Journey Through Matthew: The Bitter Cup

Introduction

Good morning and welcome back!

Hopefully everyone has had a good week and are ready to dive back into God’s word this morning.

Today we are going to be continuing our Journey Through Matthew, and this morning we are going to be looking at if you would like to start finding that in your Bible.

And we covered this passage sometime back and if you were here then, some of the topics may be somewhat familiar, but God’s Word is relevant every single day and what always amazes me is that I can read the same passage 10 times and depending on what is going on in my life at the time, it could mean something totally different for me.

Now, the basic literal meaning of the Scripture never changes, but its APPLICATION in everyday life changes every single day.

So, to be honest, we could probably cover this same passage for the next month and each week gain something a little different from it.

But, if you recall from the last few weeks we have been looking at the subject of “The First Being Last and the Last Being First.”

Even though Jesus’ disciples are stuck in the ways of the world, Jesus is trying to get them to understand that the Kingdom of Heaven; His kingdom; is not of this world and the standards in Heaven’s kingdom are much different than that of the world.

He is trying to get them to see the importance of God’s love, God’s mercy, God’s forgiveness, God’s grace.

And to be honest, they are having a hard time accepting that concept.

After all they had spent their whole lives believing that you earn everything you get and that God’s approval and favor on a person is shown by how rich they are or how many possessions they have, or how influential or successful they are in life.

But of course we know that is not the case.

God’s approval is based on his love for all of us and our repentance of our sin and acceptance of Jesus Christ as our only hope and Savior.

And he is trying his hardest to get the people to understand that.

And to be quite frank, his disciples for generation, once they understood that point have been trying to do the exact same thing.

But just like the people in Jesus’ day, the people today are stuck in the things they have always been taught and always believed.

Face it, we see the world around us and the way things work in the world and we naturally think that is the way everything works.

And this morning Jesus is going to face that exact same thing, this time not only with two of his disciples but also with their momma.

So, if you have found in your Bible, I’d invite you to stand with me if you are able, as we look at Drinking From the Bitter Cup.

Matthew writes . . .

Scripture Focus

Matthew 20:20–28 NIV - Anglicised

20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favour 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.” 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. 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.” 24 When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. 25 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— 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.”

Matthew 20:

A Mother’s Request (vs 20-21)

So, here we are, seemingly right back at the same place as Jesus had been with the disciples from the beginning.

Now, to understand this a little better, we need a good analogy.

Has anybody here today ever coached a ball team or organized a play or anything where young people would be doing the actual work but an adult is in charge?

That is sort of what we have going on here.

We have the sons of Zebedee, which are James and John, Jesus’ disciples who had heard all of his teaching about the first being last and the last being first.

And probably what happened is they went home to momma and were telling her what Jesus had said and what he was teaching.

Now, I’m not sure if they were complaining to her or just informing her of what Jesus had said, so I don’t want to paint them as complainers.

But their mother knew of the struggles they had been facing, the hard work they have been doing and all the things going on.

And in her mind; probably like the minds of all mothers, her boys were the best, the star pupils, #1 in dedication to Jesus.

So, she decides to gather up the boys and go and have a talk with Jesus.

She was going to state her case to coach as to why she knows better than he does.

So, again in verse 20 the Bible tells us . . .

Matthew 20:20 NIV - Anglicised

20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favour of him.

So, she is going to try to butter Jesus up and I don’t know of James and John were encouraging her, or if they were like many kids are when parents intervene this way, completely embarrassed.

The Bible doesn’t say, just that she comes with the boys, kneels down and is going to ask a favor.

And of course Jesus, probably already knowing what is going to ask, indulges her anyway.

What is it you want, he asks her and her response . . ..

Matthew 20:21 NIV - Anglicised

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.”

“Jesus, oh Jesus....You’ve talked about all the glory of the kingdom of heaven, put my boys at the place of honor.”

Okay…What about the the other 10 disciples?

What makes these two more worthy than them?

What makes them so special?

I will tell you what....NOTHING.

They are no better or no worse than any of the other disciples.

To be honest, they are sinners saved only by the grace and mercy of God.

They are no more “deserving” of anything than anyone else.

Then or now.

Just because they were the first disciples, doesn’t mean they are better than all the rest and every other disciple that has come after them is inferior is some way.

The book of Acts tells us that God is no respecter of persons, meaning that God’s love for all of us is unconditional and he doesn’t show preference to one person over another.

God’s desire is for all of us to repent and follow Him. Heaven is intended for everyone, we just have to agree to accept it.

But she is still thinking in these worldly terms that some are more special to God than others and that some are more important to God than others.

The roles we take in heaven have nothing to do with how much God loves us.

The Bitter Cup (vs 22-23)

What we do in heaven is really going to be based on what God knows we are best suited for and will make us the happiest.

This pursuit of greatness is the reason Satan was thrown out of heaven.

He was jealous of God and wanted more power, which drove him to sin.

Jesus is trying to get them to realize this is not the way.

And being completely honest, it is not the way of Christians today.

We shouldn’t be acting like the world.

We should be an example to the world on how to act, how to do things.

Sure, it’s okay to be successful, but be sure it’s not at the expense of others.

Be an example to others.

The Bitter Cup (vs 22-23)

And Jesus calls them out on it too, even though they don’t initially get it.

Verse 22 tells us . . .

Matthew 20:22 NIV - Anglicised

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.

See, Jesus is trying to warn them and they think he is taking them seriously and making them offer.

In their minds Jesus is saying, “are you sure you want to do this....It’s going to be tough....”

When in reality Jesus is saying, “Do you even know what you are asking? Haven’t you listened to a thing I’ve said? Have you lost your mind?”

And their response, Yes! We can go through what you are going to go through! “If it means being #1 and #2 in heaven, we will do whatever!”

And Jesus’ response to this is a little bit more understanding but no more comforting.

Matthew 20:23 NIV - Anglicised

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.”

See, Jesus knows that James and John are dedicated disciples who believe.

And he knows that throughout the rest of their life they will suffer greatly for those beliefs.

But he wants them to understand that any suffering they endure must be based on the fact that they really and truly believe He is the Son of God in their hearts.

The belief that He and only He can save them from their sin.

The belief that eternal life comes Him and only Him.

Their ability to endure affliction and make sacrifices for others comes from a transformed heart that is not connected to this world or the things of this world.

Because if their “Christianity” was based on anything else, then #1-they would not be able to endure the afflictions because they would be constantly debating whether “it was worth it.”

And, #2-their heart would not belong to God because they would be basing their salvation on works and not faith, meaning that they would be eternally lost.

And it is no different for us as well.

We’ve talked about it time and time again.

If your “salvation” is based on works, doing good deeds, simply coming to church, paying tithes, doing things that you think please God, then you do not have salvation, you are a good person, but you will not inherit eternal life.

You must give your heart to Jesus, repent of your sin, and follow him.

And when the Holy Spirit changes your heart, then all of these good things you are doing, you will still keep doing them, but here’s the difference.

You will stop keeping score.

You will stop trying to rack up good deeds.

You will just do things, just because it is who you are and you will not care who sees or more importantly, doesn’t see it.

Because it becomes part of your nature and you stop paying attention to it and stop patting yourself on the back for it.

So, I guess you could ask yourself this morning, am I still keeping score?

Am I judging my “Christianity” on how much better or worse I’m doing than someone else?

If so, you’ve got work to do on this altar this morning.

You may want to let that sink in while we finish up.

Notice that Jesus tells them that they would suffer but also that 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.

So, again the jobs are designed for who is best to fill them.

Jealous Disciples (vs 24-28)

But we also have another problem crop up.

Remember those other 10 disciples we mentioned earlier?

Well, apparently they had heard this conversation, and they didn’t like it none.

Matthew 20:24 NIV - Anglicised

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

Matthew 20:

And who could blame them really!

I mean, who do James and John think they are?

And really, getting your momma to come and try to get you a better job in heaven?

Who does that?

And while I believe Jesus understands their frustration, their reaction is less than perfect.

After all, why should they even care?

If they had fully understood what Jesus had been teaching, they would have known better.

But, they didn’t and Jesus, like Jesus does uses this as a teaching moment.

Matthew 20:25 NIV - Anglicised

25 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.

Matthew 20:

Again, he is going to be drawing a contrast between His kingdom and the kingdoms of the world and how they are structured.

And he continues . . .

Matthew 20:26–28 NIV - Anglicised

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— 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.”

Matthew 20:

And there it is again, the first being last and the last being first concept.

This time being explained to them in the understanding of a servants heart.

Altar Call

I wonder though why many of us are here this morning.

Did we come this morning to be served or to learn how to serve others?

Or maybe we came because we felt we were fulfilling some duty to be here.

We think it will help us gain another point in the score we are keeping.

I really don’t know and to be honest, it’s not for me or for anybody else to judge.

Because God has already been the judge and the Holy Spirit has already convicted you.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m glad everyone is here, but I believe the Holy Spirit has spoken to many today.

The question is, what are you willing to do about it?

Will you keep gripping the back of your seat?

Will you ignore it and leave when the singing is over, shaking my hand acting like nothing is wrong?

Will you leave angry vowing to never come back?

Well, none of those things will get you to heaven.

If you want things to be different when you leave than when you came, then you must respond to what the Holy Spirit is telling you to do on this altar.

Whether it is accepting Jesus for the first time or coming back to Jesus after a long absence.

I can’t force you to do anything, it must be your choice.

But I will tell you, this church needs you, this community needs you, I need you.

We have so much to do for the Kingdom, but you can’t do it unless you belong to the kingdom.

So, what will it be this morning?

Our altars are open.