Jockeying for Position Matthew 20:17-28

Matthew 20:17-28 Jockeying for Position

Jesus is going to directly relate crowns, success and status in the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom he says is upside down, not like the world of men.

The Navigators are well known for their emphasis on having an attitude of servanthood. A businessman once asked Lorn Sanny, then president of the Navigators, how he could know when he had a servant-like attitude. The answer was, “By how you act when you are treated like one.”

Michael P. Green, 1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2000), 329–330.

The Post

Matthew 20:17–19 

17 Now Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside on the road and said to them, 

18 “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, 

19 and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again.”

Took the 12 aside (away from other disciples)

Third time Jesus has prepared them, (16:21; 17:22–23)

Look at what He tells them

We are going to Jerusalem

I (the son of man) Jesus uses titles and most translations present as talking about self in 3 person (trinity eh? LOL) but its a relation to the fact that He is the messiah and this is a fulfillment of the scriptures. This is prophectic language. Demons and others call him Son of God. He does refer to Himself as the Son in the Gospel of Matthew.

Rome will torture and crucify me to death

The third day I rise.

This is why He came. Not to show us a perfect way, but to be the perfect way.

So Matthew sets up this race by showing us the disciples, posting up and preparing to try to Jockey for Position

This is common problem, envy becomes a big component of ministry because we think we have to “do” instead of be. We want to be the big guys, the one everyone admires, etc.

Taking the Lead

Matthew 20:20–23 

20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him. (In Mark says James John came to 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 (second command) and the other on the left (third in command), in Your kingdom.” (Jesus addresses the brothers)

This sounds both simple and somewhat cryptic grant to sit in places of honor, authority, etc. But at the same time its a great statement of faith and the reality of the view not just of the Apostles but all of Christs disciples, and James and Johns mom was truly a disciple.

Jesus ruling in the kingdom was something taught. He already declared, Matthew 19:28  “ So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” She/they want to be on the right/left positions of honor/authority.

Now, what could make a mom do this? Or even the boys to do? Because we serve a living God, and they know 1 Kings 3:5  “ At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask! What shall I give you?”” Jesus had just talked about them being first even though last but not just them, us as well. He never asked what they wanted, but had said they would get rewards - Matthew 19:29  “ And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.”

They knew the cross was coming but they were focused on the crown

22 But 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.” 

This drink, this baptism, he has just told them, I go to be betrayed, I go to die, I go to rise again.

23 So He said to them, “You will indeed drink My cup, (they would suffer) and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; (death of the cross) 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.”

Some might say that the two on the cross, one to his left, the other to his right but 20:21  but this doesn't fit the question. They asked specifically (from the question) regarding the thrones.

They ask rather than earn. Who would you guess would've asked? Like most, if we think that then we think others would do the same. So why not ask first?

Was the cup the cup of the last supper? No. Was of judgement, the suffering of the cross Isaiah 51:17  “ Awake, awake! Stand up, O Jerusalem, You who have drunk at the hand of the Lord The cup of His fury; You have drunk the dregs of the cup of trembling, And drained it out.” this is the judgement for our sins, the terror of the long night. Matthew 26:39  “ He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”” our sin, was poured out on him in the baptism of his suffering.

Jesus said in (his willingness to pass for us) when Peter was cutting folks John 18:11  “ So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?”” What baptism? Matthew 20:18–19  “ “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, 19 and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again.”” Thats his cup & baptism.

Paul revealed: Romans 6:3–4  “ Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”

Thats why and how thrones would be given. When we enter into this with Him.

But those sitting close to Him, were in the hand of the Father.

The Blanket Finish

Matthew 20:24–28 

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

Well duh.

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. 

Jesus yells story time! So, when I or liz was ready for the family to leave, I would do an on me loop, looks like this. I can picture Jesus doing similar.

This is the top down pyramid structure of authority. We have a commander in Chief, then Generals, officers, non-coms and so on.

26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 

servant: diakonos: deacon, minister, servant.

Many churches treat deacons as voters, authorities, etc. But they are supposed to be servants. Ministers to all.

27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—

slave: doulos: slave - if you desire to truly be a servant of the Lord, you he must slave himself to all.

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 didn't give up much. Just what He had been from eternity. You realize that? He permananetly changed Himself in serving us. He will forever bear the marks of the cross.

Philippians 2:5–11  “ Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Want the throne? Give it all up. All of it. Low as a slave. Would you die, really die for Him? Then why strive to hold

Lets take a moment, before we finish, to look at ransom for many.

This is the messiah - Isaiah 53:10–11  “ Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand. 11 He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities.”

John 11:51  “ Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation,”

Ransom: lyrtron: price paid for slaves freedom. His death would be a propitiation for every human soul, from the beginning of creation till after.

But the ransom is given for many, not all. Romans 5:15  “ But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many.” how are we to accept this offer of ransom?

Jesus called all to repent. Turn from sin, to God. Trust in, Lean on, wholly and totally on Jesus as Lord of all.

Colossians 2:11–14  “ In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.”

would you come today?