SERVED BY GREATNESS

Have you ever noticed how the world we live in has everything backwards. What the world views as important or vital is not usually the same the Lord feels is vital and important. In America its all about getting to the top, achieving greatness in every area of your life that is what you should be about. It’s about climbing to the top not really caring about how you got there. greatness and success is having the most money, best job, coolest family, having the best toys, and taking the most epic trips. Life is all about me, what I want, what I desire, what can I get out of this. In Matt. 20:20-28 we have a mom and her two sons who got things all mixed up well. I’m sure this mother just wanted what every mom wants for her children; she wants whats best for them. Obviously she understands who Jesus is or least realizes how special and important he is because she comes before Jesus and kneels to ask him a question.

Matthew 20:20–28 NASB95

Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Jesus with her sons, bowing down and making a request of Him. And He said to her, “What do you wish?” She said to Him, “Command that in Your kingdom these two sons of mine may sit one on Your right and one on Your left.” But Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?” They said to Him, “We are able.” He said to them, “My cup you shall drink; but to sit on My right and on My left, this is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by My Father.” And hearing this, the ten became indignant with the two brothers. But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. “It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Through this question that a mother ask Jesus was able to give probably one the single most important lessons the apostles needed to hear and the same is true for us. Note Jesus response?

you don’t know what your asking! Do realize what it means to sit at my side. Do you realize what I am going to go through.

Matthew 20:18–19 NASB95

“Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death, and will hand Him over to the Gentiles to mock and scourge and crucify Him, and on the third day He will be raised up.”

Matthew 17:22–23 NASB95

And while they were gathering together in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men; and they will kill Him, and He will be raised on the third day.” And they were deeply grieved.

they (Mk. 10:35-40) want glory and honor but what they didn’t realize is that God’s eyes glory is suffering. the apostles are still having trouble with the fact that Jesus was a suffering savior. they had a problem understanding that the king was going to suffer and die a cruel death on Calvary. Do you realize the way to glory and greatness is through suffering?

note: that the brothers answered they are able to drink the cup that Jesus was about to drink. cup = suffering and death. Jesus says indeed you will drink this cup of suffering and death

Acts 12:2 NASB95

And he had James the brother of John put to death with a sword.

John imprisoned on Patmos for Jesus.

God the father is the one who rewards, that's not his job. God the father determines who gets what.

2) then Jesus gives an example of who not to be like. don’t Lord it over them, exercise authority. Don’t look down on others and think that you are better than everyone else. Don't think that everyone should serve you because you are so great.

3) if you want to be great need to be a servant - you need to serve others. And he even took it one step further. whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.

This is the third “the first shall be last and the last first statements 19:30 & 20:16. Worldly greatness is not real greatness. true greatness is found in serving and those who serve are going to be great

4) we have the greatest example of service. Jesus came to serve. of all the people to walk the face of the earth that deserved to sit at the top and be served. Jesus came to serve ultimately serve to the point of giving up his life. I am going to pay the price for your life with my life. All that Jesus had to give he is going to give for the life of many.

Where am I at on the greatest scale. Am I at the bottom because I serve no one but my self or to give all my life to service of others or somewhere in between. If I truly want to be like my savior I need to live a life of service. Will you join me in walking in the footsteps of the savior in serving others.