What did Jesus mean when he said, "The last will be first, and the first will be last"?
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| Braden Collum |
In providing some commentary on the subject I must first confess something you probably already know about me:
Showing posts with label Luke. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Luke. Show all posts
How to Be Last in a World Consumed by Firstness
I've read the gospels many times, but I always seem to stumble when Jesus says, "The last will be first." I have an inkling of understanding, but the gravity of the phrase seems to elude me.
What did Jesus mean when he said, "The last will be first, and the first will be last"?
In providing some commentary on the subject I must first confess something you probably already know about me:
What did Jesus mean when he said, "The last will be first, and the first will be last"?
In providing some commentary on the subject I must first confess something you probably already know about me:
If You Really Believe Luke, You Just Can't Be a Pessimist in 2019
If you had a few days left to live, what would you tell those around you?
You'd probably ensure that your loved ones know they are loved. You might reminisce with them about the past. You might even try to bury the hatchet with some contentious people from your past.
But in addition to nostalgia and forgiveness, I can bet there would be a good deal of practicality wrapped up in your last few days. Things like where you store the password for the retirement account. How to start up the lawn mower when it makes that pathetic sound. When to pay the water bill.
If anyone at all depends on you, you would prepare them for your absence. You would attempt to share all of the knowledge in your head so that your loved ones could carry on when you died.
This is exactly what Jesus did on his last trip to Jerusalem. He knew the end was near for him. In Luke 18 he even predicted his death for (at least) the third time. He said:
You'd probably ensure that your loved ones know they are loved. You might reminisce with them about the past. You might even try to bury the hatchet with some contentious people from your past.
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| Photo by Bruce Mars |
But in addition to nostalgia and forgiveness, I can bet there would be a good deal of practicality wrapped up in your last few days. Things like where you store the password for the retirement account. How to start up the lawn mower when it makes that pathetic sound. When to pay the water bill.
If anyone at all depends on you, you would prepare them for your absence. You would attempt to share all of the knowledge in your head so that your loved ones could carry on when you died.
This is exactly what Jesus did on his last trip to Jerusalem. He knew the end was near for him. In Luke 18 he even predicted his death for (at least) the third time. He said:
How to Tell If You're about to Do Something Awesome
What’s the most significant thing you’ve ever done? The most awe-inspiring?
If you were to ask me I wouldn’t say, “Graduating college.” Although I consider that a great feat. I wouldn’t say, “Running eleven miles in a row.” Or, “Writing two books."
No, without hesitation I’d tell you that fostering and adopting two boys is the most significant endeavor Katie and I have ever undertaken.
But it almost never happened.
If you were to ask me I wouldn’t say, “Graduating college.” Although I consider that a great feat. I wouldn’t say, “Running eleven miles in a row.” Or, “Writing two books."
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| Beadmobile (CC) |
No, without hesitation I’d tell you that fostering and adopting two boys is the most significant endeavor Katie and I have ever undertaken.
But it almost never happened.
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