Matthew 20:17-28 Unsung Heroes

As Jesus was about to go up to Jerusalem, He took the twelve disciples aside by themselves, and on the way He said to them, "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."  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." [Matthew 20:17-‬28 NASB]

 The disciples heard the words of Jesus, but they still didn't understand their meaning. Jesus has just announced that He is about to be condemn, scourged, and crucified, and that He would be raised up on the third day.

I think what the disciples chose to hear was, "I am going up to Jerusalem, blah blah blah, new kingdom." There was no reaction to the looming prospect of their Lord being turned over to the Gentiles, beaten with whips, and murdered on the cross.

When they heard that He was going to Jerusalem, their minds shut down to everything except their preconceived ideas about what that should mean. "If He's going to Jerusalem, then He is going to establish His kingdom. I wonder which of us will have the greater position in His palace in Jerusalem?"

James and John enlisted the aid of their mother. She didn't barge in, but came with her sons. Perhaps they felt that it would carry more weight if they came with parental support.

Jesus reiterates that the kingdom of God is different from the kingdoms of men. In the kingdom of God, the first will be last and the last will be first.

He escalates in His descriptions; if you want to be great, become a servant to others. If you want to be first, become their slave.

The disciples may not have understood this at the time, but after Jesus' resurrection, and after they were filled with the Spirit, they began to live it. Jesus had previously said that the disciples would have a special place of honor in the kingdom of heaven. It wasn't because they were that much greater than others, but because they took His words to heart. In effect, they enslaved themselves to the world, and died proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom.

I have seen church politics at work. ("Church" and "politics" are two words that should never exist together.) I have seen pastors climbing and fighting their way through denominational ranks. I have seen them lording it over their "flock", referring to them as "stupid sheep" needing to be led. I have seen church elders jockeying for position in the church, trying to get close to the pastor, arriving early for a meeting so they can sit at his right hand.

It should never be that way! The true pastor isn't lord over the flock, he is the lowliest of sheep, serving the others.

Search your heart and ask God to reveal your motives. Do you want to be a leader? If so, why? Is it for position and recognition? Do you sing loud for the sake of others around you so that you can be admired for the beauty of your voice?

The path to greatness in the kingdom of God is the path of humility. What can you do to make others look good? How can you encourage a brother or sister to grow in Christ?

We have the idea that the great preachers throughout history will have honored places in the kingdom. But I wonder; have they received their rewards through the praise and recognition of men? I contend that the greater position will be held by the unsung and unknown heroes of the faith. Who are they? I don't know and neither do you. And that's the point.