THE SON OF MAN CAME TO SERVE

Matthew 20:17-19

Key verse 20:28

"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."

One of the unique things about UBF is that everyone is encouraged to grow as leaders and as great servants of God. This is a great thing because God originally created man in his image and to be rulers. The problem we have, however, is that true meaning of greatness has been twisted and inverted by sinful man. That's why most people don't like to have others in positions of authority over them; but they would like to be their own boss. In today's passage, however, Jesus helps us to rediscover the true meaning of greatness; even more, Jesus himself set the example of true greatness.

Look at verses 18-19: Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them, [18] "We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death [19] and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!"

Jesus told his disciples what was about to happen. When Jesus spoke of these things earlier, his disciples had great difficiltuy accepting it. What Jesus said here was very se- rious. His disciples should have thought carefully about it. Why is Jesus going to Jeru- salem if he knows these things are going to happen to him? Why are these things going to happen to him? Why is he telling us these things? They had a lot to think about. What did they do?

Matthew 20:20-21 Then 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."

Here we see what James and John desired: they wanted to have the highest two places in Jesus' kingdom. Together with Jesus, they would be known as "The Three J's." How did Jesus answer them?

Matthew 20:22 "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.Jesus taught them something that they did not know: Jesus taught them that the great- est positions in the kingdom of God belong to those who drink his cup. What is Jesus' cup? It refers to his suffering, death, and resurrection--which he had just told them about. Jesus made a connection between his cup and their request, indicating that those who hope to have high positions in the kingdom of God must share in Jesus' cup. James and John didn't understand what they were asking, but they said, "We can." Je- sus' answer, however, is not what we expected:

Matthew 20:23 Jesus 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."

Jesus didn't give them what they asked for directly, but he did tell them that they would drink from his cup. So, they have hope to sit at Jesus' right and left. Ultimately, great- ness in the kingdom of God does not come through politics or special favor, but God has prepared these places, and all places of honor, for those who share in Jesus' cup.

Matthew 20:24 When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers.

Here we see that James and John were not the only ambitious ones among the disci- ples. All the other disciples were indignant when they heard what James and John did. What really bothered them was that James and John had made a power play to move ahead of their brothers. Tho others had wanted those positions, but they were not as bold as James and John, who were called 'sons of thunder'. This situation threatened to be an issue of division.

Matthew 20:25-27 Jesus 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. [26] Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, [27] and whoever wants to be first must be your slave---

Jesus turned the worldly model of greatness upside down. True greatness is not to ex- ercise authority and to be served by others, but it is to serve and be the slave of others. Why is this the case? Jesus gave us the answer in his own life example.

Matthew 20:28 [28] 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."

Jesus demonstrated what true greatness is. If anyone deserves to be served, it's Jesus; if anyone is worthy of honor, it's Jesus. Yet Jesus came to meet our needs and even to suffer and die for us so that we would be saved.

Who is greater: the one who receives or the one who gives? The one who needs or the one who provides? The one who is supported or the one who supports? Jesus is great because he did not come with the need to be honored or obeyed or served; he is great because he is the one who can meet our needs. He is truly great because of his love for his Father and his love for each of us.

In this passage, we find an excellent example of Jesus' way of greatness.

Look at verses 29-31:29 As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. 30Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!" 31The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!"

These two blind men were probably regarded as cursed men. Everyone regarded them as annoying people. When they called out to Jesus for mercy, the crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet. To most people in the crowd, these beggars were not worthy of mercy; they were not worthy of even being heard. The people in the crowd did not have much authority, but they felt that they at least had enough authority to command the blind men to be quiet. What did Jesus do?

Look at verses 32-33: 32Jesus stopped and called them. "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked 33"Lord," they answered, "we want our sight." 34Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.

Jesus did not tell them to shut up. Jesus paid attention to these lowly men and asked, "What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus made himself like their servant, ready to fulfill their request. Jesus had compassion on them, touched their eyes, and healed them. This shows that Jesus exercised his power from God for the sake of others, out of love.

Through today's passage, I can see what it really means to be great. May God help each of us to learn Jesus' way of greatness.

One word: the Son of Man came to serve