What’s It Like To Follow Jesus?
Matthew 20:20-28
What’s it like to follow Jesus? What is my life, my attitude, supposed to be and to look like?
There were a couple of things I noticed while I was studying this passage this past week. There is a theme here that I had not noticed before, and it is this: God’s ordainings are providential, purposeful, and prepared in advance for those He has ordained them for.
In our text today, we find the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, coming and bowing down to Jesus, and asking a special favor of Him for her sons—asking for special recognition and reward.
Now, before we allow ourselves to judge this kind lady too harshly, let us ask ourselves which of us as a loving parent doesn’t want the best for our children? In fact, which of us doesn’t desire for ourselves the best of whatever is available? Do we willingly choose the shriveled piece of steak, or the juicy one?
Do we want to be thought of highly by our employer and be given the big raise, or would we rather that honor go to someone else? Do we see our circumstances as the perfect place for us, even when they are depressing and even dire, or do we wish those difficulties were true in someone else’s life?
So, too, you see, when it comes to our children, we are very much like Salome, wife of Zebedee, mother of James and John, sister of Mary the mother of Jesus, and aunt, then, of Jesus Himself. Who doesn’t want their son or daughter chosen as the starting pitcher, or the captain of the cheerleading squad, or the concert master of the orchestra?
And, too, which child doesn’t want their mom or dad to want those things for them, and doesn’t want their parents to think they are great and grand and worthy of such honors?
Mark’s account of this interchange, recorded in Mark 10:30-35, does not mention the mother. There are a couple of schools of thought on the reasons for these variations in the telling, neither of which seems significant to me. The main reason for that is that both accounts tell us, “And when the ten heard it, they became indignant with the brothers.” The other disciples knew that, if the brothers weren’t behind this request for preferential treatment and high honors, they were at least a party to it.
That brings us to the main point, I think, of this passage and to the question with which I opened our time together: What’s it like to follow Jesus?
The sons of Zebedee, as well as their mother, and even the other disciples as well, were all convinced that Jesus was indeed the promised Messiah and that He would soon bring His kingdom to fruition. They assumed, as did the rest of the Jews of that day, that that kingdom would be political and military, social and economical.
Hence the request for the seats of power, one on the right hand of the Messiah, the other on His left. The seat on the right designated the second in line for power, while the seat on the left indicated the third in line.
Jesus’ reply is revealing: “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” He was well aware that the kingdom He was bringing was that of the Suffering Servant, not that of the Conquering King.
Sometimes we are simply glib in how we pray and what we pray for—we do not know what it is that we are asking. If we really gave thought to our prayers, they would not be thoughtless, they would not be reckless, and they would not be foolish.
We’ve all heard the warning, “Don’t pray for patience!” Why is that? Because we know that James 1:2-3 says that the testing of our faith produces patience and endurance.
Had they known exactly what Jesus was going to be going through a few short days from then, do you think they would have asked to go along with Him? Do you think they would have consciously sought a portion in what He was to endure? I highly doubt it myself.
This reminds me of a country song that was popular several years ago. Not theologically sound, I grant you, but very much to the point, nonetheless. The chorus contained this line: “Some of God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayer.”
Now, we all know that God answers every prayer—no is an answer. But, you get the point, don’t you? What if God had given us what we had asked for? What if God had given us that job or had allowed us to marry that person or had made sure we got to go to that place or had let us engage in that activity? What would the result have been?
Looking back from the perspective of years gone by, do we see that what we thought then would be the greatest blessing of our lives would have actually have turned out to be a curse? Can I get a witness?
On the other side of that, how many of us can look at situations in our lives where we forced the issue, where we pushed and cajoled and wheedled and manipulated to make something happen, only to find out that it was huge mistake, that it wreaked nothing but havoc in our life, and that we would have been much better off just living out our life, calmly and joyfully submitted to the will of God?
Can anyone think of anything in the recent past that fits that picture? If you’re like me at all, you can think of at least a couple of things.
My point here is this: The brothers were picturing thrones and accolades and high honors, when the reality and what Jesus knew was coming were agony and humiliation and death. We can’t really blame them so much, though, because Jesus had mention back in Matthew 19:28, “Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
Add that to the many statements of Jesus that, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand,” and “The kingdom of heaven in among you,” and we might be so inclined to overlook His statements about torture and crucifixion and focus instead on the coming glory days ourselves.
The cup that Jesus was going to drink was a cup of suffering. In fact, when He prays in the Garden of Gethsemane, He specifically petitions His Father, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will (Matthew 26:39)."
Their response? A self-assured, ignorant, over-confident, “We are able.” They could taste the rush of the power they were going to have soon. Is this, perhaps, another case of thinking more highly of themselves as they ought? Don’t we do the same?
How many times have you thought you were “all that” and were sure you had what it took to rise to a challenge, only to fall flat on your face?
Here is where we see that the ordainings of God are providential. By providential I mean guided by the personal care and intimate wisdom of Almighty God; directed, not allowed just to happen, but planned and coordinated with full and complete foresight and perfect judgment.
God knows every human being more truly and more intimately than anyone else in the universe. He knows and understands our deepest motivations, our every strength, our every weakness, our every potential and capability, and He knows how and when and where and to what extent all of us can and should be woven together.
Why is it that this person has natural leadership ability and seems to get the positions and the followings that another cannot even come close to, no matter how great their desire? Why is it that this person is such an incredible wordsmith, able to captivate all who hear him speak, while this one over here—despite hard work and great effort—seems to have almost no impact at all on those he speaks to, even though he would like nothing more that to speak to large crowds and move hearts every week.
Why is it that one person is given ten talents, another two, and another only one? Is this completely arbitrary one God’s part, or are there reasons that only He knows and understands?
“We are able;” are we able to overcome selfishness and pride and mental limitations and physical weakness and weakness of character and propensity for sin and inclinations toward cruelty to do or to be or to achieve?
God knows us better than that. Why is it that you and I have not gotten or become or are involved in that which we dreamed of and desired so much for so long? Because, in the final analysis, God knew—and still knows—that we are not able.
I mention that I noticed three things about the ordainings of God. The first was that they are providential. The second was they are purposeful. God has a definite, fixed goal in mind and He is resolute, determined that that goal will be accomplished. We call this God’s will.
We can go back to the familiar story of Joseph, son of Jacob, and his journey into Egypt from treacherous beginnings on the part of his brothers, and find a perfect example of what I mean.
Joseph’s brothers, intent on ridding themselves of a troublemaking nuisance in their lives, sell Joseph to passing slave traders. Their original plan was simply to kill him, but God had other plans.
You know the story; Joseph is purchased as a slave by Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh’s personal guard. Joseph does extremely well, but then things go suddenly and horribly wrong. Joseph, falsely accused of a horrible crime, is imprisoned and forgotten.
Over time, Joseph’s natural disposition of doing his best for God wherever he is again rises to the top where he is. One day, he accurately interprets the dreams of two of his cellmates. One will have a wonderful outcome, the other a devastating one. Both interpretations prove true.
Instead of being remembered by the man who was restored to his position, he is again forgotten. Two more years pass, and Joseph remains as he was. He is ever faithful, however, and we see no inclination on his part to chafe against his circumstances or to rail against God.
Eventually, the day comes when Joseph’s giftedness is the perfect answer to meet a critical need of the king. Pharaoh needs his dreams interpreted and Joseph is the only one who can accomplish it. He is remembered, brought forth, and rises to the occasion.
Joseph claims no ability of his own, but gives full credit to God. Joseph is placed in the number two position in all the land, second only to Pharaoh himself. And, just as Joseph has interpreted, seven bountiful years of plenty are followed by seven years of drought and famine.
Over the course of time, Joseph’s family comes to Egypt for much needed food. Through and intricate weaving of conversations and circumstances, Joseph reveals his true identity to his brothers who believed that he had died long ago. They return to their homeland and inform their father who has been grieving for many, many years.
The entire family relocates to Egypt and settles in some of the choicest land available. When their father dies, the brothers again lie and tell Joseph that their fathered had made a final request before he died: that Joseph would not now take vengeance on his brothers for the evil that they had done to him so long ago.
Joseph’s response is amazing. He says, "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.”
“But God meant it for good.” Little did Joseph know that not only was God taking good care of the family that would become His chosen nation, He was also coordinating in their time the future events that would fulfill prophecy and eventually lead to what we now know as the Exodus of God’s people.
Part of the exodus of God’s people is a feast called the Passover, the fore-type of the sacrifice that Jesus would be making just a few days after where we are in our study in Matthew today.
This last demonstrates the third thing I noticed, other than that God’s ordainings are providential, and that they are purposeful. It demonstrates that His ordainings are also prepared in advance.
God had been preparing since that day so long ago in the Garden of Eden for the redemption of mankind. His original purpose of creating mankind for His glory and for He and us to enjoy each other forever was going to be restored.
And that brings us to my original question: What’s it like to follow Jesus? Jesus answers and says, “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 20:26-28)."
It isn’t always easy to imitate Jesus as servants. Remember the time He acted like a slave and washed feet—dirty, calloused, sweaty feet.
Remember how He ate with sinners and welcomed prostitutes. Remember how He gave a comforting and healing touch to the lepers, who today would be AIDS patients. Remember how He spent time with the most unpopular, unattractive, unpopular people and how He loved even His enemies.
In Matthew 7:12, Jesus says, “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”
The interesting thing that we find when we look at the grammar of the original is that Jesus is say, “be treating people the way you want them to treat you.” In other words, when someone says, “I wish you would treat me this way,” my question is, “Who are you already treating that way?” You see, Jesus says we should already be treating people the way we want to be treated—and, not just a few people, either—everyone.
That is what it is like to follow Jesus. That is what it is like to fully trust in God and His gracious, wise, and perfect sovereignty. That
is what it is like to have the mind and attitude of Jesus Christ.
We always seem to come back to this, don’t we? The point of the story is always to make us more like Jesus, each and every day. That is, after all, what God is busy doing, transforming us daily into the image of His Son (2 Corinthians 3:18).
Can you, will you, look at your life and your circumstances like Joseph did, like Jesus did, and praise God, serve Him joyfully and faithfully, with full and complete confidence that what you are living He has ordained for His purpose and plan, and that His ordainings are providential, purposeful, and prepared in advance for you?
Will you seek every day to be a slave and a servant to those whom God has placed into your life, to show them what being a follower of Jesus Christ really is?
The alternative is selfish, self-seeking, disloyalty. The alternative is a whole host of ugly, undesirable things that I don’t even want to mention at this point
Let’s not even look at that as an option, but instead, let us choose this day to devote ourselves all over again—or, maybe even for the first time—to being authentic followers of Jesus Christ.
Let’s pray.
