The best thing that I can do when I have an opportunity to speak in front of people is to check my heart. Do I really believe what I am saying? Better yet, do I really practice what I am preaching? Or is it all a big show? A big front? An image that I have to maintain? That is where these guys were. They wanted to appear righteous so they prayed lengthy, repetitious prayers to be seen by men. They proclaimed to everyone when they were fasting. They wanted glory. Where am I in all of this? When I pray or speak on Sunday or other events, is it a big show for me or for God?

This is so easy to do. We want to get involved in some ministry. The question that we need to ask is: "Why?" Why are we motivated to do what we want to do? Is it a genuine heart for God or is it a desire to control? Is it a desire to have power? Is it a desire to say: "This is mine…I have done this."? The line sometimes gets blurred. We walk into something with the best intentions. We sound good when we explain what we want to do and our motives for doing it, but when it actually happens, we have a tendency to get territorial. We have this desire to hang on to it like we own it when we really do not. It is God's. He is in control. He is Lord. The problem is, when we get territorial and when we get involved in a power grab, it really shows our hearts. It shows the inner man…and it is not pretty.

Oh God, make my heart pure. Make my motives pure. I ask that my heart, my mouth and my life all be on the same page…the page of giving you all the glory. "He must increase, but I must decrease."