Be Bold

I have discovered an essential tool for the local pedestrian: boldness. For example, when crossing Main Street, I use the designated crosswalk close to the church’s Helpsy bins. Cars often zoom past, and while plenty stop, plenty more do not. As a well-experienced foot traveler though, I utilize an important tool: I step on the road (but not in front of the vehicle). If you wait on the sidewalk, cars just keep whizzing past, but put two feet on the road, and suddenly, most vehicles stop. Drivers, apparently, respond well to boldness. A bold step into the car’s domains, and suddenly, respect follows.

In the Bible, Jesus also responds well to boldness. Zacchaeus, an infamous chief tax collector, climbed a tree see to Jesus – that’s bold. Some friends want Jesus to heal their friend. Finding Jesus insulted within a crowded house, they access the roof, made a hole, and then lowered their fiend to Jesus – that’s bold and ingenious. An outcast women deemed ‘sinful’ by the religious elites, crawled to Jesus’ feet and anointed him her tears and perfume, much to the detest of the religious elites – that’s bold.

We find that Jesus even values misplaced boldness. The mother of two disciples, John and James, came to Jesus with a bold request: “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom” (Matthew 20.21). First a question, do two grown men really need their mother pleading special favors from Jesus? Ah, the things mothers do. When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers (v.24). The ten’s response seems expected – nothing quite two team members angling for special favors from their captain (and via their mother, no less). As Jesus goes on to explain, the request fails to truly understand God’s nature. But do note, Jesus never scolds the two disciples or their mother. Rather, this bold and seemingly misguided request leads to an important teaching point. Jesus goes on to explain:

“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20.26-28.   

While the mother’s request seems amiss, Jesus responded well to her request. He provides a vital teaching for how Jesus’ followers are to interact with one another: be servants and slaves. Greatness, Jesus explains, is found through serving.

One obstacle to boldness is fear – fear that our boldness might be misplaced. Boldness and fear often occupy the same place, and by increasing one, we decrease the other. Fear paralyzes, while boldness sends us forward – even misguided boldness. Sure, we might blunder in our request, but Jesus can use our blunders to teach valuable truths. Like with the whizzing traffic, at times, we need to put two feet forward before others respond.