What Is Your View Of Greatness - Matthew 20:20-28

Introduction: What does greatness look like in your eyes?

   Everybody probably has a different perspective on greatness depending on their worldview. In your bulletin I have provided you with a couple of charts. These two charts show you examples of how people view greatness:  

What Greatness Should Look Like – A Biblical Worldview Servant Leadership

Modeled after Christ washing the disciples’ feet (John 13:12–17).

Leadership that stoops low to lift others up.

Faithfulness Over Fame

A focus on obedience and perseverance (1 Corinthians 4:2: “it is required that stewards be found faithful”).

Christlike Character

Humility, integrity, kindness, self-control (Galatians 5:22–23).

Being rather than just doing.

Making Disciples

Evangelism and mentoring others in the faith (Matthew 28:19–20).

Sacrificial Love

Greatness seen in laying down one's life for others (John 15:13).

What greatness Sometimes Looks Like – Cultural Drift

Platform and popularity

Having a large social media following, best-selling books, or speaking at big conferences.

“Greatness” defined by influence more than obedience.

Success Metrics

Big churches, large budgets, building programs.

Pastors seen as “great” based on growth, not necessarily godliness

Celebrity Christianity

Christian leaders becoming public figures more known for charisma than character.

A danger of idolizing personalities over Christ.

Power and politics

Aligning with cultural or political movements to “win the culture war.”

Sometimes equating earthly power with spiritual authority.

As we approach our text in Matthew, we have a mother that is requesting that her two sons be placed in positions of greatness and authority in Christ’s kingdom.

1. The Mother’s Request – 20:20-21

   20Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him. 21 And He said to her, “What do you wish?” She said to Him, “Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom.”

   Bear in mind that this is taking place right after Jesus had shared that He would be betrayed, condemned to death, and delivered to the Gentiles to be scourged and crucified (See Matthew 20:17-19).

   I would say that her timing wasn’t the best. However, it was probably those very words of Jesus that made this mother act when she did. She was probably assuming that things were going to transpire rather quickly, and she wanted her sons on the ground floor of the coming kingdom.

  One thing that I know about mothers is that they all want the best for their children, and sometimes it doesn’t matter that elbows are flying to get their child noticed.

   We see this in the areas of sports, drama, cheerleading, leadership, gymnastics, pageants, school choice, and on and on. Yes, mothers will do whatever it takes to get their children in places of prominence.

   This mother was extremely ambitious for her sons. But let us not be too hard on her, because if the truth be known most of us would be right there alongside of Jesus asking for the same thing for our sons.

2. The Savior’s Response – 20:22-23

   22But Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They said to Him, “We are able.” 23 So He said to them, “You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father.”

   Since this mother asked Jesus her question right after he talked about what was going to happen to Him in Jerusalem, He responds to her question based on His suffering. Here is what Jesus tells her:

   “You don’t know what you are asking.”

   Have you ever heard anyone use words like these before?

   This mother didn’t understand what she was really asking!

   Next, Jesus asks,

   “Can you drink of the cup that I drink from?”

  He is asking if her sons would be able to suffer the way he was going to suffer? You see, to follow Jesus means that you may suffer, and many times suffer wrongly!

   He asked her another question:

   “Can you be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”

  The baptism here is not a water baptism, but a suffering baptism. When you are baptized you are all in – Jesus would suffer from head to toe, and from fingertip to fingertip. He would face a suffering unlike anything anyone else has faced.

  Next, Jesus provides them with a prophetic picture of their future. He says,

   “You will indeed drink My cup and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with.”

   All the disciples would in fact face suffering, and all of them except John would die martyrs’ deaths.

How the Twelve Apostles Died

1. Peter (Simon Peter) - Crucified upside down in Rome. Source: Church tradition (e.g., Origen, Eusebius).

2. James (son of Zebedee) - Executed by sword in Jerusalem (~44 A.D.). Source: Acts 12:1–2. The only apostle whose martyrdom is recorded in the Bible.

3. John (son of Zebedee) - Died of natural causes in Ephesus.

Source: Early church tradition (e.g., Irenaeus, Tertullian). Though persecuted (e.g., exiled to Patmos), John is believed to have lived into old age.

4. Andrew (Peter’s brother) - Crucified on an X-shaped cross in Greece (Patras). Source: Church tradition. Preached for two days while on the cross, according to legend.

5. Philip - Crucified or stoned in Hierapolis (modern Turkey). Source: Early traditions (e.g., Acts of Philip). Sometimes confused with Philip the Evangelist.

6. Bartholomew (possibly Nathanael) - Flayed alive and beheaded in Armenia or India. Source: Church tradition, varied accounts. Said to have brought the Gospel to India or Armenia.

7. Matthew (Levi) - Killed by sword or spear in Ethiopia or Persia. Source: Varied traditions. Author of the Gospel of Matthew.

8. Thomas (Didymus) - Speared to death in India. Source: Indian church tradition, early historians. Founded churches in India; his tomb is in Mylapore (Chennai).

9. James (son of Alphaeus) - Possibly stoned or clubbed to death in Jerusalem. Source: Confused with James the Less, but tradition says he was martyred. Details unclear due to identity confusion.

10. Thaddeus (also called Jude or Lebbaeus) - Clubbed to death in Persia. Source: Early Christian writings. Preached in Syria, Mesopotamia, and Persia.

11. Simon the Zealot - Possibly martyred in Persia or crucified. Source: Church traditions differ. One tradition says he was sawn in half.

12. Matthias (replaced Judas Iscariot) - Stoned and then beheaded in Jerusalem. Source: Church tradition. Chosen in Acts 1:26 to replace Judas.

   I would say that all the apostles indeed drank from Jesus’ cup and were baptized with the baptism that Jesus was baptized with. They all faced their own suffering in this world.

  Finally, notice that Jesus answers her original question:

   “But to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give,  But it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father.”

   The right and left hand of Jesus likely symbolize the highest rank of honor and authority in the coming millennial and eternal kingdom. Jesus makes it very clear that these seats are appointed by God – not earned by ambition, but perhaps by faithfulness, suffering, and divine purpose.

   There are some theologians who suggest that these seats are going to be for key figures in redemptive history, such as Moses and Abraham.

  The bottom line is that God will determine who sits next to Jesus in the kingdom.

3. The Disciple’s Reaction – 20:24

  24 And when the ten heard it, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers.

  Here we discover what the others were thinking when they heard what the mother of James and John asked Jesus?  They weren’t happy to say the least.

   Here in verse 24, we are told that they were “greatly displeased.”  The Greek ἀγανακτέω (aganakteō) means to be indignant, greatly offended, or to be aroused to anger by what is perceived as unjust or inappropriate.

   I wonder, were the ten upset because of what they heard, or was it that they didn’t think of it first?

   Is it possible that the ten also had the same ambition? That they too wanted to be placed in positions of power and authority.

   These two brothers didn’t gain favor in the eyes of the other apostles. They were disappointed with them. And I am sure that they made it known to them.

   In my sanctified imagination I think they became known to the ten as, the selfish apostles, or the apostles who only thought of themselves.

  Do you know any people who only think of themselves?

4. The Lord’s Redirection – 20:25-28

25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

   Jesus called His disciples to Himself and He taught them a spiritual lesson about greatness, a lesson that all of us also need to hear. Jesus shares great insights about true greatness:

1. Worldly leadership (Greatness) – It’s all about ME.

Rulers of the gentiles lord it over them.

  I can remember as a teenager that I was hired at a meat market in Redding, California. The owner was a very obese man; he was so big that all he did was sit in a chair in his office and watch monitors of his employees working in their various areas of the store

  One day I was sweeping up sawdust in the locker and I stood up and let out a sigh, and the owner came over the P.A. system, “Alexander, get to work. I’m not paying you to stand around.”

   My boss was a ruler of gentiles, and boy-oh-boy did he lord over his employees. I quit the very next day!

Those who are great exercise authority over them.

  There is always someone who has more authority than even the rulers. These people also exercise authority. Have you heard of what is termed, the chain of command?

   Years after I had quit at the meat market, and had moved to Idaho I was contacted by the I.R.S. They were investigating my former boss for tax evasion. He would write checks to his employees, make them cash them at his store, and he would place the checks in a vault. Thereby avoiding paying taxes to both state and federal government.

   It caught up with him!

   You see Jesus taught that worldly leadership is often all about self, but He also taught that there is always someone in a place of authority higher than you, and you are being watched.

2. Spiritual leadership (Greatness) – It’s all about OTHERS.

Whoever desires to be great among you, let him be your servant.

   True greatness according to Jesus is becoming a servant.

   The Greek word for servant is diakonos (διάκονος). This word generally means servant, minister, or attendant.

   A diakonos was someone who rendered helpful service to others, often voluntarily. It’s the word used for those who serve out of love, often in roles of ministry.

   We get our English word deacon from this word. A deacon is to be a servant to the church.

   This type of servant is active, involved, and engaged in meeting others’ needs.

Whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave

   Next, and I think it is important for us to see is that true greatness is being last – it is being a slave. Jesus makes it very clear that those who desire to be first, must be last – they must take on the role of a slave.

   The Greek word for slave is δοῦλος (doulos), and it means slave, one who is owned by another and has no rights of their own. There is a message here for us believers!

   A doulos was not a hired servant but someone who belonged to a master. Total submission and obedience were expected. Which is exactly what Jesus Christ expected from His followers.

   Jesus uses this word to emphasize complete surrender and humility, saying that those who desire to be first must go even lower—like a slave.

   Question: How low will you go?

Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.

   Finally, Jesus provides Himself as the ultimate example. Jesus did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.

  I have often said that people spell service in one of two ways:

Serve Us

Service

   Jesus came as a servant. He humbly served. Not thinking of Himself, but others.

   Conclusion: Allow me to bring this message to a close with a story that illustrates what Jesus taught about true greatness.

   Years ago, during World War II, a group of American soldiers was assigned to help the people of a small French village rebuild their community after it had been devastated by German occupation. As part of their assignment, they helped repair a little church that had been bombed. One day, while cleaning the ruins, they found a broken statue of Jesus. The arms had been completely shattered. The villagers asked the soldiers if they could fix it. The soldiers tried, but they couldn’t find the hands. So, one of them carved a small sign and placed it at the base of the statue. The sign read:

   “He has no hands but ours.”

   That image stayed with the villagers for years. It became a symbol of what Christian greatness truly is—not grasping for position or power but humbly offering your life in service to others.

   That’s what Jesus did. He didn’t come to sit on a throne first—He came to carry a cross. He didn’t come to be served, but to serve. And He calls us to do the same.

   Greatness in God’s Kingdom isn’t about titles, thrones, or applause. It’s about towels, trials, and sacrifice.

   So, I ask you today: 

   What is your view of greatness?

Are you chasing worldly measures of success?

Or are you willing to follow Jesus in humble service, knowing that the last will be first and the servant will be great?

   May we all strive not to sit in the highest seats—but to kneel with a basin and a towel, like our Savior (see John 13).

   Let’s not seek to be noticed. Let’s seek to be useful. Because in God’s Kingdom, the greatest title is not CEO, Pastor, or Reverend. It’s “Servant.”

   “If a man desires to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.” — Mark 9:35

   Missionary C.T. Studd once said, “Only one life, ’twill soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last.”

   Now go and live your life with His hands—because He has no hands but yours. This is the mark of GREATNESS.