Romans 16. People from every background are together in Christ. (united in the gospel)

Romans 16.

Listen to MP3

After that reading you might be thinking: a whole sermon on a list of names? Seriously? That’s boring!

Well, hopefully not. Because you see, it’s not just a list of names.

For example, in this church there is a Samual and a Jerusalem, an Eyobed and a Sara, a Christian and a Johanna, a ‘Tori and a Peter, there’s Robyn, and Kolton, Kaleb, Jack, Marit, Glen Egil, Birthe, Mia, LJ, Torgeir, Eirik etc. What do all these names tell you about this church?

We’re an international church! People from all over with nothing in common except Jesus. We are united in the gospel.
And that’s what Paul is doing here. Showing just what he’s been talking about for 15 chapters! That the gospel is by grace for EVERYONE. For Jews and Gentiles, for women and for men, for slaves and free, for the rich and poor, no matter what your background – even if you’re from King Herod’s family, or you work for the Emperor of Rome – you can be saved by Jesus Christ.
You belong.
Isn’t that cool?

People from completely different backgrounds all with one common purpose: to live for Christ. To glorify him with their lives, and to spread the message of the good news, the gospel! That was them then and that is us now.

Not unity for unity’s sake. But unity IN THE GOSPEL.

1. Who’s who in the early church: a celebration of diversity

2. United in the gospel: together for Christ

1. Who’s who in the early church: a celebration of diversity

Remember that this letter was written by Paul to ask the church in Rome to support him. But they didn’t know him and he didn’t know them. So he tells them his message, in great detail, his gospel message which he will be preaching in Spain so that they are on the same page as him. United with him in the gospel. But then he also lists an unusually long greeting to 26 people in all. For two reasons.
1 to commend himself to them. They can vouch for Paul. He’s worth supporting.
2. To show the power of the gospel message. For all. Jew, Gentile, rich, poor, male, female, slave, free, and whatever your political affiliation! Amazing diversity. United in Christ.

Let’s have a look at these names

First, surprisingly, is Phoebe – v1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a deacon in the church in Cenchrea.
What?! A church leader in the 1^st century is a WOMAN? And Paul mentions her FIRST?
Actually, Paul mentions NINE women in this greeting! Misogyny (prejudice against women or hating women) is entirely non-Christian. In fact according to Genesis 3 it is Satanic! In Christ men and women are equal. So she is a church leader.

But God made us different, with different roles and responsibilities. We are equal, but not the same! And we are to honour those differences and respect them. There is a great deal of disrespect and hurt done to women in our society. Women are told that the only good woman is one who acts like a traditional man. How disrespectful and dishonouring can you get? To both men and women. Men and women, praise God, are different. We complement each other. Fulfil each other. Also in the church. We need each other.

So Phoebe is a church leader, but she is a deacon and not an elder. Deacons can be men or women, but elders are only men. What’s the difference? Elders have the overall responsibility for leading the church, and they MUST be men who regularly teach and preach the Bible. Because it is God who actually runs the church through His words. We’re just the messengers. So just like the husband is called to lead the family like Christ, self-sacrificially, and his wife partners him in that – equal, but different roles - so elders are called to carry the burden of leading the church, self-sacrificially, like Christ, and the deacons help the elders in that. Together the elders and deacons make up the leadership of the church, but if things go wrong, it’s the elders’ fault! Like if your family’s a mess – don’t blame your wife – roll up your sleeves and get to work! And pray for grace!

So, Phoebe, a church leader, who is to be v2 welcomed in the Lord as one who is worthy of honour among God’s people. Help her in whatever she needs, for she has been helpful to many, and especially to me.

The word “helpful” is patron or guardian, indicating someone with wealth and power.
So Phoebe is a powerful and rich businesswoman who is happy to “just” be a deacon.
And she carried this letter from Paul to the Roman church. No “posten” those days! If you wanted to send a letter you had to find someone that you could trust who was going there! So Paul trusted Phoebe.

Next on the list is a fantastic Christian husband and wife team. 3 Give my greetings to Priscilla (or Priska) and Aquila, my co-workers in the ministry of Christ Jesus. 4 In fact, they once risked their lives for me. I am thankful to them, and so are all the Gentile churches. 5 Also give my greetings to the church that meets in their home.

We meet them first in Acts 18 in Corinth. They went with Paul on his missionary journey for a while, travelling to Cenchreae (where Phoebe is from). They were leaders of the church. When Apollos came to Corinth Ac 18:26 says “When Priscilla and Aquila heard [Apollos] preaching boldly in the synagogue, they took him aside and explained the way of God even more accurately. Apollos was later one of the elders at Corinth together with Paul! They lived for Christ, even risking their lives to save Paul. The church met in their home. They are always mentioned together, never apart. Their marriage glorified God.

So we have Phoebe, the powerful and wealthy Gentile single woman, and Priscilla and Aquila, the Jewish husband and wife team, also businesspeople (tent-makers, like Paul).
Paul then goes on to name v5 Epenetus, a Gentile name, the first convert of many, still going strong in the Lord. Mary, or Miriam, a Jewish name, a hard-working woman. Andronicus and Junia, another married couple, fellow Jews who were imprisoned together with Paul for the sake of the gospel. v7 says they are highly respected among the apostles or more accurately “outstanding among the apostles” that is, those who were eye-witnesses to Jesus. How cool is that?

v8 Ampliatus and v9 Urbanus and Stachys and v10 Apelles are Latin (Roman) names. Gentiles.
Aristobulus was probably the grandson of King Herod the Great and Heriodion is also a name indicating a link to Herod.
So even amongst the household and family of the king of the Jews, who had rejected Jesus (Herod the Great tried to kill Jesus as a baby, his son Herod Antipas killed John the Baptist and mocked Jesus when Pilate sent him to him at his trial) – even in that horrible family and household – there are believers. Even Herodians can come to Christ!

In v12 we meet the sisters Tryphena and Tryphosa, the Lord’s workers. Their names indicate aristocracy (rich, upper class). Giving that up for the sake of the gospel.
Then “dear Persis”, another single lady, who has worked so hard for the Lord.

v13 I love. Greet Rufus, whom the Lord picked out to be his very own. If we turn back to Mark 15:21 we read A passerby named Simon, who was from Cyrene, was coming in from the countryside just then, and the soldiers forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. (Simon was the father of Alexander and Rufus.).
Isn’t that cool? The man who carried Jesus’ cross believed. And his whole family. Here is Rufus, faithful in Rome. Here is his wife, Rufus’ mother, who has been a mother to Paul! Isn’t God’s mercy amazing?

14 Give my greetings to Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers and sisters who meet with them. 15 Give my greetings to Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and to Olympas and all the believers who meet with them. 16 Greet each other with a sacred kiss. All the churches of Christ send you their greetings.

So, not a boring list of names, but a mighty celebration of the power of the gospel to bring people together! “Come as you are” indeed.

Those names tell us a lot about the early church:

· its surprising diversity: Jews, Gentiles, men women, singles, marrieds, rich, poor, slaves, free

· its surprising equality: men and women described as leaders in the church, husbands and wives mentioned together, women praised, Jews and Gentiles mentioned with equal love, and

· its surprising unity: all in different ways serving the same mission: to glorify God. Some through leading churches, some in business, some risking prison, some carrying letters. Living for Jesus and spreading the gospel.

Who’s who in the early church: a celebration of diversity

What does that then mean for us? How can we apply this passage? First: Anyone can be saved. No matter your background or religion or politics – you can be saved! So who do we think can’t be saved? Who do you know that you’ve written off because they’re Rødt or they’re Fremskrittsparti or Muslim or Hindu or atheist or pansexual or Filipino or too old or too young or… whatever.
We know what the gospel says – and this list of names is proof. There is always hope.
Perhaps there is someone you’d like to pray for during the communion.

Second: No matter who we are we can be used for Christ. It’s not only the rich, or the men, or the women, or the Jews, or those who’ve grown up in Christian families or… whatever excuse you use to think that God can’t use YOU.

Each of us with a part to play, like a puzzle piece – we’ve all got our spot, our gift, our service.

So what is it that holding you back? What excuse are you using?
Decide today to serve. Start where you are and use what you’ve got. How can I serve God in my home, at work, at school, in my family, at church? Do something, and see what happens. No matter how small. Start. And see.

We need each other. For we stand together for Christ.

2. United in the gospel: together for Christ

17 And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people’s faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them. 18 Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words they deceive innocent people.

The church is fantastically diverse! And unity is so important. But that unity is not just unity for unity’s sake. It is unity in the gospel. And that needs to be defended.

That’s why Paul outlines the gospel so clearly. As he says in 15:15 “I have written to you quite boldly!”. And why after the celebration of unity in diversity of the past 16 verses, the Holy Spirit inspires him to warn us to protect that unity.
Watch out. Stay away. Strong words! They cause division. They deceive.

Because unity can be evil. Think about the Tower of Babel: humanity united against God. And that lead to judgement. Chaos and confusion.

If we want true unity, we need to know the Gospel. We need, as Romans has shown us, clear teaching. We need to know and live out the Gospel: we need to obey the words of the Lord, we need to be quick to forgive each other as Christ as forgiven us, to love each other as He has loved us – true, real, unity flows out from the gospel.

And that means rejecting or silencing or disciplining false teachers or sinful ideas. So if you see us doing that as leaders in this church, be thankful. And if we are accused of not being united, of being divisive, thank the Lord, for we are contending for the gospel.
And pray for us, that we ARE contending for the gospel, and not just being arrogant!

I must point out that this is difficult for us as Norwegians for we are very consensus-driven. Unity at all costs. But that is not what we believe as Christians. And this has damaged the church so much when we have not protected gospel unity and instead had fake unity.

18 Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words they deceive innocent people.

We must listen to what people are actually saying. What are they teaching, and how does that affect their life? Are they living for Christ, or for themselves? Do their sermons bring glory to them. Put the focus on them as the gurus, the holy people?
Do they speak clearly and plainly, or is it confusing and mysterious and secretive? Smooth talk and glowing words. Watch out for teachers and preachers who make you feel good but say nothing! Those who tell you of their experiences and use that as an authority for teaching. No. We need God’s word, not someone else’s. Tell me what He thinks, not you. And tell me clearly and plainly in a way that I can understand, and that I can see where you get it from in the Bible.

19 But everyone knows that you are obedient to the Lord. This makes me very happy. I want you to be wise in doing right and to stay innocent of any wrong. 20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

We are in a battle. But as we remain faithful to God and His gospel, Satan is “soon” or “swiftly” crushed. If we are not swayed from our secure foundation, Satan has no way to get us. He is defeated.

So, we are united in the gospel: together for Christ. And the final remarks show that

21 Timothy, my fellow worker, sends you his greetings, as do Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my fellow Jews. 22 I, Tertius, the one writing this letter for Paul, send my greetings, too, as one of the Lord’s followers. 23 Gaius says hello to you. He is my host and also serves as host to the whole church. Erastus, the city treasurer, sends you his greetings, and so does our brother Quartus.
25 Now all glory to God, who is able to make you strong, just as my Good News says. This message about Jesus Christ has revealed his plan for you Gentiles, a plan kept secret from the beginning of time. 26 But now as the prophets foretold and as the eternal God has commanded, this message is made known to all Gentiles everywhere, so that they too might believe and obey him. 27 All glory to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, forever. Amen.

Amen indeed. What a letter this has been. And what a reminder right at the end that whether Jew or Gentile, rich or poor, upper class or lower class, single or married, woman or man: we are equal in Christ, united in the proclamation of the gospel. Fantastic.

So - are we united in the gospel? Is our church showing this gospel diversity and gospel unity. Where can we be better at crossing those difficult social and cultural boundaries?
I want to ask you: are there ways we can be better? Do you feel side-lined or marginalised. Think about how things can be better, and then come with some ideas and we can see if we can do it together. Don’t just sit and feel lonely or out. Because we don’t know how you feel or why because we are not you. Not your culture, not your background. So speak. But not just moaning - think about possible solutions. Because you’re also the best for that!
The more we can stand united in our diversity, united in Christ, the better. And people will notice. Not just surface unity. But real unity.

1. Who’s who in the early church: a celebration of diversity.
Anyone can be saved. Who do you need to pray for?
Everyone has a part to play. What’s your excuse. What’s holding you back? Ask God to help you get started.

2. United in the gospel: together for Christ
How can we get more inclusive in this church? Pray for wisdom.

Mark 10:32-52 Serving the servant King means dying to live

Mark 10:32-52

MP3 link

Previously on “Mark: the Gospel”….

Jesus of Nazareth has burst onto the scene and created quite a stir. He’s been doing massive miracles left, right and centre, healing people, casting out demons, walking on water, making food appear from thin air – enough to feed over 5000 people, and then again 4000 people, and even raising people from the dead! He is no fake. Even his critics cannot deny his power! They accuse him of being from the devil instead. (Dirty politics 101: If you can’t beat them, throw mud at them and hope it sticks!).

And these stories really happened. People were there with Jesus. They SAW him do these things. And these weren’t primitives! We are often so arrogant assuming that people who lived long ago were somehow stupider than we are. That they would be fooled by simple magic tricks. Have a look at this sculpture. Made of marble. In 45BC. The society Jesus lived in was complex and sophisticated. They were part of the Roman empire. There was trade, business, long distance travel, courts of law, police, large cities, running water, roads, schools, reading, writing, in fact university-level mathematics, and philosophies that are still in use today (and being heralded as “new”! It was an advanced civilisation! )

So if Jesus had been just a magician (and there were magicians in those days, just like now, it wasn’t something they’d never seen before) he would quite quickly have been exposed for his trickery. Or people would have been entertained, like now, but any claims to divinity would have been met with mocking laughs, just as if a TV magician today suddenly claimed to be God.

But what if the disciples added to what Jesus did to make it more dramatic? The miracles were added in later.

Problem is, people were still alive then. If I went on NRK today and said that during the 1970’s fuel crisis when King Olav took the tram, after he got out of the tram he launched himself into the air and flew to the top of the mountain, melted some snow with his laser eyes, and then skiied down so fast he broke the sound barrier, I’d be laughed at. No-one would believe me. People remember what happened. That didn’t happen.

But maybe they did it later? No can do, since the church had already spread around the world within about 30 years! But even if we suppose that they did, no-one know how to write like that. Myths were written as myths and history as history. The genre of historical fiction was only invented 1800 years later. Before that time it was never even conceived of to write fiction as if it were history, fact. Again, there is no evidence for this, just wild guessing.

We’re driven to this because what happened was so fantsastic, so remarkable. But that’s what we find in the gospels. No-one just believes it. People would be reluctant to say it happened, because it’s so fantastical. They only agree that it happened because they cannot explain it away by any other means.

The disciples saw Jesus do his miracles with their own eyes – and it still took them over two years before they were able to believe the evidence before their eyes and say “You are the Christ”. And were still getting it all wrong as we see in tonight’s passage. They didn’t understand fully, didn’t understand that he was God in the flesh, in person, until his resurrection. That blew away all doubts! Jesus could do the impossible! But they didn’t believe it when he first said it.

1. The Servant King will die and then rise from the dead.

Mk 10:33 “Listen,” he said, “we’re going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die and hand him over to the Romans. 34 They will mock him, spit on him, flog him with a whip, and kill him, but after three days he will rise again.”

The disciples just nodded. They didn’t understand. Look at verse 32 They were now on the way up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. The disciples were filled with awe, and the people following behind were overwhelmed with fear.

Why is he going to Jerusalem? Doesn’t he know what they will do to him? Yes he does, he who is the first, the top, the best, the good - will become last, a sinner. He will pay the punishment our sins deserve – all of our sins, even those we haven’t committed yet – by being betrayed, by suffering and then dying on a cross. His death will cover our sins.

See, Jesus came to serve. He came to serve because if he did not, no-one could be saved. There would be no church, no testimonies of changed lives, no joyous forgiveness, no mercy, no grace. It would be impossible for anyone to be saved. That’s what Jesus says in v27. Mk 10:26 The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked. 27 Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible.”

You see, he’d just spoken to two groups of people: one, a small child, helpless, dependent – and Jesus says “be like this”. The other a powerful, rich, morally upright man, who relies on his self-righteousness, his own goodness – and when challenged by Jesus, he turns away. The disciples were astonished because they thought that good people get saved.

No, says Jesus, people who recognise their need for salvation, people who come like children get saved. Why? For salvation cannot be earned, it must be given.

V 27 it is impossible for man to be saved. 27 Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. Have we got that? We cannot save ourselves! No amount of religion or good works or sacrifice can ever bridge the gap between us and God. Because God has said the only way to me is through Jesus, when we try any other way we are saying “ Hey God, I’m ignoring your word, disobeying you by trying my own way – are you impressed yet?” We’re just like Israel, told to only worship at the Temple, and never to make an image of God – what do they do? Set up two statues of God, not at Jerusalem, and worship those. Was God impressed, do you think?

Humanly speaking, it is impossible.

But not with God. Everything is possible with God.

How is it possible. Only through Jesus. Jesus is about to achieve the impossible. He, the only good man, is walking towards Jerusalem, towards his death.

On Mount Longdon on the 11^th June 1982, during the Falklands War, a Sergeant Ian McKay was pinned down with his platoon. They were suffering heavy casualties, and were in significant danger of being wiped out.
Sergeant Ian Mackay then made a momentous decision to save his men. With complete disregard for his safety he broke cover and charged the enemy position into a hail of fire. Alone, he ran up the hill toward the enemy machine gun nest firing at his men. He primed his grenades and jumped into the enemy machine gun nest. The grenades exploded, the guns fell silent, and Sergeant McKay saved his men.
Sergeant McKay, however, was killed at the moment of victory.

In that platoon there were probably some people who disliked Ian McKay. Many probably didn’t even know him. Some may have been his friends. Either way, after that night in 1982 their view of him was forever changed. He had saved them. He gave his life so they could live. They knew his name. They honoured him. They were grateful to him.

Jesus faced our undefeatable enemy – and won. We don’t need to face sin and death – Jesus has already paid the price. He gave his life to save you. So what do you think about Jesus? Perhaps you’re like the men in Ian McKay’s platoon – you don’t know him, or you don’t like him, or maybe you do like him. How does knowing that he saved your life change your response to Jesus?

He is the Servant King who died to save us – and we are called to follow him.

2. We are servants too, called to die to self, and life for Christ.

43 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. 45 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.”

What kind of boss would you like to have? What do you think makes a great leader? Most of you are probably thinking along the lines of someone who cares for you as a person, not just a cog in a machine. Someone approachable, not distant. Someone who listens to other people’s ideas, not who rules with an iron fist. Something like that? I doubt many of us thought of an autocratic dictator as good leaders. Most people in history, and many people in the world today, however, would disagree with you.

In a survey of leadership throughout world history an interesting pattern emerged. Most societies viewed compassion in a leader as weakness. Leaders were strong, exercising authority over people, and lording it over them. People were there to serve the leaders. This was across the board, even to the level of fatherhood. Many fathers believe that their authority was given them in order to please them instead of to serve others. But as Christianity started to spread, there was suddenly a totally different model of leadership on display: compassionate, servant-hearted, looking out for the interests of others. Now Jesus wasn’t the first (or the last) to proclaim such ways of leading, but he was the only one who truly embodied it, washing his disciples’ feet, dying on the cross for his followers, and commanding us to do the same.

This is God’s way of leading. Leading through service. And he’s demonstrating it at this very moment, walking to Jerusalem, walking to his death, explaining along the way.

And the disciples get it completely wrong!

You’ve really got to feel sorry for the disciples here – getting it wrong AGAIN! This is a repeat of 9:33-37 isn’t it? Jesus predicts his death, the ultimate act of service from the greatest person in the universe, and the disciples? Well, they were v34 “arguing about who was the greatest”!
And it’s a repeat of 8:31-33 where Peter, who has just declared Jesus as the Christ, then gets it completely wrong and rebukes Jesus for suggesting he should die – but that’s exactly why Jesus came! This is a rescue mission.

Doh! But thank God for the disciples. Because they really screw up – and Jesus sticks with them. He doesn’t leave us when we mess up. That’s why he came. We are spiritually small children, not rich young rulers. He will not leave us. He sticks with us like he sticks with his disciples.

It must have been so frustrating. After Jesus’ third proclamation of his death, his ultimate service… they completely ignore what he’s said “There, there Jesus, that’s very nice and all, but you’re not really going through with this – when we’re in Jerusalem you’ll flex your muscles and show them who’s boss, and we, well we want to be right beside you telling people what’s what and who’s who.” 37 They replied, “When you sit on your glorious throne, we want to sit in places of honour next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.”

Why do we all want to be rich and famous? It’s not because we want to run around serving people is it? No! It’s so we can get people to serve us. At our heart we want to be God, we want to be the one calling the shots, shaping our life to be the way we want it to be.

We want to be important. And Jesus warns them: 38 But Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink? Are you able to be baptized with the baptism of suffering I must be baptized with?”

Are you willing to suffer like I will, to drink the cup of God’s judgement, to die to save a sinful world?
And they answer Oh yes, we are able.
Not a clue!

And the other disciples are no better, all indignant because they didn’t think to ask Jesus first, like children arguing over who gets to sit where.

No says Jesus, But among you it will be different (v43). You disciples, and all who follow me, are called to pick up your cross, deny yourself, and follow me. Put your pride and ego and arrogance to death. In humility to almighty God, go where you are sent and do what you are sent to do.

Let me tell some of the story of Asif, a Muslim in Pakistan. But one day Asif had a motorbike accident and broke his leg – and a Christian lady prayed for him and his leg was healed!
This made Asif angry – how dare she pray to Jesus – but also set Asif to thinking. This thinking lead to investigating, lead to reading the Bible, and to him asking questions of the local mulvi (the Muslim religious leader). Who saw the danger signs so tried to poison him before Asif could accept Jesus! So Asif accepted Jesus. He was thrown out of home. Beaten. Arrested. And carries on preaching the gospel to anyone who will listen. Asif’s story is not unique. He serves, no matter the cost. He follows Jesus on the path to Jerusalem.

We are servants too, called to die to self, and live for Christ.

But after reading something like that I just feel guilty. Who can live like that? If you’re anything like me your heart is always loudly demanding its rights and sulking and being put out when it doesn’t get its way. I get angry when I’m put out. I’m so selfish!

Jesus, the way of loving service is impossible! I can’t do it!

Exactly. Doing this – following Jesus - requires Jesus’ miraculous power at work in us.

3. We need to be served by our King so we can serve him

51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked. “My Rabbi,” the blind man said, “I want to see!” 52 And Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road.

The man was healed, then he FOLLOWED Jesus.

I’m so happy that this miracle is placed right here. Because I can’t do this! I need Jesus’ power to live for Jesus.

The first in blind man miracle in 8:22-26 showed us that we cannot recognise God without God’s power to open our eyes. So pray for those who don’t know Jesus as Lord and Saviour – that’s the most important thing you can do for them. And then tell them, invite them to church or Bible study, and keep praying.

But this miracle is for Christians. Because this section is all about how do you follow Jesus. And just when the disciples are getting it all wrong, again, Jesus opens the eyes of a blind man. We need God to open our eyes to see Jesus. And we need God to open our eyes to keep following Jesus.

Just like the disciples, this blind man knows who Jesus is. And just like the disciples, this man cannot follow Jesus because of his blindness. 47 When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 “Be quiet!” many of the people yelled at him. But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Son of David – the rightful King. The one who fulfils God’s promise to David in 2 Sam 7 of an everlasting descendant who will rule over all Israel in righteousness and justice and peace forever. It is this blind man who first acknowledges Jesus as King of Israel. And he cries out for mercy.

Jesus hears his cry and opens his eyes, and the man immediately follows Jesus. He leaves behind his coat, probably his only possession, and instantly takes off after Jesus. He sees Jesus, and follows him. This beggar, this lowest of the low, sitting in the dust, a nothing. Suddenly is lifted up by the King. He stands face to face with Jesus, and he serves him by hgealing him. The first thing he sees is his saviour’s face. What a sight. His whole life is transformed. No longer a beggar in the dust, but a servant of the servant king. A new identity and a new destination.

Jesus gives us a new identity. See, Jesus could be humble, could serve willingly, even to death, because he was secure in the knowledge of who he is. He knew he was the King, so he had no need to prove it.
But when you are trying to boost yourself, stroke your ego, constantly aware of who’s looking at me, what do they think – you cannot serve. What would people think?
Bit when you are secure in who you are, a child of God, seated in Christ at the very throne of God, declared innocent, with a perfect record of obedience already proclaimed from now until the day you die – wow. Then your sensitive ego can be shut up while you throw yourself into whatever task God has given you, however small or difficult or demeaning (low) it is. Because then you are following in the footsteps of Christ, secure in his love.

Isn’t the gospel amazing? Isn’t it just the most wonderful news you’ve ever heard? Isn’t this something we just want to run out and tell people? New life! New life! And given as a free gift! Jesus can save. He is the Servant King, and he calls us now: “Follow me”.

We live to serve, because that’s what Jesus does. He is the Servant King who dies, and then rises from the dead.

So come to the King, he is gentle and kind, powerful to save, a servant King. Come to him you who are rebels against him and find forgiveness. Come to him you who belong to him and find strength to follow in his footsteps. We do NOT do this alone, for He is with us. He must open our eyes to see him, and then we will follow him.