Culver Community Church
Pastor Chris Sweeney
Sermon Notes
September 30, 2018
Matthew 20:17 – 28 How to be Great in the Kingdom
{vs. 17-19} As Jesus changes the general destination of the traveling ministry, He once again takes the inner circle to Himself and tries to prepare them for what is ahead! This is the third time that Jesus has tried to get them to understand (see Matthew 16:21 & 17:22-23). In the first, Jesus shocked them by telling them that He would suffer many things at the hands of elders, be killed and raised to life on the third day. On the second, Jesus tells us that He would be delivered into the hands of men (not zebras or walruses), be killed and raised to life on the third day. Here we get new details: He will be delivered to the chief priests and teachers of the law; condemned (that’s a judgement and an implied trial); the gentiles are involved; mocked and flogged and crucified (it is one thing to be put to death – but here we find out it will be cruel!); and raised to life on the third day. Did you notice the common elements? Each time Jesus opens the subject of His death, He ties it to the resurrection! A death without resurrection would make Him just like any other man (the resurrection is God’s stamp of approval) and a resurrection without death has no meaning! You must have both! It is because of both Christ’s death and resurrection that we have hope for a future, that we have evidence that sin and death have been defeated. As believers, we follow Jesus into His death and resurrection (just as pictured in baptism) – our lives are no longer our own! Ours sins are placed on Him and it is no longer we who live, but Christ!
This is crucial to us today because far too many of us think about our lives without tying them to Christ, to our destiny, to our mission – we are to live for Christ, until He calls us home. It is unacceptable that we who have been given so much should go on living as if there is no difference! Christ in His life here among us never lost track of why He came, never stepped out of the Father’s will and as Christians (little Christs), we should strive to do the same! Our lives are inextricably tied to His – when God looks down upon us, He sees the righteousness of Christ! And when we either fall asleep in death (or are caught up in the air), just like Christ - - - our deaths will be indistinguishably tied to our resurrections! Let us live like we understand this – to live today, every day that He gives us, is for Him and to die is gain (to be present with the Lord)!
{vs. 20-21} Sadly, they did not understand what Jesus was telling them! We see this in their behavior both now and during the events of Passion Week. If the disciples and Salome (the mother of James and John) had understood, do you think that she would have come up and been so insensitive? Think about it! Jesus has just told them I’m going to my horrible death and here she comes asking for a favor (and oh, what a favor!) After Jesus’ crucifixion, the men were in shock, behind locked doors hiding – you cannot tell me that they acted like men forewarned. These men were crushed and did not expect Jesus to rise again on the third day! Luke’s gospel (18:34) tells us that “The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what He was talking about.”
Salome comes to Jesus both as a disciple (follower), worshipping and as a mother, seeking promotion for her boys! Mark’s account leaves her out of the request (Mark 10), so we can see that the boys were just as involved even if we can’t know who’s idea it was, or who put who up to this. However, before we get to critical, I want to point out a few positives about this story! First, we know that they did hear, did understand and did believe Jesus when He told them that they would sit on thrones at the renewal of all things (19:28). Second, this is prayer – they come to Jesus with their requests (even if somewhat selfish).
This request was for preferred or assigned seating, like you might have at a wedding reception or at a formal banquet (like on cruises – you eat at the table you’ve been assigned to!) They believed there would be twelve thrones, and so the brothers had faith – special faith that ignores Jesus telling them He’s about to be handed over to die (horribly) and holds onto the thrones! Since the thrones were certain – they figured when they all sit down, someone has to be in the best seats - - - it might as well be me (and my brother too)! And let’s get mom involved, who can say no to mom?
{vs. 22-23} While there are positives, there are some negatives here too. The boys are obviously thinking of themselves – above Jesus, the Kingdom and especially the other disciples. This request was based upon their own desires and will, not God’s will! James and John were stuck in a worldly mindset – they wanted position and power. They also didn’t understand the cost – in God’s Kingdom, entrance is a gift (free for the receipt, all you have to do is let go of anything holding you back), but rewards, honors and positions come at a price. God is honest, He is integrity personified and there is no way that He will exalt someone unless it is based upon what is real – a real, authentic life, not just really being the first to ask (we see that they got to Jesus before Peter did)! This is not a simple favor to be given, but was prepared and planned before the foundations of the World by God. God’s criteria is simple, humble yourself in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up (James 4:10 & 1 Peter 5:6). This is what would happen - - - after the resurrection and after receiving the Holy Spirit. This cup is the same cup Jesus would have passed from Him – the cup of sorrow and suffering. James was the first of the Apostles to be martyred, and John endured a martyrdom of long live, including exile to Patmos! Be careful what you ask for; if you want to be great in the Kingdom, you must be willing to pay the price! As we have learned, God will give back one hundred fold (at least) for all that you lose but that is not much comfort for those losing! A.Z. Tozer said it well – “It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until He has hurt him deeply.” (or my own paraphrase - “If you want to be used – prepare to be bruised.”)
God knows your heart, He knows how you will react to the call of grace, how you will serve and yes, every time we fall along the way even before any of this happened (before the foundations of the world). It is because of that foreknowledge that God has prepared a place for you – for each of His children. That place includes both a room in His house and a position in the Kingdom! I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to see what that is and what it will be like when we enter the eternity!
{vs. 24} This is probably an understatement! The ten must have been irate, partially because they didn’t think of it first, but also because of James and John’s selfishness. Since they had the same mindset (self-seeking), if the brothers’ request was granted it would have lowered their own places (they would have gotten ‘bad’ seats!)
{vs. 25-28} God’s thoughts are not our thoughts, His Kingdom does not work the way we expect – the natural way of this fallen world! Here below, power is to be gained, horded and used for selfish ends. So often even the kind or altruistic acts seen in the powerful are a means to an end – a way to improve their image or help the ones they love (for themselves)! However, in the Kingdom the great are the first to serve – to selflessly give simply because it is the loving thing, the Godly thing to do! Often these acts of service are at a personal cost. This is God’s way and we see it clearly in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ – He came to serve (not to be served) to the utmost, giving up all that He is (His life) so that we might have eternal life. This is the reason, the purpose that Christ came, to seek and to save the lost and we must never forget that because as believers we live for Him – to continue the mission, no longer to live for ourselves!