One Mother - Two Sons (Part Two)

Introduction

     As we explore the second half of this story, we will be turning our attention from the accounts in Genesis to a passage found in Luke chapter 20.  I hope you will forgive me for using a football analogy, but to me with the Super Bowl approaching, it seemed like a unique way to review the effects of Levi’s curse and Judah’s blessing.  If you’ve missed Part One of this story, click here to read it first. 

     Over the years the Levites had been appointed to ‘religious’ duties, and their anointing goes back to the time of Aaron, the older brother of Moses.  We learned that not all Levites were priests, but all priests were Levites.  Likewise, the Judeans received the legacy of kingship.  Although the first king, Saul, was a Benjamite, God had allowed the Israelites to appoint him king, when God instructed Samuel to anointed him as a prince. (1 Samuel 10:1 ESV)  God was the true King of Israel, but stubborn-hearted people wanted an earthly king.  The first king was a big fail before the throne transferred to King David, a Judean.  In the line of David’s father Jesse, Isaiah had prophesied that Jesus the Messiah would be born, and He was.

The Analogy Begins

     Now let’s imagine two teams, Team Levi (represented in this passage by the chief priest, elders, and scribes), and Team Judah (represented by Jesus the Messiah and his disciples).  Reading through Luke’s account, we know that this is not their first encounter.  Both teams had entered the field many times before, but this game represents the Super Bowl of Champions.

     Team Levi wins the coin toss, and they predictably call Defense knowing that they will need the second half advantage if they are going to win the game.  Scoffing as they enter the field, they are highly aware that Team Judah is the popular choice with the spectators.  Everywhere you look, the team colors, a royal crimson, professes the allegiance of the fans to Team Judah.  Sneering at Team Judah, Team Levi stood proudly in their 'righteous white' uniforms.  They really hoped that they would win this game without getting too many blood stains on themselves.  It was so disgusting to find a stain, the Levites, known for their cleansing rituals, had an image to uphold.  They wanted to look good, spotless!  The invention of stain repellant had made a huge difference.   Every time their fans had called for a whiteout, their hometown stands were full of 'righteous white', now that was awesome.  “Defense Let’s Go!”, They shouted as they broke huddle slapping one another on the back.  This is going to be a good game. 

     As the ball sailed off the foot of the kicker, the spectators were on the feet cheering loudly, “Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!”  All the defensive players scowled, it wasn’t going to be easy getting the fans to cheer for them with Team Judah on the field.  Let’s injure their ‘playmaker’, they had agreed in the locker room before the game.  Without Jesus, their team was nothing but some bad smelling fishermen, a tax-collector, and a betrayer.  Swinging his arm in the air, the receiver on Team Judah signaled for a fair catch, but that didn’t matter to the Levites as they plowed into him anyway.  The whistle blew, “Foul!”, The referee pointed in the direction of Team Levi.  A fifteen-yard penalty would be worth injuring a few players, as long as Team Levi was not called out for targeting which would mean losing a vital player.

     As they line up on the scrimmage line, the Middle Linebacker named ‘Priest’ stands and points right at Jesus, Quarterback for Team Judah.  Although the back of his jersey said ‘Priest’ his team affectionately called him ‘Chief’.  The taunts begin as he shakes his fat finger at Jesus and says, “Tell us by what authority you do these things, or who it is that gave you this authority?” (Luke 20:1-2 ESV) Jesus was anticipating the trash talk; it always came in games like this.  He wouldn’t lose His cool as Jesus gave the count to James, His Center, who swiftly hiked the ball.  The ball sailed from Jesus' hands and finding Simon Peter, His Receiver down the field, Peter made a fantastic catch on the 50-yard line and then darted into the sideline before facing injury.

     As Team Judah formed a huddle, Jesus reassured the players with these words, “when they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour.” (Matthew 10:19 ESV) His teammates, ‘the disciples,’ nodded--understanding the play perfectly.  Jesus pointed toward heaven, and the huddle broke as they lined up on the scrimmage line again.  Jesus looked at (the chief) Priest, and said, “I also will ask you a question.  Now tell me, was the baptism of John from heaven or from man?” (Luke 20:3 ESV).  This time Team Judah snapped the ball, Jesus gave the ball to His Running Back, John ‘the Beloved’. This man could run with wings like eagles strapped to his cleats; he was quicker than Elijah outrunning Ahab’s chariot on a cloudy day (reference 1 Kings 18:46 ESV).  He was quicker than anyone in the Kingdom league, possibly because he was the youngest.  He took the ball right into the endzone.   Score!  John didn’t leap into the stands or thump his chest, he simply pointed toward heaven and clasped his hands in a prayer-like position nodding his head.  The spectators roared.  There was no need for pom pos gestures; this teams’ humility had earned them great respect from their followers.  No other team, except maybe ‘The Prophets’ responded this way.

     Jesus questions aroused suspicion.  How could He have known that Team Levi wasn’t seeking wisdom when they asked their leading question?  He had caught on that they were challenging His authority to speak in the temple, their temple.  God had anointed them, not Jesus.  What right did He have to move into their territory?  After all, He was just a Judean, a Nazarite at that. Even His own teammate Nathan had said, “could anything good come from there?”  (John 1:46 ESV)  To the casual listener, one might not pick up on the subtle meaning of the Levites’ inquisition.  Everyone seemed to love Jesus, and this infuriated the Levites.  All the Levites wanted was spectator approval, and they had had it before Team Judah rolled into town.  The extra point was good; the score was now favoring Team Judah, 7-0.

     Team Levi, now with their first possession, decided to confer to their playbook, ‘The Torah’.  Jesus had just asked them to give their opinion of John’s baptism.  Known for their sharp tongues which they often used as weapons, Team Levi had a reputation for being cruel, very cruel.  They were very familiar with their playbook.  They had even memorized it.  With knowledge of its content, they had killed many a team, like just last game when they slaughtered “The Prophets” in the playoffs to earn their spot in this championship.  Now ‘The Prophets’ were attending this game.  They sat in the upper deck of the stadium and were singing praises to the Quarterback on Team Judah.  The Levites were bound and determined to discredit Jesus once and for all.  But they had to answer His question first. 

     The execration that Jacob had made over Team Levi had followed them generation after generation when he said, “May I never enter their council; may I never join their assembly. For they kill men in their anger, and hamstring oxen on a whim. Cursed be their anger, for it is strong, and their wrath, for it is cruel!”  (Genesis 49:5-6 ESV) Even Jesus had said as much.  The blessing Jacob spoke over Team Judah, “your brothers shall praise you. Your hand shall be on the necks of your enemies; your father’s sons shall bow down to you,” had well explained their popularity with the crowd of raving fans.  But Team Levi would see what they could do about that.

     Amongst themselves, the Levite dialog went something like this, “if we say, “From heaven, He will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?”  (Luke 20:5 ESV) They were speaking of John, the baptizer.  John was a well-known Levite, but he was nothing like them.  He was now a free-agent with Team Judah breaking all ties with his former team.  A home town boy, John had left home at a fairly young age.  He was known for his wanderings, long-hair, and strange diet.  You could always find him at “The Wilderness,”  his favorite hangout, it was on the corner of Jordan and River.  Everyone knew where it was and would often meet John there to hear him talk which led them to repent and be baptized. 

    John's dad, Zechariah used to play ball too.  He had a supporting role.  Story has it one day as “Zech” was leaving the locker room, his face was a ‘ghost’ white, almost as white as his ‘righteous’ uniform.  He couldn’t speak.  Leaving the team for maybe nine months, or thereabouts, his wife had given birth to baby John.  Even though his voice came back, Zech never returned to the Team, or to the game for that matter.  He was sure proud of his kid, a good boy; Zech had taught the boy everything he knew.

     With each consecutive huddle, the Levites’ conversation continued, “But if we say, “From man,’ all the people will stone us to death, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.” (Luke 20:6 ESV) They all agreed that their best answer would be that they didn’t know where John’s baptism practices had come.  This answer didn’t surprise Team Judah after all Jesus had told His disciples to look for a people-pleasing behavior.  Team Levi was not seeking victory for victory sake; they had sold old.  They valued the opinion of man over knowledge of God.  They would never admit that Jesus was the Son of God, or that God had given Him all authority over the heavens and earth.

     The spectators had hardly noticed that Team Levi significantly outnumbered the players on Team Judah.  The ‘talking heads’ weren’t sure how an outnumbered team like Team Judah had moved the ball so well.  They were the fan favorites in this game.  Team Judah had experienced a lot of pre-season and pre-bowl injuries, yet they came on strong every time they entered the field.  Even Judas, one of the supposed money makers for this team, had been sitting on the sideline most of the season.  After a substantial sign-on bonus, team doctors had discovered Judas had a heart condition, more than likely from birth.  Judas continued to suit up refusing to return the money that had been given him.  Who knew?  Jesus did, but with His love for teammates, brothers He called them, He never said a word. 

     Team Judah in truth not outnumbered, Jesus also knew that looks could often be deceiving.  Knowing that the Levites had vision problems that hindered their strategies, Jesus understood their difficulties.  Every player had extreme farsightedness except for a player named Nicodemus who had come in for corrective lenses.  Most of Team Levi couldn’t see what was right in front of them.  Hindsight, on the other hand, was something the team had developed, called ‘Monday Morning Quarterbacking’.  They poured over the playbook, judging and criticizing plays that hadn’t worked and they prided themselves on knowing how to fix them.  They were always crossing out old plays and making up new ones.  Last count the original ten plays had now exceeded six hundred, 613 at last count.  Team Levi was proud of their work, and many teams were following in their footsteps.  Their favorite play was called ‘Scrutinizing the Sabbath’; it came with many options.  Jesus knew them all.  He had studied their plays and made an effort to educate His team.  He knew that in time Team Levi’ game approach would be judged by the Superiors (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) and only a remnant would be allowed to stay in this Kingdom league.

     Team Judah, having excellent vision and used it to their advantage.  Not only could Jesus see near and far (the beginning from the end), He miraculously could see the next play brewing in man’s heart.  He even saw the invisible, which seemed other-worldly to most.  Jesus had been teaching His teammates a new sort of vision called ‘Vertical Vision’.  This skill alone had made them impact players.

     It was now time for Jesus to give His final answer to Team Levi’s original question.  He said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.” (Luke 20:8 ESV).  He was neither defensive nor contemptible in His response.  He knew that entertaining the questions of the opposing team would serve no purpose.  Just then time ran out on the clock; the ending buzzer sounded, and the game was over.  Team Judah could have crushed His opponent early in the game, but He chose patience instead.  He had made His mission ‘Our Salvation’, and He wanted everyone in the stadium to know it.  While in the flesh, Jesus conquered sin and death and made it possible for all of us to be on the winning team. 

Application

 

• Jesus doesn’t call us to be spectators or even raving fans.  God will still judge forgiven believers for what we do with Jesus.  We are saved by grace through faith, not by works (Ephesians 2:8); however, faith without works is dead. (James 2:26 ESV).  What evidence will God see that you are more than a spectator?  We are called to bear much fruit for His Kingdom. 

• How difficult is it for you to talk about your faith with others?  Did you notice that Jesus asked a question to answer the chief priests' question?  Asking questions changed the tables from defense to offense.  We should know that a team never scores on defense. 

• What is your definition of winning?  Do you want to win?  Jesus is on the winning team.