"WHAT DO YOU WANT?  GREATNESS:  A SERVANT"                                                   (Fourth in a series entitled:  "Journeying With Jesus to Jerusalem."

"Ask anything your want; I will give it to you," Has consequences.                                                             King Herod Antipas of Galilee said to his wife, Herodía's daughter, asking for the head                           of John the Baptist. This was the son of Herod the Great, same one who was fearful of Jesus.   (Matthew 14:6-12).

The mother of the Apostles John and James kneels before Jesus asking a favor.                                       In the Gospel of Mark it is James and John asking:  "Do for us whatever we ask." (Mk. 10:35)

"What do you want of me to do?"

 If Jesus asked you that question, what would you ask?  (Write it down).

Mother:  Grant that one of my sons sit at your right hand, the other on the left in your kingdom: (Messianic) Jesus Responded: You don't know what you are asking.                                                     Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?    Yes we can, they responded.                                        Jesus said:  You will indeed drink from my bitter cup. 

Your request has serious consequences.                                                                                                      "But to sit at my right and left is not for me to grant.                                                                            These places belong to those for whom they have been                                                                   prepared by my Father." (Matthew 20:23)  

Matthew gives a vivid picture, all the more vivid because of the stark economy of words with which it is told..  Jesus and his disciples were entering upon the last scene.  Jesus set his course definitely and irrevocably toward Jerusalem and the cross.

The stages were definitely marked:  There was the withdrawal to the north,                                        Caesarea Philippi: (First Blog) The Transfiguration of Jesus on Mt. Hermon:  (Second Blog).         There had been the journey south and brief stay in Galilee. (Third Blog)                                          There was the trip to Judea, time in the hill-country and beyond the Jordan. (Read Matthew 19:1-30).

Now there was this final stage, the road to Jerusalem.  (Read Matthew 20:17-28)

Last week we learned that Jesus used a child in demonstrating greatness.                                    Whoever welcomes a little child, like this, in my name welcomes me.                                            Children represent anyone in need or without power.  Why?  Because such persons cannot reciprocate. Jesus taught to give without expecting anything in return.  Greatness was in stark contrast to what people in Jesus' day, and I would say in today's, describe as greatness. The number of people over which one had command, whether slaves or soldiers, (Roman Centurian commanded 100 men.)

In today's Scripture, Jesus says:  Greatness is a Servant.  Reading the text closely, notice why Jesus uses the analogy of a servant.

This was the third time Jesus tells his disciples of his impending death. There is an easy way of remembering the three times Jesus speaks of what he faces when he arrives in Jerusalem.           Matthew 16:21, 17:22, 20:21.  Notice how each passage progressively reveals a little more detail of what will happen:  17:22 - Betrayed then arrested.  Notice again 20:19:                                              Turn him over to the Gentiles...Mocked (spit upon him) and flogged and crucified.                          On the third day he will be raised to life.  (Disciples only heard:  Death.)  

Jesus was sensitively preparing his disciples for the reality that lay before him.  Notice Matthew's graphic description of the scene.  (Read Matthew 20:17)  (Maybe the disciples thought:                      "Jesus is telling a parable.)  He was not!

Jesus was in state of readiness.  He was speaking as straight as he could about the persecution he would face.  Yet he was walking right into it.  There was a lack of sensitivity on the part of James and John/Mother.  It is amazing how honest Matthew was in recording this historical event.

Story about Oliver Cromwell, soldier, politician and statesman in English history.  

"Cromwell was afflicted with warts on his face.  Thinking to please him (Cromwell), the painter omitted the warts in the painting.  When Cromwell saw the painting, he said:  Take it away and paint me with warts and all."  It was Matthew's aim to show the disciples' warts and all.                           (Peter told Mark the story.)  Although the disciples failed to understand, they still believed in Jesus!

Listen to Jesus:  Whoever wants to be first must be your servant--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 20:27-28)

There are TWO Implications regarding greatness, for us drawn from Jesus' teaching.

1. Being great is changing one's focus of attention.

    Jesus:  You think as the world thinks not as God thinks.

    The first time Jesus told his disciples that he was going to Jerusalem,                                                       Peter said: "No Lord!"  You don't need to die. Look at the crowds and power they could exert.                We can find many more who join in following your leadership and establishing your kingdom."

  Jesus: Peter, your understanding of greatness is wrong. You think as the world thinks not as God          thinks... "If you want greatness, deny your personal ambition, power and place me at the center.       Take up your cross and follow me.  (Matthew 16:24)

  Whoever receives one of these children receives me.

  The second time Jesus told his disciples that he must die, the disciples began arguing among                    themselves as who was the greatest.  The disciples did not comprehend the nature of his Kingdom.  

  

 Jesus: Serving means changing focus to others and me.

   The third time Jesus speaks of his death, James and John understand enough to request seats of               honor.  Profoundly ignorant, the two respond yes when Jesus asks if they know what they are                 asking?  Do you understand that "Glorious Kingdom" begins with sorrow and suffering?  I am sure,       if asked, James and John would say:  "the reason we want to be close to Jesus is more effectively  s        serve him."  In reality, it was wanting the power and prestige.                                                                    Jesus said: Do not be like the Gentiles (Romans) who lord it over others.                                                                    Instead find ways of serving one another.   

  Change your focus from yourselves to others.  Focus on the Son of Man who came not to be            served but to serve and give his life for the ransom of many.  (Matthew 20:28)

  Being Great is changing one's focus of attention. 

2. Being great is a willingness to accept the cost.

      "Drinking the cup (being baptized with Jesus' baptism," Jesus was a Jewish metaphors, describing        the ordeal he was about to face.  "The Cup" used at Royal Banquets for honored guests. The King          personally handed the cup to the guest of honor.  "The Cup" was also "Life Experience" handed out        by God. Psalm 75:8 In the hand of the Lord there is a cup, with foaming wine, well mixed; and               He will pour it out, and all the wicked of the earth shall drink of it, down to its very dregs.

   Psalm 23 speaks of the Cup running over as an expression of joy and abundance given by God.              One of the meanings of baptism is submerged.                                                                                           Psalms 42:7, 124:6 use it as "measure of  affliction which God appoints.  

  The Son of Man gave his life as a ransom for many..

  On the cross Jesus experienced the full measure of affliction each of us deserved.  Those following        Jesus experienced harassment, imprisonment and death.  Jesus correctly said:

  You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with baptism I am baptized with .  (Mark 10:38)

  

  There is a cost of discipleship.                                                                                                                    Leadership is being out ahead (with God) and often lonely. Some of the disciples were amazed, all    were afraid.  In a real sense Jesus was alone.  His disciples were focused on themselves and not Jesus. 

  Pressures of leadership are great and understand that true leadership is not using people but serving    them.  Not forced, but voluntary.  When circumstances ae beyond our control, pressure builds.  Jesus      knew what was going to happen.  He knew God was sovereign over circumstances and was in control. 

  Most importantly, Jesus was not a victim of chance.  He life was not "taken from him, he gave it            freely." (I Peter 5:10-11)

  Willingness to serve others ... illustrated by Jesus:

   Whoever want to be great must be the servant of all.

   Later during supper Jesus ate with his disciples...

   Jesus washed the feet of his disciples and said:

   "I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done for you.                                                   How happy you will be if you put into practice what you have seen me do. (John 13:4-17)

   (The reason, in some churches, a pastor wears a stole around his neck, is that it represents the towel        Jesus used to dry the disciples feet.  It also represents the "Yoke of Christ," (Matthew 11:29)

   Following Jesus means not seeking self-gain but serving others.  Glory and greatness are not               things we can grab.  They can only be given to us.  Jesus said that not even he had the right of                 choosing who would sit at his side.  

   

   That authority was reserved for God the Father.

   If you follow Jesus into Jerusalem, next week, you will see that it was because Jesus obediently            followed his Father, giving his life for you and me, that he the Son of Man Was Glorified.

  True Greatness is Accepting the Cost. and Changing one's focus.

  

  Peter finally learned the lesson, (I Peter 5:1-4)

  1. To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, 

  a witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also 

  will share in the glory to be revealed.  

  2. Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care,

   serving as overseers -- not because you must,                                                                                             but because you are willing. as God wants you to be;

   not because you must, but because you are willing,

   as God wants you to be; not greedy for money,

   but eager to serve.

  3. not lording it over those entrusted to you                                                                                                     but being examples to the flock.

  4. And when Christ the Chief Sheppherd appears,

      you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

The Apostle James was beheaded (martyred) by King Herod Agrippa,

nephew of King Herod Antipas who arrested John the Baptist and

was fearful Jesus was John resurrected. (Acts 12:2)

He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sward.  

When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize 

Peter also.  (Peter was not killed at this time.)

Read Acts 12:21-24 Herod was struck dead, worms ate him.

John lived a long life in exile:  (Revelation 1:9)

I John, your brother and companion in suffering and kingdom

  and patient endurance that are ours Jesus, was on the Island of Patmos

  because of the word of God and testimony of Jesus.  (Patmos was a prison.)

James and John did indeed drink of the bitter cup.

Most businesses, organizations, institutions and governments measure 

greatness by personal achievement.  In Christ's Kingdom, 

Service is Greatness.  By the way whatever happened to "Public Servant.?"

What did you ask Jesus, which I invited you to write down.

Next week I will look at different request.  It you would like read Matthew 20:29-34

 

   

    

     

   

 

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