James and John tried to do what many people are trying to do these days--climb the corporate ladder, get a promotion, gain job security. They desired, as many of us do, and not always to our discredit, prestige, power, importance, respect, recognition (especially from the "boss") for their input and contribution to the cause. I'm sure James and John worked hard. They left a lucrative family fishing business for a job that commanded even harder physical labor, mental strain, and placing themselves in danger with the Roman government and Jewish officials, a job that paid expenses only, barely. In Matthew's gospel, even their mother pushed them up to Jesus to ask for a promotion: "Let one of us sit at Your right and the other at Your left in glory." "Lord, when everybody recognizes who You really are, and You're safely in office, let us be Your vice-presidents." Think of the audacity of the question. We may not know who is going to be sitting at the right hand of Jesus in heaven, but we do know who will be on the other side (Luke 22:69).
Jesus, however, did not laugh at them; nor did He scold them, but in His gentle way He taught them one of the great paradoxes of the Kingdom: To become great, one must willingly become a servant.
10:33 [Saying], Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles:
10:34 And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.
10:35 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire.
10:36 And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you?
10:37 They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.
10:38 But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?
10:39 And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized:
10:40 But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but [it shall be given to them] for whom it is prepared.
10:41 And when the ten heard [it], they began to be much displeased with James and John.
10:42 But Jesus called them [to him], and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.
10:43 But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:
10:44 And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.
10:45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
It's a lesson Jesus often taught in word and in deed.
19:27 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?
19:28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
19:29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
19:30 But many [that are] first shall be last; and the last [shall be] first.
20:20 Then came to him the mother of the sons of Zebedee with her sons, worshipping `him', and asking a certain thing of him.
20:21 And he said unto her, What wouldest thou? She saith unto him, Command that these my two sons may sit, one on thy right hand, and one on thy left hand, in thy kingdom.
20:22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink the cup that I am about to drink? They say unto him, We are able.
20:23 He saith unto them, My cup indeed ye shall drink: but to sit on my right hand, and on `my' left hand, is not mine to give; but `it is for them' for whom it hath been prepared of my Father.
20:24 And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation concerning the two brethren.
20:25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.
20:26 Not so shall it be among you: but whosoever would become great among you shall be your minister;
20:27 and whosoever would be first among you shall be your servant:
20:28 even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
In one of the most touching and demonstrative moments of His ministry, Jesus gave His disciples an object lesson:
13:1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.
13:2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's [son], to betray him;
13:3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;
13:4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
13:5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe [them] with the towel wherewith he was girded.
13:6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?
13:7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.
13:8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
13:9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also [my] hands and [my] head.
13:10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash [his] feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
13:11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.
13:12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?
13:13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for [so] I am.
13:14 If I then, [your] Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.
13:15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
13:16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
13:17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
Jesus, the King of Kings, took on the job of the lowest of household servants.
We fuss and complain when we feel like we've been overlooked or mistreated, when someone hasn't given us the respect we deserve. O Prideful Humanity, what we deserve is death. But we have been given a lifeline--to take up our cross and follow Jesus--to serve. And so what if we are ridiculed in the proud eyes of the world?
4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
4:5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse [your] hands, [ye] sinners; and purify [your] hearts, [ye] double minded.
4:9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and [your] joy to heaviness.
4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
"The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve" (Matt. 20:26). "Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me" (John 12:26).
Heavenly Father, teach me to be truly humble and to serve others in Your Name. Help me to realise that promotion comes from You and not from man. Help me to wash the feet of those to whom You send me. Amen
10:45 For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
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