Looking Out For Number One!

Matthew 20:20-28-Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him.

21-And He said to her, “What do you wish?”

She said to Him, “Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom.”

22-But Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They said to Him, “We are able.”

23-So He said to them, “You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father.”

24-And when the ten heard it, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers. 25-But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26-Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.

27-And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—28-just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

The lion was proud of his mastery of the animal kingdom. One day he decided to make sure all the other animals knew he was the king of the jungle. He was so confident that he by-passed the smaller animals and went straight to the bear.

"Who is the king of the jungle?" the lion asked. The bear replied, "Why you are, of course" The lion gave a mighty roar of approval.

Next he asked the tiger, "Who is the king of the jungle?" The tiger quickly responded, "Everyone knows that you are, mighty lion "

Next on the list was the elephant. The lion faced the elephant and addressed his question, "Who is the king of the jungle?" The elephant immediately grabbed the lion with his trunk, whirled him around in the air five or six times and slammed him into a tree. Then he pounded him onto the ground several times, dunked him under water in a nearby lake, and finally dumped him out on the shore.

The lion--beaten, bruised, and battered--struggled to his feet. He looked at the elephant through sad and bloody eyes and said, "Look, just because you don’t know the answer is no reason for to get mean about it!"

Verse 22-But Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They said to Him, “We are able.”

23-So He said to them, “You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father.”

She didn’t know what she was asking, in a very short time they would see who was going to be on his right and left side….two thieves

To drink His cup is to share in the sufferings of Christ while in this world. His sufferings include the hardships, difficulties, and persecutions that are often encountered as we live for Him and do His work.

WHY? Leonard Ravenhill sums up the Christian life: “God Isn’t Training Boy Scouts. He’s Training Soldiers!”

Verse 24-And When The Ten Heard It, They Were Greatly Displeased With The Two Brothers.

Peter could have been thinking, “I’m the one who walked on water, I’m the one who said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God, I’ve been the mouth piece for the group, it was us three on the mount of transfiguration, now it’s just ya’ll two…You didn’t even nominate me, you didn’t even mention me!”

Verse 26-Yet It Shall Not Be So Among You

You want to have ambition, Great! You want to be leaders, Great!

You want be something special, Great! You want to make a difference, Great!

Then pick up a towel and wash someone’s feet, serve someone, help someone, do something for someone else beside yourself!

He is saying don’t be like the world around you!

They were more interested in things (To Sit In Power) than they were in just being in Jesus’ presences forever.

But Whoever Desires To Become Great Among You, Let Him Be Your Servant.