25 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. 26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Matthew 20:25-28
Throughout our journey as disciples of Jesus, we find ourselves facing various forms of opposition. As we have noted, that opposition can take the form of hostility even from within our own families. The reality, however, is that much of the opposition to our discipleship comes from within ourselves, a fact illustrated through the lives of Jesus’ disciples who repeatedly fail the grasp the true nature of discipleship. As we saw previously, the disciples did not seem to understand the fullness of Jesus’ mission as Messiah and that following Him would require of them that they be willing to lay down their own lives (both metaphorically and literally).
In Matt. 20:20-28 we see that the lessons He had taught them about true discipleship still had not sunk in for them. Although he had once again reminded them of His impending death, burial, and resurrection (Matt. 20:17-19), the brothers James and John approached Him along with their mother in order to ask that He would grant to them places of honor in His Kingdom. Although He could’ve answered out of anger or frustration, He instead responded with compassion for His dear followers who simply did not understand what it was that they were asking (20:22-23). In order to make this point, he asked them if they were able to drink “the cup” that He was going to drink (a reference to the suffering that was ahead for Him). They responded that they were, and he then affirmed that they would both suffer (James, as the first martyr from among the apostles and John, as the one who endured the longest under the burdens of life as the last of the apostles to die). He also informed them that the places of honor they desired where not His to give, but would belong to those whom the Father chose.
This request, which revealed the selfishness of the sons of Zebedee, also revealed the pride of the other disciples who became angry with them. In response to this, Jesus addressed them all and once again spoke about the true nature of discipleship (20:24). While the rulers of the gentiles exercise their authority against others and for their own benefit, this must is not the case for His followers (20:24-25). For them, the greatest among them would be the one who gave his life in service to others and the one who would be the most prominent must be the bond-servant of the others (20:27). In doing this, they will show themselves to truly be Jesus’ disciples as they follow in His example.
In the beautiful words of Matt. 20:28, Jesus speaks to us about His person and work. In regards to His person, He is the Son of Man, the Messianic figure of the OT who, though deserving of praise, adoration, and service, came to serve others. The work that He came to ultimately accomplish was the work of substitution, giving His life as a ransom for His people. This work makes it possible for sinners to become His disciples and provides for them the example that they are to follow in living as His followers. True disciples, therefore, place their faith in His person and work and walk in His own manner of life by the power of His Spirit!
Join us this Sunday as we gather together to worship Him and to enjoy the fellowship that we have together because of the work of God’s Spirit among us!
Soli Deo Gloria.
-Thomas