Jesus Came to Serve
Why Did My Savior Come to Earth? • Sermon • Submitted
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Intro:
Read Matthew 20:17-19.
And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them,
“See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death
and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.”
Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something.
And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.”
Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.”
He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”
And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers.
But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.
It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,
and whoever would be first among you must be your slave,
even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Many who read these words in Matthew chapter 20 can relate to the Mother of James and John.
Jesus has just told those following him that he is about to die. And then in the next chapter we see that he enters into Jerusalem for his final week on this earth. Although those following Jesus didn’t fully grasp what was about to happen they could sense that their time with Jesus the person that they had come to know and love was about to leave them.
Today when we know that we are about to loose a love one, what do we do? We of course want to spend as much time as possible with them but we also if possible try to have those heart to heart talks with them. We want to tell them everything that we can possible think of, that we feel is important to tell them before they are gone.
But you see even once they are gone there are still things that we wish we could talk to them about.
One of the things that was on everyone’s mind including the mother of James and John was the future Kingdom. Jesus had talked a lot about the Kingdom that was to come.
In Mark 9:1 he said that it would come before many people in that day passed away. So it was obviously coming soon. But also he made mention that his kingdom would not be of this world, John 18:38.
Even with all the talk about the kingdom that was to come there was still a lot of confusion so, sensing that she probable didn’t have a lot of time left with Jesus, she pulled him off to the side and talked to him about what was on her mind.
Regardless of when and where the Kingdom was going to be established the mother of James and John wanted to know if her son’s could be seated at his right and left side in the Kingdom.
But you see this wasn’t just her request. In Mark’s account of this conversation it appears that this was the desire of James and John as well. So their mother is not pushing for something that they didn’t want as well.
It is interesting that they would be seeking this position when Jesus already told all of the Apostles that they would play a very important role in His kingdom. In Matthew 19:28 Jesus says...
Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
This obviously wasn’t good enough for the three of them they wanted to have the best seat at the table.
Being seated at the right side of the King is the highest place of honor. For example in the OT here are a few examples of people who had this honor.
King’s Mother -1 Kings 2:19.
So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him on behalf of Adonijah. And the king rose to meet her and bowed down to her. Then he sat on his throne and had a seat brought for the king’s mother, and she sat on his right.
2. The Messiah sitting at the Right hand of God Psalm 110:1.
The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”
But being seated on the left side isn’t that bad either. It is reserved for the second highest position. Regardless of which side you are on these are the best two seats available in any kingdom. So its no wonder they would want this position. Any mother would want what is best for her kids.
If we skip down to verse 24 we see that the other apostles when they found out about this request they were not happy. This is no surprise because in chapter 18 of Matthew we see that they had already had this discussion amongst themselves. They had already argued about who would be the greatest in the Kingdom. Matthew 18:1.
At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
After hearing this request Jesus responds by saying you don’t understand what you are asking. Knowing that James and John were in on this request Jesus directs his answer to them. Matthew 20:22.
Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.”
He says Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?
Throughout scripture the cup refers figuratively to one’s divinely appointed destiny. Its obvious here that Jesus is referring to his forthcoming cup of suffering on the cross. In Matthew 26:39 Jesus says this about his cup...
And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”
Not fully understanding what Jesus was referring to both brothers said that they could drink it. Then Jesus knowing the future says well you will drink my cup meaning that they to would suffer because of Christ.
Acts 12:2 tells us that James became the first martyr of the church and John though he was not executed recieved persecution and exile. Rev 1:9.
I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.
So these men did share in Jesus’ cup but they were not privileged to sit at his right or left side.
Once Jesus got all the apostles back together he explains to them how they can be great in his Kingdom. It had nothing to do with sitting by his side but everything to do with serving others. Listen to what Jesus says...
Jesus turns greatness on its head. The world says that being able to rule makes one great but Jesus says that doing the opposite is what makes one great.
Jesus apostles had the ambition to be the greatest and first so Jesus gives them the means by which they can achieve this goal according to the values set forth in the Kingdom of God. All they had to do was become a servant just as Jesus was a servant.
Here it is. Another reason why Jesus came to earth. He came to show us how to be great in his Kingdom. Jesus came to earth to be a servant.
As we examine another reason why Jesus came to earth it is very important that we not skip over the first two words of this statement found in verse 28. In the ESV those two words are even as while other translations say “just as”. Why are these words important.
They are important because Jesus was not asking his follows and and he is not asking us today to do something that he, himself was not willing to do. Rather He was leading by example!
All leaders whether in government, business or the church would do well to follow this leadership technique.
The best leaders are people who lead by example rather than leading by their authority. Leaders in the church are charged by Peter to follow this example in 1 Peter 5:3 when he says...
not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.
This leadership strategy by Jesus is one that should also be modeled in the home. Repeatedly, the Bible teaches parents that their most important function lies within the area of Spiritual development.
And verses like Deut 6:4-9; Prov. 22:6 and many more teach us that they best way to do that is by example.
I bring these two words to your attention simple to say. Let’s remember that as Christians let’s follow the example of Jesus in every type of leadership role by leading by example and not by asserting our authority.
This leadership style and reason why Jesus came to earth is completely opposite than the worlds view of greatness.
The people of Jesus day should have not been surprised of the fact that Jesus’ ways were different than the worlds. Isaiah 55:8-9 says…
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
You see the world’s view of greatness and our Lord’s view of greatness couldn’t be any more different.
The world believes that greatness comes from having money, prestige, titles and the like.
Jesus in this one verse turns the worlds view of greatness on its head. So why is it that Jesus wants us to serve others in order to be great? What is so great about serving others.
Other than obeying Jesus command to serve is there any benefits to serving others. I found this article from Time magazine interesting.
They said a new review of the health effects of volunteering found that helping others on a regular basis- like serving food in a soup kitchen or reading to the blind can reduce early mortality rates by 22%, compared to those in people who don’t participate in such activities.
The author mentions the following as possible benefits of helping others.
Decrease rate of depression 2. Increase sense of life satisfaction and well being, 3. Increasing social contact and reducing loneliness; which in turn can help decrease the risk of: High blood pressure, stroke, heart attack and dementia.
Although these benefits are not guaranteed what the author says next I think helps us to see the difference in how the world views serving other verses how Christians should view service.
She said, “Don’t expect to reap the benefits of longevity after tossing a few coins in the next charity collection you encounter. It takes regular sacrifice of time and effort to engage the sense of reward that comes from volunteering.”
So what we have just read is possible a benefit for anybody to serve others but the more important question for us tonight as Christians is why should we serve. Do we serve others in order to benefit from it or is there another reason. I want to briefly share with you one reason and then the lesson will be yours.
2 Corinthians 5:14-15.
For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died;
and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
What does this verse have to do with serving others? Paul says because Christ died for us and we now choose to follow him, His love now therefore controls us.
And since his love controls us we know live for him and not ourselves. Meaning we live to do his will. We live to serve him. Therefore we must do as he did and serve others.
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