Everett Henes: Jesus doesn’t pick winners

If you were putting together a winning sports team, what sorts of people would you pick? I can tell you who wouldn’t be on your team. Me. I mean, if you need a waterboy, maybe I’d have something to contribute. But I’m not talented at sports. If you were putting together a winning team, you’d pick winners. If you were building an investment portfolio, you’d select stocks that perform well. If you wanted to build a kingdom, you’d recruit the best and brightest. What’s surprising when it comes to the Kingdom of God, is that Jesus doesn’t pick the way we do. This is one of those things that is always striking in the Gospel story. Jesus doesn’t pick winners.

Luke 18 tells a series of parables and stories that seem, at first glance, to be haphazardly collected together with no overall purpose. The chapter begins with a story about a widow who pesters a judge for something she needs. She is the among the weakest of society and he is among the strongest. Everyone wants to be him, and no one wants to be her. Yet, as Jesus tells the story, it is the widow who is held up as the one to follow.

Next, Jesus tells the story about a Pharisee and a Tax Collector who go to pray. The Pharisee is righteous. He does all the right things and knows all the right ways to pray. The Tax Collector, on the other hand, doesn’t know the protocol. He just knows he’s a sinner. In the ears of Jesus’ audience, every one of them would want to be the Pharisee and not the despised Tax Collector. Yet, as Jesus tells the story, it is the Tax Collector who is said to be justified.

After this, the followers of Jesus bring their infants and children to him for a blessing. The disciples become upset because Jesus’ time is too valuable to be bothered with children. Luke tells us that they rebuked the parents, which is a strong word. Jesus rebukes the disciples, though, and says, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.” Once more, it is the lowly and helpless who are lifted up.

Next, it is a rich young ruler who comes to follow Jesus. This is the kind of person Jesus would most certainly want on his team! You can understand why he’d take a widow and a tax collector over a corrupt judge and Pharisee. Even we can get that. But a rich young ruler offers vitality, power, and money to Jesus’ cause. Surely, even Jesus can see this is someone who should be accepted. And, sure enough, Jesus offers him a spot. Or does he? Jesus tells the man, “Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor; and come, follow me.” If he did that, he wouldn’t have anything of value to offer Jesus. The man goes away, very sad we are told, because he was extremely rich.

The chapter ends with a blind beggar on the side of the road, calling out to Jesus. Unlike the rich young ruler, this man has nothing to offer Jesus. The people know that he has nothing, and so they rebuke him, telling him to be silent. Jesus hears his cry, though, and calls for him, heals him, and he joins in the crowd following Jesus.

A widow, a tax collector, and a blind beggar. These are all accepted while the judge, the pharisee, and the rich young ruler are rejected. What might seem disconnected begins to follow a clear theme when we realize it’s about who Jesus calls to himself. Jesus isn’t building a winning sports team, building an investment portfolio, or trying to conquer earthly nations. He is the King of Kings and has all authority in heaven and on earth. He is the kingdom, for where he is we find joy, forgiveness, and hope.

Luke 18 teaches us one clear message: Jesus calls to himself those who are helpless. Jesus calls sinners who need to be saved. The more we understand Jesus, the more this makes sense. It isn’t about building a winning team, but about following the one who has won. And how does Jesus win? Our chapter teaches us that as well. Not only does Jesus call those we least expect, but he also redeems us in an unexpected way. Jesus wins by laying down his life in death.

— Pastor Everett Henes, the pastor of the Hillsdale Orthodox Presbyterian Church, can be reached at pastorhenes@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Sturgis Journal: Everett Henes: Jesus doesn’t pick winners