Daily Bread 2010
Matthew 20
A Mother's Request
20Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him.
21"What is it you want?" he asked.
She said, "Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom."
22"You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said to them. "Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?"
"We can," they answered.
23Jesus said to them, "You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father."
24When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. 25Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
Even though I am not a mom, I know the tendency of a parent to want to make sure their child gets the “star treatment”. Sometimes instead of letting the “law of responsibility” work, we try to get our kids to get ahead of the curve, thinking we are helping them get a break in life.
When James and John’s mom asks Jesus to have her sons sit on Jesus’ right and left hand side, I’m sure in her mind it was a harmless request that any mom might ask. But Jesus quickly lets her know that that she is inappropriate for asking this. But then the other ten join in, and are irritated by the fact these two had even asked for this distinction.
Jesus realizes it is a “teachable moment” for all involved in this little drama. First of all, remember that in this very hierarchical society, power was everything. Therefore, what these brothers were really asking for was to be in power. If you had been underneath power your whole life, it would be a natural response to the opportunity that being close to Jesus might afford them.
But Jesus uses this moment to teach them about the true nature of power and also “greatness”. Jesus teaches them that true greatness is to use your power to serve others, not be served. Jesus turns the tables on the worldly power structure, and will soon show them what true servant-hood looks like when he goes to the cross.
Where is God calling you to be great, I mean to serve?
Prayer: Jesus we thank you for your example of unselfish service, which is the road to true greatness. May we serve wherever you have called us to be an example of your humble and sacrificial love. In your name we pray, Amen.
A Mother's Request
20Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him.
21"What is it you want?" he asked.
She said, "Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom."
22"You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said to them. "Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?"
"We can," they answered.
23Jesus said to them, "You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father."
24When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. 25Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
Even though I am not a mom, I know the tendency of a parent to want to make sure their child gets the “star treatment”. Sometimes instead of letting the “law of responsibility” work, we try to get our kids to get ahead of the curve, thinking we are helping them get a break in life.
When James and John’s mom asks Jesus to have her sons sit on Jesus’ right and left hand side, I’m sure in her mind it was a harmless request that any mom might ask. But Jesus quickly lets her know that that she is inappropriate for asking this. But then the other ten join in, and are irritated by the fact these two had even asked for this distinction.
Jesus realizes it is a “teachable moment” for all involved in this little drama. First of all, remember that in this very hierarchical society, power was everything. Therefore, what these brothers were really asking for was to be in power. If you had been underneath power your whole life, it would be a natural response to the opportunity that being close to Jesus might afford them.
But Jesus uses this moment to teach them about the true nature of power and also “greatness”. Jesus teaches them that true greatness is to use your power to serve others, not be served. Jesus turns the tables on the worldly power structure, and will soon show them what true servant-hood looks like when he goes to the cross.
Where is God calling you to be great, I mean to serve?
Prayer: Jesus we thank you for your example of unselfish service, which is the road to true greatness. May we serve wherever you have called us to be an example of your humble and sacrificial love. In your name we pray, Amen.
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