Momma's Boys

Introduction

Good morning and welcome back!

This morning if you would like to follow along we will be in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 20.

And this morning we are going to be talking about something that is in many ways a continuation of what we discussed last week regarding, the disciples need to know “who would be the greatest.”

And in that discussion last week, it reminded me of a situation that came up with Jesus and the two son’s of Zebedee.

So, this morning I would like for us to take another look at these two son’s and their interaction with Jesus around this very subject.

And our scripture focus picks up with a familiar passage of Scripture to us all.

Just prior to this passage, Jesus had been trying to teach the disciples about humility and service.

He had given them the parable of the workers in the vineyard.

This is where the land owner went out and gathered workers to work in his vineyard.

He went out early in the morning and hired a crew and agreed to pay them a denarius.

A few hours later he went out again (the third hour) and found more workers.

He tells this crew he'd pay them "whatever was right."

He does this again in the sixth and ninth hour.

Then in the eleventh our, or the last hour of the work day, he goes out again and finds yet more workers.

Then comes time to collect their day's wages and the Bible tells us . . .

Matthew 20:9–16 NIV84

“The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius. So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. ‘These men who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’ “But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

So, we see here that those that only worked for one hour received the same that those that worked all day.

Those that worked all day were upset, but did not think about the fact that it wasn't their decision to make.

The landowner has a right to give whatever he pleases.

Also, we need to understand that the same is true for God.

How he blesses us is not our decision to make.

It is His right and His decision.

We should be happy for ourselves and also rejoice that someone else enjoys the blessings of God.

And the lesson is that we need to take off the "world's eyes" and look at things through our "Spiritual Eyes."

It's not about "getting ahead" or being "great" here on earth.

It is all about eternity.

Because this life is not the end, but a means to the end goal.

And this was the lesson that Jesus was trying to teach the disciples, but apparently they didn't fully get it.

And this is where our focus picks up this morning.

So, again Matthew 20, starting in verse 20 . . .

Scripture Focus

Matthew 20:20–21 NIV84

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

Momma’s Boys

So, right off the bat we see the issue coming into play.

Here comes James and John with their momma to Jesus.

And when looking at this, we have to remember to look at the dynamics that are in play here.

First, you have this proud momma with her two boys standing before the Son of Man, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.

She is obviously very proud that her boys have such a prominent place in the Kingdom of God.

And I can see her now, "My boys are disciples of Jesus. One day they will sit on thrones and rule the world."

And like any proud momma, she naturally feels like her boys are the best of the best and none of the rest can stack up to them.

Second, you also have another dynamic at play here too. J

ames and John were the sons of Zebedee.

So, what does that matter?

Well, that makes them relatives of Jesus.

The "mother of Zebedee's sons" was Salome, who was the Virgin Mary's sister.

So, this was Aunt Salome that was coming to make this request of her nephew, Jesus regarding his cousins James and John.

So momma feels like she has an inside track.

After all this was Jesus' kin folk and blood is thicker than water.

Surely Jesus would favor his own relatives over the rest of these disciples.

But she isn't alone in all of this, James and John were grown men and they were just as much a part of this as their mother was.

This is evident by Mark's account of these events . . .

Mark 10:35 NIV84

Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”

Mark records how they had actually made the request themselves.

So, here we have Jesus' cousins and his aunt coming and his aunt kneels down before Jesus.

She says, Jesus, nephew, son of my sister Mary, I have a favor to ask you. . . .

And Jesus replies, Yes, what is this favor you want to ask?

Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one at thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.

But the reality is, she doesn’t even really know what she was asking of Jesus?

She and the disciples still did not get it.

Even though, just prior to this request, Jesus tells his disciples exactly what was going to happen to him . . .

Matthew 20:17–19 NIV84

Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!”

They didn't understand that this betrayal by the Jews would lead to Jesus' death.

He plainly tells them that He will be condemned to death.

He plainly tells them that He will be (1) MOCKED, (2) SCOURGED, and (3) CRUCIFIED, meaning that they were going to KILL HIM.

He also tells them that on the third day He will rise again, be resurrected, but they did not comprehend what it was going to take to get to that third day.

They were not looking at the suffering, hardship, tribulations that have to come before one is ready for the glorious reward.

They were not looking at what it was going to take for them to be a Christian and what it actually meant to be a Christian.

They were looking at it from the aspect of "what's in it for me," and "what can I get out of this."

And my fear is that THIS IS THE SITUATION AND CIRCUMSTANCES THAT MANY OF US HAVE CONSIDERED WHEN WE MADE OUR DECISION FOR CHRIST.

When you walked down that isle and said "I'm going to get saved," What was your motivation?

Was it from the sincere wooing of the Holy Spirit and Conviction for your sin?

Or was it a "what can I get out of this" thing?

Were you looking for a "get out of hell free card"

Maybe a "prosperity and blessing" life.

An instant "deliverance from addiction."

Or a, "get momma and daddy off my back" decision.

You didn't realize that it takes more than a "what's in it for me attitude."

There has to be a change of heart, change of direction.

Salvation is a free gift, given by God to all who choose to accept it.

Living a Christian life though, being Sanctified, and prepared takes more though.

God offers us these free gifts.

We don't have to pay anything for them, He's done paid it.

We just have to accept the gift.

Once we accept it though, we can't just put it on a shelf and forget about it.

We have to put it to use.

We have to exercise our salvation, use the gift that God has given us.

What happens to a house if you buy it and then just walk away?

Don't live in it, don't take care of it?

Just let it sit there.

It will crumble and fall down.

The same holds true for our Salvation and the gifts of God that He gives us.

That is meant to be nurtured, developed, put to use.

Not to accept and sit.

And why?

Because life is tough, whether you are a Christian or not.

Listen to what Jesus says in Matthew 5 . . .

Matthew 5:43–45 NIV84

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

And also in Matthew 7 . . .

Matthew 7:24–27 NIV84

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

The rain is going to fall, the floods are going to come, the wind is going to blow.

You, the house, are going to be beaten and battered in this life.

What makes the difference though is WHAT YOUR HOUSE IS BUILT ON?

Is it built on that solid rock? Which is Jesus Christ.

Or is it built on the sand? Which are the principles of the world.

We know the right answer. It should be built on Christ. The Solid Rock, the Foundation.

Notice, though He is the foundation.

The foundation is something meant to be built on.

And building requires doing, not taking.

James, John, and their momma was more concerned about taking and receiving, instead of doing and building.

Jesus’ Reply

So, Jesus hears their request and offers them this reply . . .

Matthew 20:22 NIV84

“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.

Jesus tells them, You don't know what you are asking for.

You don't realize what it requires to sit in the place of honor in God's kingdom.

And they still didn't understand, but Jesus asks them the question.

Are you prepared to endure what I will have to endure?

Are you willing to be condemned to death, mocked, ridiculed, spit on, scourged, and crucified, put to death.

Are you willing James? Are you willing John?

When they put that gun to your head and say, "Do you know Jesus?"

Are you prepared with an answer?

Do you realize what it really means to accept Him?

And to follow in His footsteps.

Because that is where the rubber really meets the road.

And that is where you have to be in order to be His disciple and follow Him.

Remember Jesus told us that . . .

Luke 9:23 NIV84

Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

Are we willing to take up our cross and follow him, daily?

Altar/Challenge

And maybe your here and this has described you.

You came to an altar of prayer one day and "made a decision," but it wasn't real.

It wasn't based on repentance, and the wooing of the Holy Spirit.

It was for one of these other reasons we talked about :

Were you looking for a "get out of hell free card"

Maybe a "prosperity and blessing" life.

An instant "deliverance from addiction."

Or a, "get momma and daddy off my back" decision.

You can change that today. Rectify that situation here today.

Maybe you have never accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior. You can do that today as well.

Or maybe you have accepted Him, but it never went any further.

You never built on that foundation.

All these things can be dealt with here, today, if you are willing.

It is really all up to your decision.

Let’s pray . . .