What is greatness? In particular, what is greatness in the kingdom of God?

That is the question addressed in the passage from Matthew today.

Jesus is approached by two different groups. First, the family of Zebedee: James and John and their mother. Second, two blind men. Jesus asks both groups the same question “What do you want me to do for you?” What they request is quite revealing. And so is Jesus’ response to their requests.

The Zebedees request position, status, reward for effort. The blind men request mercy, for their eyes to be open.

Which request lines up with Jesus’ teaching previously? Which request do we tend to go to ourselves?

The Department of Home Affairs has an Australian Values Statement on its website. Visa applicants for residency/citizenship must sign this. And one of its key principles is that we are a ‘fair-go’ country.

We would all agree with that. I suspect, too, that we would summarise our ‘fair go’ culture by stating that ‘you get what you deserve/what you work for’. In fact, many of us have established our relational, social and work ethics on this very principle.

But is that what the ‘kingdom of heaven is like’? What is its value statement? What is the hallmark of such a kingdom, and its ruler, even its citizenship?

Today, after Jesus has assured his disciples that the dependent will be provided for by their king, he now uses the same ideas to issue with them a warning not to abuse, misuse, ignore or become entitled in the face of the kingdom of heaven hallmark—which is grace.

Jesus deals with the question of ‘Who belongs in the kingdom?’ Is it children? Is it the good? Is it the godly? And, how and what does this look like?

This question of ‘belonging’ is one that is constant in our lives – where do I belong, do I belong, what does belonging look like? And Jesus is very clear: the kingdom of heaven is made up of the dependent, the reliant, the weak – just like children.

The book of Esther recounts a period where God's people are in exile, aliens in a foreign land. Sounds like our time doesn't it?

Even when God seems absent, He is at work. The great reversal of power at the heart of the universe has already taken place. Jesus won victory over death on the cross and in His resurrection. Satan the great enemy of God and His people, has been defeated.

We wait in the now but not yet. Waiting for the Lord Jesus to return and give His people relief and rest. But as we wait, we share the good news of the gospel, call people to faith in Jesus, faithfully endure persecution, knowing that our deliverance is assured.

We love a turning point. Whether it is a story or a football game. Hope dawning at the darkest time.

Where is the great turning point in Esther? It could be our memory verse, when Esther is persuaded by Mordecai to act to save her people. It could be when the king looks with favour upon Esther and holds out the golden scepter to her. It could be when Haman is forced to lead Mordecai through the city mounted on the king’s horse and proclaims that he is the man the king delights to honour. They are major events in the story of Esther. They are turning points of a sort. But the writer of Esther points us to another event. That looks so trivial.

Esther is such an exciting story! There are evil plots. There are interesting yet flawed characters. There is risk and sacrifice. There is heroism and villainy.

Today, we are introduced to the villain of the plot, and what an evil scheming villain he is! He spins lies and concocts murderous plans to do away with the Jews, God’s covenant people. How will the people respond? Will he get away with his evil plan? Will God, who is not mentioned at all, intervene to protect His people, to live up to the promises He made to Abraham, the people at Mt Sinai, and to David?

There is so much that sounds familiar in these first two chapters of Esther: the world is dominated by loud and brash and imposing and degraded power, the people of God are small and struggling and faced with ambiguous decisions and actions and God seems so far away he is almost absent (at least to our minds and hearts). As we read this book, we will need God’s revelation to help us navigate its strangeness, its ambiguity, and its confrontational narrative. In this, we have the key to the book—the lack of God’s name in letters does not mean the lack of God’s presence.

He is risen!

This morning we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. The tomb is empty, the power of sin and death has been defeated.

It is fitting that if Jesus’ last words were “it is finished” than His first words to His followers are “peace be with you”. But this is no ordinary greeting. The work of Jesus, His life, death, burial and resurrection is the grounds on which our relationship with God can be restored. The brokenness and rebellion that once plagued our lives has been dealt with.

It’s no wonder that Jesus’ words are “peace be with you”.

Jesus doesn’t give peace as the world does, nor does He promise a life free from trouble. But He does promise life to the full. God promises Shalom, complete wholeness in relationship with Himself through Jesus.

That is something to celebrate!

Last Words - Jesus spoke these words to let us know what he is about.

There are a number of sayings that I love, but one that I really use –

‘Pink in the morning, sailor’s/shepherd’s warning; Pink at night, sailor’s/shepherd’s delight’.

It was actually confirmed as a true saying for me the other day, as I listened to an interview with a meteorologist!

Sayings like this that are memorable and true – well, they provide terrific summaries that help us navigate life. And it is no different for God’s mob. In fact, within even a matter of years of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection (and ascension), sayings were starting to be developed and used that summarised the essence of what it meant to be a disciple of Jesus, and part of God’s mob.

Those sayings are no less significant today – and one of them, from a letter from a bloke called Paul to a young fella called Timothy, summarises what we are on about here at Narrabri Anglican Church: Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners’.