Matthew 20:17-28
AS Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, He took the twelve [disciples] aside by themselves...
Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Him with her sons and did Him homage, wishing to ask Him for something. He said to her, "What do you wish?" She answered Him, "Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at Your right and the other at Your left, in Your kingdom." Jesus said in reply, "You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?" They said to Him, "We can." He replied, "My cup you will indeed drink, but to sit at My right and at My left [this] is not Mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared by My Father." When the ten heard this, they became indignant at the two brothers. But Jesus summoned them and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many."
The WORD
Once again, Jesus reveals to the disciples what awaits them on their journey to Jerusalem: His passion, death, and resurrection. Jesus explains what God’s plan is behind the passion: Jesus is "to give His life as a ransom for many."
In the midst of Jesus’ solemn words, the apostles manifest a lack of comprehension. James and John want to corner the left and the right seats of what they perceive to be a coming political dynasty for Jesus, the Son of David. The other ten disciples, not wanting to be outdone, condemn the maneuverings of the Zebedee brothers.
In response, Jesus presents the radical idea of servant leadership. To be great is not to be recognized or acknowledged as such, but to be a humble servant. To be first is not to get ahead of all the others, but to be their slave. And Jesus sets His example before them: "The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve."
SOURCE: "365 Days with the Lord," ST PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: publishing@stpauls.ph; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.
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