Not to Be Served but to Serve

I. Introduction
A. My first Lent series
1. Why? Because I don’t know how long I have with this series, and I don’t want to have to end it before the most important parts of Jesus’ life, which come at the end of the story, so I’m going to preach them now during Lent. Then we’ll go back to earlier parts of our Lord’s ministry.
B. Matthew 20:17–28 And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, 18 “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death 19 and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.” 20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. 21 And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” 22 Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” 23 He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” 24 And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. 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.”
II. Let’s walk through the passage and reflect on each part.
A. And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, 18 “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death 19 and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.”
1. This story takes place about a week before the crucifixion, as they are approaching Jerusalem, just a day or two before the triumphal entry. Jesus is very conscious of the fact that He is about to drink down the cup of God’s wrath and give his life as a ransom for many.
2. He has already informed His disciples numerous times of what is going to happen.
3. In chapter 16 when Jesus brings this up, Peter rebukes Him for it.
4. In chapter 17 it says “they were deeply grieved” – not in the sense of accepting it and grieving over it, but in the sense of being too upset to listen to it: “Don’t say that!”
5. Now here for the third time He tells them and “they understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.” (Luke 18:34)
6. Because of this, they weren’t prepared for the crucifixion or for the resurrection. In both cases they acted as if they’d never heard about it before.
B. 20-21 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. 21 “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.”
1. At this moment, Salome, the mother of James and John, makes a bold move. She brings her sons up to Jesus and kneels before Him. It’s not just an ordinary, casual request. In her mind this is a big deal. What is this urgent request in response to the Lord’s words about His death?
2. It is a petition for position – “Put my boys in the highest place, Lord.”
3. Jesus is about to face something so daunting that even He will be shaken and deeply distressed to the point of sweating blood, and yet His followers are completely oblivious.
4. It reminds me of the four Thomas Cole painting we have down in room 5 of the four stages of life. The painting which depicts youth envisions the glorious celestial city ahead but is blind to the dreadful rapids ahead.
C. 22a Jesus answered, “You don’t know what you’re asking.”
1. Remember on the Mount of Transfiguration, when Moses & Elijah showed up and Peter asked to build three tents? Luke 9:33 tells us he didn’t know what he was saying.
2. I feel like this congregation has been very patient with me in times when I said stupid things, but didn’t really know what I was saying.
3. When we know what we’re doing – and still do the wrong thing – then we are dealt with more severely. James 4:17 “Whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”
4. But so often people act in ignorance. They don’t really know what they’re doing.
5. And when people don’t really know what they’re doing, God is more patient.
6. Jesus prayed in Luke 23:34, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
7. Salome had a vague knowledge of a glorious day to come, but no concept of what the road was like to get there.
D. 22b "Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?"
1. The cup He’s referring to is the cup of His own death, of course, pouring out His life for others.
2. Are they supposed to drink the cup He was to drink? In a sense, yes – but not as their substitute, bearing the wrath of God. However, they are going to be called upon to lay down their lives for the sake of others.
E. 22c "We are able."
1. Jesus may have rolled His eyes at this moment, but it’s not in the gospel record.
2. It’s not just Salome who doesn’t know what she’s asking.
3. Her sons don’t get it either. They have no idea what they’ve gotten themselves into.
4. They have no idea how hard this is going to be.
5. It reminds me of some young people when they get married. They take the wedding vows in this same casual spirit. We did it ourselves! We were serious about the commitment, but we had no idea what it was going to mean.
a. “Forsaking all others, I do now promise and covenant, before God and these witnesses, to be your loving and faithful husband/wife, in plenty and in want, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, for better or for worse as long as we both shall live.”
b. Do you know how hard it is to be a loving and faithful husband when your wife seems to be doing you harm and not good? When she is weak and sickly? When she is depressed? Do you know how hard it is to forsake all others and be faithful when she is preoccupied and overwhelmed and not what she used to be?
c. Do you know how hard it is to a loving wife when your husband fails in his career? When you’re afraid of financial disaster? When it seems clear to you that you know what needs to happen better than he does? When he seems to be acting out of pride or self-interest and not out of godly concern for the good of the family?
d. And yet we stood there saying the words but hardly having any ability to grasp their weight or understand how hard it was going to be to fulfill them. "We are able!"
6. But in all their naivete, they are willing.
7. Oh! that we would wake up each morning with an understanding of how desperately we need God’s help that day. And yet God is so patient with us, isn’t He?
F. 23a He said to them, “You will drink my cup”
1. In spite of the fact that you don't know what you're talking about, in spite of the fact that you foolishly think you are up for this calling, you will indeed drink this cup.
2. Though the cup was going to be overwhelmingly heavy, they both did drink it.
3. James was first disciple to be martyred – killed by Herod's sword in Acts 12:2.
a. I wonder if he thought about these words of the Lord as he sat in prison later, waiting to be killed by the sword for his testimony of Jesus. “You will drink my cup.”
4. As an old man his brother John was the last of the 12 to die – martyred for the faith like the rest.
G. 23b "to sit on My right and on My left, this is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by My Father."
1. There IS a kingdom. There ARE positions of relative honor there.
2. Jesus had taught them about this just a few chapters earlier in the sermon on the mount, where He referred to the “least in the kingdom of heaven” and the “greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt.5:19). And then again in Matt.11:11 and 18:1-4.
3. We see that the disciples picked up on some stuff lightning fast. And other stuff – like the cross – they didn’t get EVEN THOUGH JESUS REPEATED IT MANY TIMES.
4. They were just like us, weren’t they? Some stuff we latch onto right away. But other stuff is like water off a duck’s back – in one ear and out the other. Lord, help us!
H. 24 "And hearing this, the ten became indignant with the two brothers."
1. It is not surprising that the other ten disciples were upset with James and John for their audacious request.
2. The surprising thing is who DOESN’T become indignant – Jesus. Jesus wasn’t indignant.
3. The eyes that were perfectly righteous – the man who never departed from the way of God – was not outraged! Only the other sinners were outraged, only the ones who ALSO coveted the honor of being given those big important positions, only the ones who also struggled with pride.
4. The ones who had no reason and no right to become indignant did become indignant. And the One who had every reason and every right to become indignant did not become indignant.
5. Doesn't this tell us something about our Lord’s loving patience and our human outrage?
6. I believe when we get to heaven, we’ll be shocked at how much of our outrage was just like this.
7. I think we’ll realize we were indignant many times when Christ was not.
8. There is certainly a time and place for outrage and indignation. But outrage and indignation can easily be based not on righteousness but on self-righteousness, based not on love but on pride.
9. These are Jesus’ friends. And Salome is one of the three women there at the cross (Matt.27:56). He does not reject or condemn them because of their foolish request.
10. Jesus often rebuked His disciples, but the only time I can think of where we’re told He actually got indignant with them is in Mark 10:14 when they were rebuking the women who were bringing their children to Jesus.
11. Even though their request was misguided, it reflected belief in Christ’s kingdom and a desire to do everything they could to serve it and serve Christ.
12. But Jesus also discerns a sinful desire to exercise authority in their request – and in the indignation of the other disciples. So, He lovingly comments on that.
I. 25 “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.
1. There is a way of the world, a way of living that believers must not conform to. With power there comes the temptation to use it for self instead of others, to oppress instead of serve.
2. This is the way the flesh operates. It thinks of self and praise and position. It wants to make sure that it gets what it has a right to and that no one else gets what belongs to me.
J. 26-27 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,
1. Christ’s followers must be different.
2. Believers given authority must remember that there is an ultimate boss, a king of kings, a Father of fathers, a Lord of lords – who gives orders to kings and fathers and bosses.
3. How easy it is for those in authority to forget that they themselves are under authority. “Masters, treat your bond-servants justly & fairly, knowing you also have a Master in heaven.” – Col.4:1
4. It is easy to resort often to using the weapons of authority. But Jesus says to serve.
5. He calls us to serve the people He puts in our lives – in the home, in the neighborhood, in the workplace, even in the marketplace.
a. It means showing thoughtfulness, taking an interest in others, being attentive to others’ needs.
b. It means serving the people under us, which is very contrary to our flesh.
K. 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.”
1. The Son of Man came
a. Instead of remaining in His position as God in heaven, He stooped down and became a man, surrendering “the glory which He had with the Father before the world began.” (John 17:5)
b. He voluntarily entered into our humanity and into its curse.
c. You want to see greatness? This was the greatest act ever performed: Jesus Christ became man and gave His life as a ransom for sinners.
2. He came “not to be served but to serve.”
a. In one sense we are supposed to serve Christ. Ps.100:2 “Serve the Lord with gladness!”
b. But in another sense we never serve Christ, He always serves us.
(1) Acts 17:24-25 “The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since He Himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.”
(2) We do not meet His needs. “He Himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.”
(3) All the other so-called gods make man work for them. Instead, He does the work Himself.
(4) The gospel is not a help-wanted ad. It’s a help-available ad.
(5) God is not looking for people to work for Him but people in whom He can work.
(6) “The eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him.” 2Chronicles 16:9
3. Think about the way He spent Himself for others, healing all those who needed healing, dealing with needy and often difficult people.
a. He tangled with demons, He grappled with diseases, He contended with handicaps, He went head to head with death – patiently teaching, lovingly comforting, praising those who believed.
b. He courageously served the self-righteous by rebuking their arrogance; He defended the weak by reproving the high and mighty.
c. In order to serve mankind He endured all ordinary human discomforts, limitations and sufferings. He endured 40 days without food, the torments of the devil himself, & much ridicule.
d. And yet there was no trace of reluctance or weariness in His service, even when His days stretched from early morning to late at night, confronted with more and more need every place He went.
e. He did not resent it even when the crowds interrupted His moments of solitude, but responded with grace and willingness.
f. He served the poor, He served women, He served sinners, He served Gentiles, as well as His own oft-bumbling disciples.
g. It was probably just a few days after this that He took the basin and the towel and washed His disciples’ feet.
h. And the one time He said no to a request for help was only because there were other cities that needed His ministry as well.
i. Even on the cross He didn’t think of Himself while He was enduring the unspeakable agony of the weight of the world’s sin, but spoke words of mercy and assurance to the thief who died at His side.
j. The Son of Man came to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.
4. This is what Christianity is all about.
a. The world thinks about rank and status. It’s all about getting ahead. But Jesus comes from the highest rank and the most wealth and the greatest intelligence, and He says, ‘Greatness does NOT depend upon wealth or birth or intelligence or accomplishment or position.’ And He gives up His life for people who are lowly and poor and needy and of little worldly significance.
b. And then He calls them to forsake the way the world thinks and operates, and to follow Him in the path of humility and service.
5. And yet, in so many ways, we don’t really get it. We don’t realize the heaviness of what is happening in our lives. We don’t realize the import of what He’s doing. There’s no real fear and trembling because we don’t see Christ in our lives and how every moment of our lives has eternal significance. And we’re indignant when someone butts in front of us in traffic.
a. I have many regrets as a father that I was so often indignant with my children, instead of being patient because they didn’t know what they were doing. My problem was that I didn’t realize how patient the Lord was being with me.
b. Reading passages like this where we see the patience of the Lord with His disciples, and Jesus’ reliance on His own example to show them how to live is convicting to me. And it also makes me thankful that He is still so patient with me now, when so often I still don’t really know what I’m doing.