We Do Not Know

A Mother's Request

"Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. 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.” 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.” 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.”

Matthew 20:20-23 in the English Standard Version

[This is the 8th message in this series]

A mother more often than not has their children's interests and well-being in mind. This is of course the case when the mother of James and John (sons of Zebedee) knelt at Jesus to request that He grant her sons prominent positions -- the highest positions after Himself in God's Kingdom.

#WhenIDontUnderstand

Most times we do not understand what it is that we asking of the Lord, or what it takes to achieve it. This is the case here.

Let us continue that narrative from Matthew.

To Be First, Be Last

"And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. 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. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Matthew 20:24- 28

Servant Leadership

Jesus initiated what we now regard as an upside down way of leadership and doing things -- doing as we say and do and not just what we say, walking the talk. It is characterized as being the last as to be the first, to strive to be unpopular as opposed to being famous, the least than the most, the lowest than the highest.

Jesus the Prince of heaven descended down to the level of the commonfolk and not only lived with and lived like them, He served them even washed their feet -- showing that no work is beneath Him.

He became the most insignificant, so as to become the Shepherd, one of the lowest kinds of work, to lead everyone else to the place they ought to be -- His Father's House, co-heirs in God's Kingdom.

All of God's lost sheep needs the Good Shepherd to lead them safely back home, giving His own life to do so because of His great love.