Suffering and Service

Welcome

Intro

Today, We find Jesus, His 12 Disciples, and a large crowd at the edge of the Jordan River near the city of Bethany. Jesus and the 12 are on a journey of ascension to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover Festival. The Hebrew term for this is Aliyah. This idea of Aliyah involves so much context. It describes the ascent to the Holy City of Jerusalem, a change in physical elevation. It describes the ascent into the place on Earth where the Presence of God dwells, literal spiritual elevation. It involves the rising or changing in status. It is in Jerusalem where every person visiting the temple would go to the purification process necessary to get close to the Presence of the Living God and offer sacrifices that would make them ritually pure. This idea would also transfer to the sacrifice itself. It is in Jerusalem that the blood of the sacrifice would have undergo a spiritual change in status that would allow it to cleans the temple of ritual impurities thus making the Temple clean and prepared for God’s Presence. This Journey for Jesus is one of transformation as we will see in today’s passage Jesus foreshadow for his disciples. Today’s passage should leave us wondering and seeking what in us needs to rise up in order for us to ascend to all that God is calling us individually and collectively towards.

Before we jump into scripture let’s look at the map to better understand Geographically where are passage is taking place.

Now that we know where we are let’s jump into today’s section of scripture.

Body

Matthew 20:17 CSB

17 While going up to Jerusalem, Jesus took the twelve disciples aside privately and said to them on the way,

Mark says it this way:

Mark 10:32 CSB

32 They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. The disciples were astonished, but those who followed him were afraid. Taking the Twelve aside again, he began to tell them the things that would happen to him.

Matthew 20:18–19 CSB

18 “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death. 19 They will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked, flogged, and crucified, and on the third day he will be raised.”

Jesus just gives the most detailed and accurate description of what is to come. Prophetically, describing the nature of His Coming Death.

For those who claim that the Jews Killed Jesus let the account of Jesus set the record straight.

He would willingly go up to Jerusalem.

He would be taken into custody by the Chief Priests (Sadduccess) and the Scribe (Pharisees).

The Jewish Leadership would Condemn Hm to Death

The Jewish Leadership would hand him over to the Gentiles.

The Gentiles would mock Him

The Gentiles would spit upon him.

The Gentiles would Beat Him.

The Gentiles would Kill Him.

God would resurrect Him from the dead.

I believe we must fully understand this picture because I believe it wasn’t God’s wrath that put Jesus on the Cross. I believe it was the Wrath of Man Towards God that put Jesus on the Cross.

Just look at the World around us. Everywhere you look you will see rebellion and anger towards God.

It is by taking on all the wrath of all men towards God that Jesus Opens the Gate for the Redemption of All Men.

This allows Him to Fulfill His Role as Messiah Ben Joseph-The Suffering Servant.

But then He gives His disciples Hope that He won’t be just another Prophet to be Martyred.

No, in three days He will be Resurrected thus able to step in to the his Role as Messiah Ben David (The Coming King bring Redemption in his Wake.)

Now, You would think that after such an accurate and truly gruesome Prophecy the response from the Disciples would be somber, reverent, and respectful.

Nope……..

This is what makes the Bible so believable for me. Why would anyone wanting to make something up add these details……

Matthew 20:20–21 CSB

20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons approached him with her sons. She knelt down to ask him for something. 21 “What do you want?” he asked her. “Promise,” she said to him, “that these two sons of mine may sit, one on your right and the other on your left, in your kingdom.”

The Mother of James and John gets it. For some reason while the disciples still don’t understand somehow this woman gets it.

She is seeing the true picture of What is to come and makes a request. Can My Sons sit on your left and your right…….

Jesus answers the question with a question. A classic Rabbi teaching practice.

……..

Matthew 20:22–23 CSB

22 Jesus answered, “You don’t know what you’re asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?”

Matthew 20:22–23 CSB

“We are able,” they said to him.

Matthew 20:22–23 CSB

23 He told them, “You will indeed drink my cup,

Matthew 20:22–23 CSB

but to sit at my right and left is not mine to give; instead, it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”

Matthew 20:24–28 CSB

24 When the ten disciples heard this, they became indignant with the two brothers.

Matthew 20:24–28 CSB

25 Jesus called them over and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions act as tyrants over them. 26 It must not be like that among you.

Matthew 20:24–28 CSB

On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave; 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.”

At the beginning to this message I stated that my hope was that this message would cause you to question what in you needs to rise up in you in order for you to be walking in all that God has called you to.

How are you seeking to serve……..Or are you here as part of this church family seeking to be served.

Does your walk with God line up with Jesus’ walk or have you become a consumer of God’s Goodness?

Four Pillars of the Church?

Evangelism

Discipleship

Generosity

Service

How am I practicing _______________ personally?

Invitation

Offering

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