"Reverse, Reverse" by Rev. Jillian Hankamer

A sermon for Northminster Church

November 16, 2025

Matthew 19: 27-30

1. Intro

-Erich and I just rewatched Ted Lasso

-tells story of American college football coach who’s hired to coach football for AFC Richmond in London

            -like most Americans, he knows almost nothing about football

            -leads to interesting interactions with players, reporters, the public

-even if you don’t like or know anything about football give show a try

            -writing is snappy, smart, funny

            -like a warm hug in tv form

-most of all, it’s story of a man who refuses to give into unkindness, selfishness, and anger. Who’s almost annoyingly positive and who’s genuine investment in people spreads throughout organization

-also, a story of roles being reversed as with character of Nate

            -in beginning, Nate is team’s Kitman - equipment manager

-not someone you’d pay attention to or who’s likely to get coach’s attention

                        -shy, self-effacing to the point of being unkind to himself

                        -but has a special kind of genius for football strategy which Ted notices

                        -blossoms under Ted’s guidance, helps team win necessary games

                        -eventually promoted to assistant coach and things start to turn

-Nate’s strategic mind becomes cruel in small moments, particularly with new kitman

-though he’s part of coach staff, fully trusted by Ted, he’s not the only person Ted pays attention to

-self-loathing, inability to be perfect and the effect that has become extreme

-Nate changes

-betrays Ted, sharing personal, private info with media

-destroys something of great importance to team

-quits, takes head coach job of competing team

-all the time acting “the donkey”

            -it’s a role reversal that’s as frustrating and infuriating as it is sad

2. Exegesis

-Thought of this because per Wil Gafney, “Jesus proclaims a gospel of reversal”^[1]

            -highlighted again in this story but not first or only instance

-SOM with Beatitudes and blessing of those in mourning, merciful, peacemakers

-consistent teaching to put people before religious observance

-dedication to the poor

-inclusion of women like woman at well

-on and on list goes

-verses follow Jesus’ interaction with rich young ruler and his “commentary on the plight of the rich…[that] they are possessed by their possessions.”^[2]

-Peter’s question, “We left everything and followed you. What do we get out of it?” is asked in response to Jesus’ words and “sets up a contrast”^[3] by the Gospel writer “between those who are not able to accept Jesus’ invitation…and those disciples…who have accepted that invitation.”^[4]

-Different than Mark’s version of same story with Jesus’ words about disciples’ receiving eternal life “in the age to come.”

-Also have uniquely Matthean verses here about the twelve disciples judging Israel

-point of which is to “make clear that those who have left much behind for Jesus’ sake will gain much more.”^[5]

-” not some kind of materialistic reward…but a new, added responsibility for those to whom they have been sent”^[6] - i.e. “the lost sheep of Israel”^[7]

-idea of responsibility as followers is major Matthean theme

- image offered is “one of patient, faithful service in the already/not  yet of the Christian life…We struggle with mercy against injustice and suffering not because we can bring it to an end by our own doing, but simply because that is who we are. We are a people who in Christ have had a foretaste of God’s future reign and thus can never again live comfortable with the state of the present.”^[8]

-said another way, because of Christ the “reward we have been given is the work that is to be done until.”^[9]

-Then there’s final verse of the pericope - typifies Jesus’ ministry, “This is the Great Reversal: many of the first ending up last, and the last first.”

            -Jesus repeats himself in next chapter with Parable of the Vineyard Owner

                        -this is literary device called an inclusion

                                    -also known as bracketing or envelope structure

-similar to a refrain in music

-often used in Hebrew scripture, so makes sense Jesus would use it

-is the repetition of material at beginning and end of a section or text

-important because by ending both sections same way - words to disciples and following parable - it is “clear that it is all about God’s salvific reversal of status and thus of the status quo.”^[10]

3. Ted Lasso Redux

- Another thing Ted Lasso does beautifully is tell stories of forgiveness and reconciliation

-don’t know if writers would use such language to describe it, but both things happen too often for it to be accidental

            -Again, Nate is perfect example

-after getting head coaching job, he doesn’t hesitate to trash former team and Ted to media

-Ted responds with kindness and humor, refusing to speak poorly of Nate

-Despite finally being in charge and getting the credit he thought he wasn’t getting with Ted, Nate isn’t happy in new role

-Owner of team is an untrustworthy womanizer who only cares for himself

            -In second reversal Nate quits high profile coaching job

            -as a viewer you begin to feel less dislike for him

            -then he’s brought back into AFC Richmond fold

                        -takes job as assistant to the Kitman

-is given a chance to apologize and make things right with people he hurt or treated poorly

-repairs his relationship with Ted

-It’s another reversal from villain and enemy number 1 to a reconciled member of the community who’s just as imperfect as everyone else

-As Ted says, “I hope that either all of us or none of us are judged by the actions of our weakest moment. But rather by the strength we show when and if we’re ever given a second chance.”

            -Nate is given second chance

            -his role reverses again

-Beautiful example of believing in people and the importance of kindness we don’t see or practice often enough

4. Conclusion

-Though not a religious show, what Ted Lasso does so beautifully is refuse to take part in narrative that people aren’t redeemable or that forgiveness and second chances are signs of weakness

-show tells characters’ stories well because it doesn’t shy away from messy bits but doesn’t wallow or stop in weakest moments

-People aren’t one dimensional or defined by single choice

-Rather reversals happen. Not just with Nate but most of the characters. They grow; they change. Relationships start and end. Life is sometimes painful.

-But as with this morning’s gospel reading, things don’t stop in the pain and hurt for we follow a Savior who “proclaims a gospel of reversal.”^[11]

-who tells us that those in power will not always get the final say

-those who’re invisible in this world are seen clearly by God

-through Jesus, God is doing something different

            -has different priorities

            -a different measuring stick

            -different metric of what’s important

-it’s the reverse of what the world teaches, what culture and consumerism and capitalism would have us believe

            -prioritizes people at the back of the line

            -makes room for those we find irredeemable

            -defines leadership through compassion

            -knows the necessity of forgiveness

            -offers as many chances as we need

-Challenge of this morning’s Good News is that Jesus doesn’t promise there won’t be losses when we follow him

            -” Doesn’t promise that relationships lost will be restored or replaced”^[12]

-If you’re follow Jesus expecting to never experience hardship you will be disappointed

-Discipleship and faithful church attendance are not safeguards against hard things

-But the Good News is that what we gain in following Jesus “is ultimately worth more, without devaluing our losses.”^[13]

-what we gain in hitching our wagon to our reversal-loving Savior is a chance to be different, to try something new, to try again

-A faith that’s based in reversals allows for mistakes, makes room for forgiveness, encourages reconciliation

-As we know, such a life, such an approach to life is a challenge

            -Be so much easier to live this way if we were protected from the bad

-But to again quote Ted Lasso, "Taking on a challenge is a lot like riding a horse, isn't it? If you're comfortable while you're doing it, you're probably doing it wrong."

^[1] Wil Gafney, Women’s Bible Commentary

^[2] O. Wesley Allen Jr. Fortress Biblical Preaching Commentaries: Matthew, 2013, Fortress Press, pg. 197.

^[3] Ibid.

^[4] Ibid.

^[5] Ibid.

^[6] Ibid, pg. 198.

^[7] Ibid.

^[8] Ibid, pg. 236.

^[9] Ibid.

^[10] Ibid, pg. 198.

^[11] Wil Gafney

^[12] Ibid.

^[13] Ibid.