Pile the kids in the car, hit the remote, garage door opens, and out you go on another drive. Grocery store. Hardware store. The bank. Costco. It is just a trip across town. Nothing exciting, just an every day trip. Kids either don’t want to go, or they complain about going or they act bored out of their minds, for them, time is frozen still.
However, you extend that journey to an exotic location (let’s say, Disney World) and there is a different kind of energy in the air, right? The kids are waiting for you in the car, they are more than happy to go and they cannot wait to arrive at the destination, they can’t are eager to get on the plane. Family members forget to go to the bathroom before they leave home; they for get to pack necessary items; they put up with all kinds of inconvenience because the imagine how great it is going to be, other things fall by the way side. Everything changes, even the perception of time.
Here in our Scripture this morning we see this type of trip: A trip to an exotic location, Jerusalem. They have all been to Jerusalem before, but the meaning of this trip to Jerusalem is very different from any other trip to Jerusalem. The disciples know, and there is an anticipation in the air, that something big will happen with Jesus on this trip to Jerusalem. Understand, there is an electricity in the air, everyone is clued in that something is up.
See, in the first verse, verse 32, we see that the disciples are astonished and the others who were walking with them were afraid. The disciples are astonished, because they have been with Jesus for about three years, and now, finally, things are coming together, and for them, being the closest to Jesus, this means they will be prominent. It is like they got in on the ground floor of a start up company, they see themselves like the Google millionaires, they are so lucky, they can hardly believe it!
The people on the other hand, are afraid. They see no promise of rank and fame. They know that Jesus has had conflict with the Temple authorities in the past and these men are not friends of Jesus. They also believe, along with the disciples, that Jesus, being the promised Messiah, is going to Jerusalem to restore the glory of the throne of David, that Jesus will be enthroned in power – and that means confrontation with the current keepers of the throne, the Romans. They are afraid for themselves, their families, and for Jesus. Perhaps, even though Jesus is the Messiah, this is not the right time, maybe Jesus should wait. There are some who would love to see Jesus eliminated like John the Baptist was. The disciples hope for the best the people fear for the worst.
So with this excitement of the journey in the air, the disciples just can’t hear what Jesus is saying in verses 33 and 34 when Jesus says in very plain terms, exactly what will happen to him in the very short future. It is quite stark that Jesus makes this vary powerful statement and there is no response form the disciples. Did they hear? Did they comprehend? It seems that the reality of death of Jesus seems impossible to the disciples. Here they have been with Jesus and have seen him walk on water, drive out demons, heal people left and right and even raise the dead. All these things are things that are completely impossible. Anyone who could do such things, why they would be untouchable. I mean if anything would happen to one of the disciples in Jerusalem, couldn’t Jesus just quickly heal them or if needed, bring them back from the dead? Jesus tells them in plain Hebrew that he will be betrayed, condemned to death, mocked, flogged and killed and on the third day rise from the dead…..and what is their response? If we put it in our terms for our modern day life, the two disciples ask for first class seats for life.
Why is it, by the way, that First Class passengers board the plane first? Sure it is great to get off the plane first, but is it so great to board the plane first? Shouldn’t First Class Passengers be the last ones on the plane and the first ones off the plane?
For me the idea is to spend the least amount of time of the plane as possible – the least amount of time in that stuffy cabin, the least amount of time in breathing in re-circulated air filled with who knows what bacteria or virus – less time sitting next to the guy who didn’t think he needed a shower to travel in a tightly packed plane.
In addition to the privilege of being exposed longer to communicable disease, getting on first allows the First Class passengers to be struck by various sized carry on luggage, and of course, in the summer, the bonus of spending extra time in a hot humid space.
What is the real reason airlines want the First Class passengers to board first? Because then the airline attendants will not be asked one hundred and twenty five times by the people sitting in coach if they can sit in first class since a they see a seat is open. So if there are people sitting in all the seats in first class, no one will ask to sit there.
The airlines want the First Class seats to be seats of prestige, of privilege, and of rank. They want the coach passengers to not think about all the money they are saving by walking an extra eight feet; they don’t want the coach passengers to think about the fact that everyone will arrive at the destination at the same time regardless of where they sit – what they want is for the coach passengers to feel less privileged, to see that for a few extra dollars….or airline miles, they too could be people of privilege, to sit in the seats of honor and you know what, they are right, if given the opportunity to switch from coach to first class, who would say no?
The disciples James and John have sat in coach, they know first class is better, so they take Jesus aside and ask for an upgrade, the seats of honor next to Jesus, we see this in verse 37.
Really what they are asking for, is for Jesus to give them seats at the banquet of honor when Jesus is crowned as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, when he as Messiah comes to power. Someone has to sit there, so why not ask? They request these seats seeing this banquet as an earthly event that will happen very soon, when it really is a heavenly event, an actual event that will happen in the much distant future. We know at the last supper John was seated next to Jesus, and this was no accident. John was sitting next to Jesus because Jesus favored him, Jesus saw what a strong heart he had. So in some way this kind of a question wouldn’t be a surprise to Jesus. They see that they are in Jesus favor and they simply would like to see this continue. If Jesus has John sitting close to him now, why wouldn’t Jesus agree to let this seating arraignment continue?
See, Jesus is talking about one thing and they are talking about quite another. Jesus was determined to faithfully serve and please his heavenly Father even at his own expense – and here he sets the pattern for his disciples AND for us to follow. Jesus is thinking about serving, the disciples are thinking about being in charge. We see that in spite of Jesus’ efforts the disciples are not willing to give into the spirit of self renunciation, they expect special status.
Jesus tells them right out in verse 38, “You don’t know what you are asking,” for they are seeing the kingdom of God as a place of privilege , but the kingdom of God is place of service, no matter what the cost. No matter what the cost. So to Jesus it is about service, but to the disciples it is about proximity. The disciples are close to Christ, they have been with him for three years, but their proximity has nothing to do with faith and love and everything to do with ambition. They are seeking preeminence, they are seeking power. They are not thinking about obedience, about serving others – truly, when we serve in the church, when we serve in the kingdom of God it is not the same as serving in the world. People are always surprised by this, some can adapt and others….they usually become offended, they feel they are being treated unfairly and will sometimes go to great lengths to get recognition, power, their preferences implemented or what they see as their just reward.
When we do this we are placing the ways of the world on top of the ways of the kingdom of God. I tell you this: There are many who have won a political battle in the church, they have made happen what they wanted to have happen in the church by doing whatever they could to make what they wanted to happen, happen, and when they get to heaven and stand before Jesus, and you can bet, they will receive no reward for their actions. Yes and it doesn’t matter how genuine the intentions are, or how noble the outcome, or even how beautiful, progressive, uplifting, Christian or biblical the end is, if the way to the outcome does not follow the pattern put forth by Jesus that we see here in this passage, namely, being a servant for Jesus – no matter what the cost, then all your efforts actually run counter to the kingdom of God.
If you are serving in some capacity in the church, in a Christian organization, or a Christian mission be very, very careful of how you operate. This is service in the kingdom of God, your preferences, your ego, what you want done – whatever that is, should be placed where? If you can answer that question, then you are on the right track, if you cannot answer that question – where your preferences, ego and desire should go, then chances are you don’t get it. Let me give you a hint: service, servant, humility……last.
Lose the petty church political battle, lose face here in this time and in this place, work hard for little or no reward, look like the fool now, look like the one who is not in control, be the one who loses now – for better to look like the loser now, better to work hard for no recognition than to stand before God expecting a reward for your actions and then having God the Father turn a blind eye your way. Better to operate in a Godly manner that pleases the Lord Jesus, than to win your turf battle and be like the sons of Zebedee who confuse actions of the heart with correct outcomes.
Our annual meeting is in two weeks, at the meeting this year we’ll see how we as a congregation understand the concept Jesus is teaching us this morning.
Boy, this is serious stuff, this hits home doesn’t it? Are we taking what we prefer, or what we see as a good thing and entering into the Kingdom of God and claiming it as God’s will, when it is nothing but our own doing? Am I fighting for what I like, or am I serving the Lord Jesus?
Here are a couple of way to check yourself on this issue: Do I become angry when I don’t get my way in the church? Am I offended when I am not treated as well as I would hope when I serve others for Christ? Do I use ways that are, well, not so honest and open to accomplish God’s work? (the definition of irony by the way). Do I seek a reward, in ANY form for service to the Kingdom of God.
Jesus opens the Kingdom of God, and he begins it with suffering – where in this passage do you see the concept of fairness? Keep on looking, you are not going to find it. “43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.”
Notice, when we look at verse 38, Jesus doesn’t immediately chastise them does he? He answers their question with a question, and his question is about a willingness to suffer, (that question is to both the disciples and to you and I) and I must stress that Jesus is looking for a negative reply, “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”
What does Jesus mean here? The cup. In the OT the cup of wine I a common metaphor for the wrath of God’s judgment upon sin and rebellion. Jesus refers to the cup and so refers to the divine judgment that he will take upon himself, the divine judgment of the Father upon sin itself. We see this referenced to in Isaiah. Is. 53:5 “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.” Jesus is going to Jerusalem to suffer and die, and by doing this, Jesus takes the sin of all time upon himself for the salvation of many. This is the cup, this suffering, this serving, this serving to please the Father, no matter what the cost.
The baptism. Jesus is not speaking of water baptism, he is speaking in terms like we would say in our day: baptized by fire. Baptism here is also parallel to that of the cup. In popular Greek usage the vocabulary of baptism is used to speak of one being overwhelmed by disaster or danger. Apparently Jesus calls his passion, his suffering on the cross, a baptism, that is he will be overwhelmed by disaster as the world’s sin falls upon him. The disciples were familiar with John’s the Baptist’s rite of repentance, which was a baptism and was set in an explicit context of God’s judgment of sin. John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance, and was tied directly to the sin in one’s life. Jesus understands that his baptism expresses his solidarity with sinful men and therefore signifies his willingness to assume the burden of the judgment of God upon himself.
Now Jesus doesn’t promise anything…but suffering for these two disciples, which they do not realize at this time. Why is that? Because they do not understand what it means to be a servant in the kingdom of God. They do not understand that the kingdom of God is not about what I want, what I prefer, what makes me feel good….apparently the places of privilege are already anticipated by God, but Jesus makes no indication what this means. Who knows who it is reserved for? I can tell you one thing, if you think you might have a place of honor reserved for you, that in itself shows you that you have no place of honor with God.
Jesus, being practical, tells us how we are to operate in the Kingdom of God, he tries to be clearer since the idea of being a servant has not clicked with these guys. So in verse 42 Jesus explains how things are in the world and then how they are in the Kingdom of God, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them,
and their high officials exercise authority over them”. Jesus refers to those of rulers the day whom the disciples knew and experienced. The disciples themselves would have carried coins in their purses with the reigning emperor name and the inscription: “He who deserves adoration”. It turns out that in their struggle or rank and precedence the disciples are actually imitating those that they despise, the gentiles . Jesus opposes this order of earthly rule and tells us again how it is: 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,
and to give his life as a ransom for many. Understand that the word “many”, there in verse 45, is a technical term for the elect. It means not every person that ever existed, but the select that God has chosen. What Jesus is saying is that what He does in his work on the cross comes full circle when we as his followers live our lives: We were purchased by Jesus acting as a servant, even to his own demise, and this is what He expects from us, and nothing less.
Jesus asks us this morning, “can you drink the cup I drink” can you set aside yourself aside in service for the kingdom of God? Or will you continue to operate under the illusion that your preferences, ideas, and wishes are akin to the Kingdom of God?
