Greatness

3. March 2009 by Bernice Davis.

Here is our  text for today:

Matthew 20:17 Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them, 18 ”We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death 19 and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!”

20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. 21 ”What is it you want?” he asked. She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.” 22 ”You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” “We can,” they answered. 23 Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.” 24 When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. 25 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave– 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  (NIV)

Our lesson today deals with who is the greatest or how to become the greatest in the kingdom of God.  You will notice that the opening of our text begins with Jesus foretelling of his death and the type of death he would die.   So we can see that his death is soon approaching in our text.  Hopefully our study will be timed perfectly that by the time we get to Easter we will be discussing the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord. 

After Jesus tells his disciples about his death, the mother of the sons of Zebedee which were the brothers James and John came to Jesus to ask him to secure her sons the right and left seat in  his kingdom.   Jesus responded by telling the woman that you have no idea what you are asking.  Those seats require a life of suffering and pain and one that she might not be willing to subject her sons with.   Jesus asked them can they drink the cup that he must drink.  They quickly answered that they could and Jesus does acknowledge that they will also share his cup during their lifetime. 

Jesus explains to John, James and their mother that the positions that they desire are not his to give but God determines who those positions belong to.   This question caused strife among the other disciples when they heard that the two were jockeying for positions.     Jesus calls them all together and tells them that the greatest among them must be their servant and whoever wants to be first must be their slaves.  These are positions that honestly you cannot apply for.   A true servant cannot fake his commitment and dedication.  It comes from the heart.   Greatness comes through serving and not competing and politicking for positions.   Greatness is usually not sought after; it is awarded through servant hood to mankind.  Even Jesus says that the son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.

I know that you may say that you know some great men and women in life and they were never servants to anyone.  Well my friends, it all depends on your definition of greatness.  True Greatness is defined by a life of serving.

If we could ever really understand this principle, I believe that our lives would take on so much more meaning.   As Christians we are here to serve.  To serve God first and then our fellowman for the scriptures teach how can we love God whom we have not seen and do not love our brethren.   Our life should be a life of service but for so many of us it is all about us.  

True joy comes in giving.  Life is not living unless you’re giving.   We fight for so many positions in life when greatness is achieved through serving.  

I am blown away with the word of God.  It is so simple yet so profound.   Jesus teachings are to help us keep our hearts and motives pure.    We look at servant hood as demeaning when it is actually a privilege and honor to serve humanity.  For when we help the least of these, we have done it as unto the Lord.

Just do something nice for someone.  Volunteer somewhere, whether in your local church or your community, wherever you find a need fulfill it through  your service and experience the impact that it will have on your life and what it will do to your mind and heart.  You will find that helping others will help you not focus on what you think the lacks are in your own life and it will bring fulfillment and satisfaction to you in ways you never imagined.  Just try it.

Stay encouraged!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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