212 – The Great, the Rich and the Poor
Matthew 20:20-28 Luke 19:1-10 Mark 10:46-52
The trip to Jerusalem took Jesus through Jericho. Along the way, the mother of James and John knelt before him and said, “Lord, I want my sons to sit next to you when you’re in your kingdom—one on your right side, and the other on the left.”
He said, “You don’t know what you’re asking.” Turning to the men he said, “Are you able to suffer like I’m about to suffer?”
They answered with confidence. “Yes, Lord. We’re ready to suffer.”
Jesus looked at them for a moment. “It’s true. You’ll suffer for me, but what you’re asking is not within my control. The Father will choose who will sit on the right side of me and on the left.”
The other ten became angry with the brothers when they heard this conversation. Jesus called them together and said, “In this world, people of authority become lords over others. They expect to be praised and served. This isn’t to be true of you. If you want to be great, start serving others. If you want to become the greatest one of all, start serving everyone.”
“Follow my example. I didn’t come so others would serve me. I’m giving my life so others can live.”
A chief tax collector lived in Jericho, whose name was Zacchaeus. He wanted to see Jesus as he passed through town, but he was a short man and couldn’t see over the crowd.
So he ran down the path ahead of the people, and climbed up in a sycamore tree. He knew he’d be able to see Jesus when he passed under the tree.
When the Lord got to that spot, he stopped!
He looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, come down from that tree. I’m staying at your house today.”
Zacchaeus quickly got down from the tree and welcomed Jesus into his house. People started to murmur, “How could he even think about staying in the house of that great sinner?”
But Zacchaeus said to the Lord, “I’m going to give half of everything I own to the poor. And where I’ve cheated people, I’ll pay them back four times the amount I took from them.”
Jesus said, “Today, salvation has come to this house. I came to seek and to save those who are lost.”
As Jesus left Jericho, he passed a blind man named Bartimaeus. He was begging on the side of the road. He heard the crowd and said, “What’s going on?
“Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”
When he heard this, he yelled, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
People nearby told him to be quiet. But he yelled even louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Jesus stopped and looked in his direction, “Go, bring him to me.”
They went to Bartimaeus and said, “Jesus is calling for you. Hurry, get up and go to him.”
Bartimaeus got up, threw down his beggar’s coat, and went to Jesus. The Lord said, “What do you want me to do for you?”
“Teacher, I want to see!”
The Lord said, “Go. Your faith has healed you.” Immediately, Bartimaeus could see, and he started following Jesus.
