Text: Matthew 20:17-28
Title: Identity Issues
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower
As he draws near the end of his life, Jesus talks about issues of power and service. He began by calling a young man to sell all he had and then follow Jesu. The next week, he questioned the blessedness of the wealthy, even questioning their ability to enter the kingdom of God. Last week, he said God gives everyone the same reward. And now this week, Jesus reminds us that the path to glory and honor is the path or service and suffering. Our world may tell us to find our identity in our achievements, our success, our reputations, our abilities, but God calls us to find our identity in the one who suffered and died. Perhaps, Jesus speaks to these issues of power and wealth so repeatedly because he knew the great pull we would feel toward the values of our world and away from the values of his kingdom.