Author: Meredith Beatty

The story of the workers in the vineyard in Matthew 20 is another example of how Jesus can surprise his audience and reveal our prideful assumptions.

Of course, everyone believes, if you work longer you get more money. But no, this is not how God’s economy works.

We think God should work in a certain way, according to our sense of justice. But no, God acts quite unlike man.

After the landowner gives the eleventh hour workers the same amount as the ones hired in the morning, they complain. How do you expect the landowner (aka God) to answer?

“Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?” Matthew 20:15

First – God has the right to do whatever he wants with what is his. He will reward a person according to his own will.

But what kind of will does God have? This is where it’s surprising, and in a very good way.

Second – What kind of will does God possess? A generous one. More than generous.

When we come to Jesus in faith we find a grace that we don’t deserve and salvation in full measure.

I love how Jesus pursues people. In John 9 he sees the blind man as a real person with needs instead of part of a theological quandary.

He heals the man and then after the man gets in trouble with the Pharisees and is kicked out of the synagogue, Jesus hears about it and looks for him. He then openly reveals his identity to the man.

Incredible! The religious leaders are begging Jesus to reveal his identity. He tells them he has, but they won’t accept it. But the blind man who wasn’t looking for Jesus is found by him and worships.

Then in Luke 15 there are three stories of God’s pursuing.

A lost sheep.

A lost coin.

A lost son.

God goes to great lengths to find what belongs to him.

He leaves the ninety-nine sheep to look for the one.

He sweeps the whole house and searches carefully for the one lost coin.

He strains his eyes looking at he distant horizon for diligently his lost son.

And when he finds what is his, is he angry? No. He throws a celebration.

Meditate on and marvel at this extravagant grace.

The religious leaders are the most learned. They have kept the Law and the traditions. They are in charge of who is a true prophet. Shouldn’t they understand who Jesus is?

And yet Jesus levels his most scathing accusations at them.

“You belong to your father, the devil..” John 8:44

Jesus chooses everyday fisherman and a tax collector and uneducated men as his inner circle. Nothing about them qualifies them. He chooses Peter, James and John and reveals his glory to them on the mount of transfiguration.

But sometimes they are more like the religious leaders than we might think. They desire status – who is the greatest among them. Peter stands against Jesus when he reveals the Father’s plan – get behind me, Satan.

So those who should’ve known, who should’ve been anticipating Jesus’ coming want to kill him. Those closest to him, the ones he’s shared so much with don’t understand the plan.

However, in spite of the opposition and the misunderstanding Jesus continues to follow his Father’s will. He has compassion on the crowds who would turn against him. He offers extravagant invitations:

“Let anyone who so thirsty come to me and drink…” John 7:37

Those who would want to categorize Jesus as merely a good teacher fail miserably. Jesus will not allow that. His teachings confuse some and anger others. He will not be defined by man. He is defined by the Father:

“The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.” John 8:29

John 6 is one of my favorite chapters in John. Here is where Jesus reveals the true nature of belief and brings the crowds to a crossroads.

Jesus’ popularity is soaring. People are literally running from town to town to catch up with him. They have heard of the miraculous healings and have been told that if they just touch the fringe of his garment they will be healed. Even King Herod is seeking an audience with him.

Following the feeding of the five thousand, the crowds go searching for him but instead of soaking up all the attention he confronts them by revealing their true motives in searching for him. They’re only seeking a full stomach, not a satisfied soul.

Jesus was willing to offend the crowds and risk losing that popularity. He does this to winnow the crowd, to reveal those who are truly believers.

Jesus knows the plan of the Father. His Father sent him to execute it. He does not put any confidence in man for he knows what is in man. His confidence is in the perfect union he has with his Father and that the Father knows those who belong to him. No one can come to him unless the Father draws him. (John 6:61-65)

Jesus is not who we expect him to be. He acts in ways that don’t make sense sometimes.

He touches a leper. A holy prophet of God would not do this!

He listens to and answers the prayers of a centurion. He praises the centurion’s faith! But wasn’t he supposed to come for Israel?

He heals many and does many miracles. But even John the Baptist isn’t sure if he’s the one.

The scribes and the Pharisees demand a sign. Jesus doesn’t give them what they want but says they will receive the sign of Jonah. What does this mean? He then goes on to rebuke them for their unbelief.

He speaks in parables. Why does he hide knowledge of himself?

He allows a sinful woman to kiss his feet and anoint him with ointment. Wait? Simon the Pharisee is sure that any prophet from God would know better than this.

Our expectations of how God should and will act are often wrong, just like the people of Jesus’ day. They found fault with John the Baptist because he was too ascetic, but then found fault with Jesus because he ate and drank too much. The people couldn’t be pleased.

Jesus knew exactly what he was doing when he said what he said and did what he did. His words and his actions exposed the hearts of the people, whether their hearts were desperate and open to receive the gift of salvation he offered.

The leper was desperate. He knelt down before Jesus. He was healed.

The centurion was desperate. He didn’t even come to ask Jesus in person. His servant was healed and his faith was commended.

The sinful woman was desperate. She risked everything to come into a Pharisee’s home and worship Jesus with her ointment and her tears. Her faith saved her.

The spiritual state of Israel has changed from the time of the prophets. God’s assessment of the people then included judgment on gross idolatry and evil practices like child sacrifice.

The Jews of Jesus’ time could not be accused of these things. Their religious leaders were strict in their obedience to the Law, and many other traditions. The temple of Herod’s time was impressive, even if it wasn’t on par with Solomon’s. Yes, they were still living under the authority of another nation, the Romans, but many were looking for the Messiah.

Sin can be obvious and flagrant, but it can also be hidden and just as insidious.

Jesus’ works of healing mercy exposed this insidious nature of sin in the religious leaders’ hearts.

Three times in today’s reading we are told of the disciples plucking grain and the man with the withered hand. What is revealed in these two stories is how an overly scrupulous adherence to the Law can result in hardness of heart.

Jesus’ disciples are hungry. Jesus provides for them. All the Pharisees can see is a breach of the Sabbath, according to their strict interpretation. They can’t see the human need.

In the second case, a man has a withered hand. He is in need. Jesus cares for the man and heals him, but all the Pharisees see is a broken rule. They don’t see the broken person in front of them. When Jesus miraculously heals him their immediate reaction is to go out and conspire about how to kill Jesus! If a miracle like this had been done right in front of your eyes, would your immediate reaction be to kill the miracle worker?

Things are very different in Israel when Jesus comes on the scene, but sin is still sin and people’s needs for a Savior are still the same. The religious leaders thought they were doing well. They thought they were being obedient. But they were neglecting the heart of the Law. Love God and love people. This neglect led to their stubborn hearts being hardened and their eyes becoming blind not just to the needs of their neighbors but to the Savior who walked among them.

“But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” Luke 5:16

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” Mark 1:35

Many times people point to these verses as proof that we must get up early every day and get alone to pray. Jesus did it and he was the Son of God!

But Jesus also prayed in other ways at other times. He prayed with his disciples. He prayed before crowds. He prayed short prayers and long prayers.

We can and should pray in every way and at all times just like Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5:17. But we should also pay attention to the context of Bible passages and not say more or less than what’s written.

In the above passages, Jesus is at the beginning of his ministry. He is being swamped with people who have very serious needs. Illness, paralysis, demon possession. People from whole towns were crowding in at the door. There was barely room to breathe.

Jesus was human. He needed space, he needed quiet in order to talk to and hear from the Father.

So yes pray continually, at all times, in many ways. Nehemiah had concerted times of intercession and quick prayers for help and favor.

There must be both, not just one or the other. When you neglect the solitary quiet times of prolonged intercession, you never build a depth of communion with the Lord. And if you leave the ‘prayer closet’ and never say another word to the Lord until the next day, or week, or month, you end up living a bifurcated spiritual life – you believe that God is concerned about the serious things, but do you pray for a parking spot?

Really. Pray for everything. Pray at all times. Pray like Nehemiah. Pray like Jesus.

Things are looking up toward the end of the Old Testament but old problems keep cropping up.

Ezra warned the returned exiles about intermarrying with foreigners. Nehemiah needs to make final reforms to the priesthood. Malachi speaks out against many sins of the priests.

They have returned to Jerusalem, they have rebuilt the temple, but things still aren’t right. As Nehemiah prays in chapter 9, they may be in the land but they are slaves in the land because of their own sin. The land is not theirs.

How wonderful then to read of the coming Messiah in the New Testament! God is coming to meet our need for a Savior. Several things stood out clearly as I read these passages in the gospels.

God is the initiator. He sends his angels to speak to Zechariah and to Mary. He sends an angel to Joseph to assure him of the plan. He sends his angels to the shepherds. Angels are everywhere to announce this great news.

The Holy Spirit breaks into the story. John leaps in Elizabeth’s womb and she’s filled with the Holy Spirit. He fills Mary and she prophesies. He fills Zechariah and he prophesies.

God knew our need. God came and met our need. Immanuel, Christ has come.

Ezra and Nehemiah stand out as examples of faithfulness, courage and integrity.

They both have cultivated a good relationship with King Artaxerxes while at the same time maintaining a vibrant faith. Nehemiah serves the king with respect and honor while also having a steadfast zeal for the people of God and their land.

In Nehemiah 1, he is told of the desolate conditions of Jerusalem. He immediately sits down and weeps. This affectionate and zealous response couldn’t be possible unless Nehemiah had been carefully guarding his faith and praying consistently for the restoration of God’s people.

He could’ve stopped at praying. He had an important position with the king. But he went above and beyond expectations. He requested to go back and help the remnant of his people.

He didn’t have to do this, but his love for God and God’s people compelled him.

Similarly, Ezra maintained faith during his exile. Not only that, he became well-versed in the Law of God. He was a priest of God who kept his identity and understood what he needed to do when God called him.

He also went with courage to Jerusalem. God’s hand of favor was upon him and when he arrived we also see his zeal. Because he was steeped in the law of God he was appalled at the unfaithfulness of God’s people in marrying foreign women. He quickly acts as intercessor for them and calls them to repent.

Both these men showed tremendous leadership, zeal and integrity. God surely prepared them while they were in exile to be ready when he called them.

We also are exiles.

“Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.” 1 Peter 2:11-12

“Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” Proverbs 31:30

Esther enters the stage of her own story as the beautiful woman, the one who the king is most attracted to, but by the end she proves to be a woman who truly fears the Lord.

Her behavior wins favor with all who surround her. She respects her uncle and follows his advice. She shows compassion and courage when she hears of the plot to annihilate her people. She shows humility and leadership when she calls on all to fast on her behalf. Her actions with Haman are wise yet bold and strong.

Some believe that the Bible puts down women. That couldn’t be further from the truth. God has used many women to save his people: Deborah, Jael, Hannah and Esther. They feared the Lord and acted with faith, courage and conviction. God honors such women. May I be such a woman.