Becoming Great!

Do the Zebedees sound self-serving? Does their ambition, their selfish ambition, make your skin crawl?

James & John have been mentored by Jesus for a long time by now. Mt 20 is near the climax of Mt’s gospel. Jesus is going up to Jerusalem for the final showdown. Yet, Jesus’ disciples are still confused about leadership.

James & John’s lust for power and prestige in Jesus’ Kingdom make them sound like the worst kind of politicians. It sounds like they took lessons from Jafar in Aladdin: hungry only for power. They sound as if Jesus’ Kingdom is about them, instead of about Jesus, about Jesus’ people, or about God’s creation.

I’d like to think the other disciples are indignant b/c they understand Jesus’ kingdom isn’t about lording it over others; but that might be optimistic. They might be indignant that James and John got to Jesus first.

If James & John and their mother are power-hungry,

if Jesus’ disciples plan to live high off the hog once Jesus becomes king,

then how is Jesus’ Kingdom different than any other kingdom?

I understand why people get cynical about the Church.

James & John aren’t the only ones leveraging their connection w/ Jesus to wield authority and revel in luxury. Church history records all kinds of scandalous behaviour. It shouldn’t happen!

Jesus shows that he’s turning power and leadership upside down! He said: Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5:5–6 (NIV)

Don’t you get tired of those who act like politics and power and wealth are primarily for themselves – in the church AND in politics? You might understand that attitude in federal politics from those who don’t try to imitate Jesus, but God’s Kingdom should be different! God’s Kingdom is different!

God also gets tired of leaders abusing authority to fatten their purses. Can I tell you how God rebuked the self-serving kings, the overfed priests, and the false prophets in Ezekiel’s day? God said:

I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock. I will remove them from tending the flock so that the shepherds can no longer feed themselves. I will rescue my flock from their mouths, and it will no longer be food for them. Ezekiel 34:10b (NIV)

The LORD is patient, but he has limits. He won’t put up with those lord it over others forever. Their day will come. God has a different plan, says Ezekiel:

I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign Lord. I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. Ezekiel 34:15–16a (NIV)

Sounds good; doesn’t it? If it sounds too good to be true, listen closely to Jesus. Look at what Jesus has done.

Jesus wasn’t heading to Jerusalem expecting the leaders to hand him the crown on a silver platter. Unlike his disciples, Jesus has no illusions about what’ll happen in Jerusalem.

They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!” Matthew 20:18b–19 (NIV)

This is the path Jesus must take en route to the glory of the Kingdom of Heaven. As The Good Shepherd, Jesus lays down his life for his sheep. He offers his life as a ransom for many.

Pause and think about Jesus’ suffering and crucifixion. . . . He was crucified and descended into hell to spare you. His sacrificial love is like a mom’s for her child.

It’s not that Jesus was looking forward to suffering. Who would? Before he was arrested, Jesus stepped away from his disciples to pray.

My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will. Matthew 26:39 (NIV)

In the OT, several passages mention the cup of God’s wrath. NT Wright describes what happens when God has had it up to here with “the violent and bloodthirsty, the arrogant and oppressors” and intervenes.

It’s as though God’s holy anger against such people is turned into wine: dark, sour wine which will make them drunk and helpless. They will be forced to ‘drink the cup’, to drain to the dregs the wrath of the God who loves and vindicates the weak and helpless.[1]

Yet in his compassion and mercy, Jesus steps forward and drinks the cup. Instead of people getting what they deserve, Jesus suffered to ransom them; to ransom you. He’s the Good Shepherd. He lay down his life for his sheep.

Are you one of those lost sheep?

Are you a stray that Jesus brought back?

Are you among the injured or weak wdepending on Jesus’ strong hand to rescue you?

Maybe you feel the weight and guilt of abusing power and authority; causing harm or broken relationships.

It is precisely to heal those wounds, to lift that guilt, to rescue you from being far astray from God that God entered his creation, became human and endured the mocking, flogging, and crucifixion. “By his wounds, we are healed.”

When Jesus rose from the tomb as he promised, he ushered in a whole new order. In Jesus’ Kingdom, things are different. Transformation is under way.

In Mt 20, we read how Jesus calls his disciples to gather ‘round and explains the principles of his Kingdom to them.

You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Matthew 20:25b–26a (NIV)

The Kingdom of God operates differently: “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.”

This is the attitude, the self-sacrifice, we respect in first responders and in healthcare workers. Braving the unknowns of Covid-19, stepping into harm’s way to serve others. Sacrificial service is valued in Jesus’ Kingdom. It’s wonderful to see examples of Christ-like service in our culture, even among those who don’t follow Jesus yet. (pause)

Jesus warns James & John that they would drink the same cup Jesus drank. Their faith in Jesus and service in his Kingdom places them in the crosshairs of Jesus’ opponents.

You can read how James was the first of the disciples to be executed for his faith in Acts 12. He was “put to death by the sword” at King Herod Agrippa’s command.

John lived and served the Kingdom of God longer than his brother. In Paul’s letter to the Galatians, John is identified alongside Peter as one of the pillars of the church. He’s the “beloved disciple” who served and suffered and was exiled to the island of Patmos for Jesus and Jesus’ followers until age 96.

Leadership is not without its rewards, but it has its difficulties and challenges too. Until Christ returns in glory, there’ll be resistance to Jesus’ way of doing things.

Some resistance is found w/in ourselves:

both w/in our hearts and imagination

and w/in the church membership.

We’re used hierarchies in our gov’t, business, and fiction. It’s hard to imagine or embrace Jesus’ way.

But Jesus’ leadership as the Suffering Servant bears some thought.

As we go to the Lord’s Table to eat the bread and drink the cup – that cup vividly reminds us that Jesus drank the cup of God’s wrath for us, allowing us to drink a cup of blessing.

Like James & John, we’re set free from the old way of doing things. We’re challenged to imitate Jesus.

Whether5 you’re a leader among your classmates, a leader @ church, a leader in business, or lead w/in your household: God the HS can help you serve differently.

Will you ask for his help?

[1] Wright, Tom. Matthew for Everyone, Part 2: Chapters 16-28. London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 2004. Print.