The Teachings of Jesus

Sermon Seventy-Eight

Matthew 20:17-28

(Jesus foretells His death)

by

Jim Bordwine, ThD

Introduction

If you’ve taken notice of where we are in Matthew’s Gospel, you realize we are coming to the events associated with the conclusion of the Lord’s earthly ministry. Today’s sermon text is one in which Jesus again tells His disciples about the ordeal awaiting Him in Jerusalem. But in the context of that incredibly disturbing information, something happens that is almost unbelievable. A shocking display of self-centeredness and lack of perception highlights this passage. Although it is troubling, as I’ve indicated, it still serves as one of the most effective stories by which we learn about our Savior and ourselves.

The Text

In Matthew’s account, we read:

Matt. 20:17 And as Jesus was about to go up to Jerusalem, He took the twelve disciples aside by themselves, and on the way He said to them, 18 “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death, 19 and will deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and scourge and crucify Him, and on the third day He will be raised up.”

The Teaching

These words set the context for the lesson I just mentioned. Before the time to enter Jerusalem arrived, Jesus told His disciples what would occur. And I should mention that this is not the only record of this knowledge being delivered to the disciples. The events soon unfolding were foretold by Jesus before He and His party ever approached the city. Now, as Jesus and the disciples came to Jerusalem for the final time, He again reminded them of what was about to occur (cf. vv. 17-19).

Jesus could not have been more forthright concerning what was about to happen. The disciples should have been well-aware of what the next few days would bring, well-aware of what their Savior was about to face. In just a few days, Jesus is going to die. This was the purpose which brought Him to Jerusalem on this occasion; it is the purpose which brought Him from heaven.

This is, once again, the context for what Jesus is about to teach to the disciples; this is the context in which Jesus is asked a surprising question; this is the context in which, Jesus kindly and patiently instructs the disciples in an essential matter. The Lord’s longsuffering on this occasion truly is astounding. Had the disciples been thinking of what was to come, had they listened carefully to the Savior’s prior warnings, this incident never would have occurred.

The Text (continued)

20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Him with her sons, bowing down, and making a request of Him. 21 And He said to her, “What do you wish?” She said to Him, “Command that in Your kingdom these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right and one on Your left.” 22 But Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you are asking for. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?” They said to Him, “We are able.” 23 He said to them, “My cup you shall drink; but 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.” 24 And hearing this, the ten became indignant with the two brothers.

The Teaching (continued)

Matthew doesn’t tell us what the disciples thought about the Lord’s remarks when He told them He would be condemned to death in Jerusalem. However, in Luke’s account, we find that Jesus also told a parable at some point before He entered Jerusalem. The parable had to do with the kingdom of God. Luke says that when Jesus told this story, the disciples “supposed that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately.” (Lk. 19:11)

This tells us something important about what was on the minds of the disciples as they made their way to Jerusalem and it reveals to us their big mistake. Jesus warned them that this trip to Jerusalem would be His last; He told them that, on this occasion, He would be taken into custody and crucified. But the disciples were thinking about something else, something far more pleasant, something that held promise of them possibly being honored in some manner. They were thinking of the establishment of God’s kingdom on earth and supposed that this event was about to occur in all its fullness.

Few passages show us so clearly how misguided was the thinking of these disciples. When they should have been exhibiting a sober awareness of what was transpiring, when they should have been subdued and concerned for the welfare of Jesus, the disciples were, instead, oblivious to the ordeal which awaited Him.

When we put Matthew’s account together with that of Luke, we can better understand what was going on. Hearing Jesus talking about the kingdom of God led the disciples to believe that He would set up an earthly kingdom within a few days. This is in spite of the fact, let me emphasize, that the Savior told them beforehand what would occur on this visit to Jerusalem.

The disciples were way off base in their understanding of the times; they were severely misguided in what they believed was about to happen. They were expecting joy, but sadness was coming. They were expecting exaltation, but persecution was coming. They were expecting honor, but they all would soon be disgraced. Their journey was really about to begin and they thought it was nearly over.

With thoughts of a pending kingdom on their minds, Matthew says that the mother of James and John came to Jesus and made a strange request: “Command that in Your kingdom these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right and one on Your left.” (v. 21)

This woman asked that her sons be given positions of honor and prominence in Christ’s kingdom. Jesus soon will be suffering and soon will die, so the fact that she would make such a request makes sense only in light of what Luke tells us, viz., that the disciples expected Christ’s kingdom to be established momentarily. The mother of James and John asked for the two positions which would have been surpassed in esteem only by that of Christ Himself! She didn’t ask for two important positions for her sons, she asked for the two most important and the two most prominent positions for her sons.

In the minds of the disciples, their arrival at Jerusalem marked the end of the Lord’s ministry. They, at least, understood that much. They were wrong, however, in how they expected this ministry to end. They did not realize that Jesus was about to be taken from them and that they would be left to spend the rest of their lives laboring under harsh conditions for His kingdom. This kingdom was coming, to be sure, but not instantly and not as they were anticipating. The kingdom would begin as Jesus gave His life for them and it would increase gradually due to the painful toil of these very men.

Based on the Savior’s response, we know that the sons mentioned by their mother were aware of what she requested. This request was grounded in sheer ignorance and foolish pride. Accordingly, Jesus responded and said “You do not know what you are asking for...” (v. 22). He continues and bluntly tells them that their request is misguided. He illustrates just how hampered their thinking was when He asks of them: “Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?” Jesus implies that He is about to face a unique ordeal, one which was reserved for Him alone. In His question, Jesus implies that these men had done nothing to merit such an honor as to sit on either side of the Savior in His kingdom.

The disciples, however, did not comprehend how honor is achieved in Christ’s kingdom; they did not understand how one becomes great. Jesus, of course, will be great in the kingdom which is to come because He is about to give His life for these disciples. But, are these disciples prepared to imitate His behavior? They naively answer, “we are able.” This answer alone shows us how ignorant these men were of what was going on. Did they really think they could do what Jesus was about to do or did they think they could endure what He would have to endure? Did they believe that they were of such sterling character as to sit on either side of the Savior after He took His place on the throne?

In time, as we know, these men will face suffering and persecution for Christ’s sake and they will, by God’s grace and by the aid of His Spirit, endure. That is what Jesus means when He says to them: “My cup you shall drink.” But, the truth is, these men will not face what Jesus will face in Jerusalem—in fact, we know that they will soon flee and desert the Savior in His hour of trial. When the time comes to stand with Jesus, when the time comes to be identified with Him and to stake their lives on Him and with Him, these men, who presently assume that they should be granted an honor of considerable magnitude, will scatter.

Moreover, Jesus informs them that it was not His right to assign such positions of distinction as requested by the mother (v. 23). Jesus’ response indicates the depth of misunderstanding. The eyes of James and John, the two sons, were focused on glory, not on the fiery ordeal that was about to take place; their attention was on comfort and honor and prestige and influence, not on the severe trial that was coming. These men thought everything was about to be wrapped up and that Jesus would soon be enthroned on the earth.

They could not have been more wrong. They showed a tremendous ignorance about the ministry of Christ and His purpose in coming to earth. And this, I remind us again, is in spite of the fact that Jesus told them about what would happen in Jerusalem. We get the impression that the disciples simply did not listen when Jesus told them that betrayal, arrest and crucifixion awaited Him in the city.

Put all this together—the ignorance of the disciples, their self-promotion illustrated in their request and their apparent denseness—and we see that this is precisely why a lesson about the kingdom of Jesus Christ was so necessary at this point. Jesus would soon be taken away and these men, these very men making the request to have seats of authority and honor in His kingdom, are going to be the ones in charge of that kingdom here on the earth. They are, at this point, in no way prepared for the challenge that is to come.

We can legitimately criticize the disciples for their slowness but, to be honest, we have to admit that sometimes we think just like they did. Just like these disciples, all Christians need to understand that establishing the kingdom of Jesus Christ in this world is hard work. Christ has saved us and left us here to work for Him and to sacrifice for Him. We must learn that being a disciple of Jesus Christ requires labor—long and sometimes costly labor. The Christian life is not over in a matter of days.

When Jesus came riding into Jerusalem, that was the end for Him but the beginning for the disciples. They had a mission ahead of them, one which would consume the rest of their earthly lives. It was imperative that they stop concentrating on themselves and start concentrating on that which could be defined as imitation of the Savior.

This is what Jesus is going to address. In the following remarks, the Lord gets to the heart of the problem represented in the request from James and John; He is going to touch upon an issue that was not only a stumbling block for those two, but, based on reactions, for all the disciples. He is, at the same time, going to explain how His kingdom operates and how one becomes a leader and occupies a position of honor in that kingdom.

After recording how Jesus dealt with James and John, Matthew adds that “the ten became indignant with the two brothers.” (v. 24) Do you know why? Because, as I already indicated, they, too, wanted those positions of honor! And did you notice how the mother spoke: “Command that in Your kingdom these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right and one on Your left.” But why does she ask Jesus to speak on this issue right now, with the implication being, of course, that this would be understood as His will in the matter? Why does she want Him to make a pronouncement at this time?

It seems clear enough to me that she wanted Jesus to issue an order so that all the disciples would know that James and John were appointed by the Master Himself to have those seats of honor. Just so there would be no argument later, she wanted the Savior to speak decisively now. It is no surprise, therefore, that the others were irritated by the implication of the question asked by the mother. They saw that these two were attempting to elevate themselves above the rest.

The lesson Jesus teaches in these verses could be said to be a characteristic of His entire ministry. This lesson also speaks to the heart of what it means to follow Christ and be part of His kingdom. What Jesus says in response to the behavior of His disciples shows how righteous He was and how worldly-minded they were.

The Text (continued)

25 But Jesus called them to Himself, and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. 26 It is not so among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, 27 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

The Teaching (continued)

Remember that two of the disciples have just shown a desire to be respected and honored in the kingdom of the Savior. What is the basis for such a desire? Where would the disciples get the idea that honor among their fellow disciples was something to which they might be entitled? Where does this kind of thinking come from? How could they have served with Christ for over three years only to have such selfish ambition here at the end of His ministry? The answer is simple and the answer is identified by the Savior:

“Jesus called them to Himself, and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It is not so among you...’” (vv. 25, 26a)

Do you see why the disciples would think as they did? These disciples assumed that the principles which operate in the world also operate among the Lord’s people. This was a profound mistake. Jesus clearly identifies the thinking of the world when it comes to what constitutes greatness and honor and then He flatly contradicts that thinking by saying, “It is not so among you.” He doesn’t mean that these disciples are not thinking like the world—for surely they were; He means that He does not allow that attitude among His disciples. He means that His disciples cannot be disciples and think like the world.

Don’t miss the Lord’s declaration: “It is not so among you.” If you are My disciples, He states, then you are not self-centered. If you are My disciples, then you do not lord it over one another. True disciples would never make such a request as had been made and they would never allow someone to make such a request on their behalf.

The desire to be elevated above others, the desire to be honored among men, Jesus reminds His disciples, is characteristic of the fallen world. This is how the Gentiles behave, He tells His followers, meaning that this is the manner of sinners. They equate importance with high positions; they measure success by the amount of power they hold over others. Sinners delight in using their authority to promote themselves while belittling others. But, “It is not so among you,” the Savior asserts.

The one who has authority among the Gentiles is the one who is respected; the one who is served is seen as the one who is worthy of honor. But this is not how the kingdom of Christ works, Jesus declares. A different principle operates in :His kingdom; it functions according to a different notion of greatness. This is the truth that the disciples had to learn.

The lesson being taught by Jesus is this: In His kingdom, service is the key to honor; self-sacrifice is the way to exaltation. This is as opposed to the world’s philosophy as it could be. And, so, Jesus says to them: “26 [W]hoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, 27 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” In the kingdom of Christ, one’s honor is measured by one’s service; one’s ranking is directly related to one’s humility.

What a contrast to the world; what a contrast to what we experience out in the world practically every day of our lives! Self-promotion, looking out for one’s self, crushing others for the sake of your own gain—this is what we run into when we leave the church and return to our duties. We are faced with the sizeable challenge of not thinking like that and not behaving like that.

I’ve said that this lesson is a reflection of Christ’s entire ministry. Jesus says as much: “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (v. 28) The reason for Christ’s coming, the reason He now stood on the outskirts of Jerusalem, the reason He would soon suffer a most cruel death is found in what He was trying to teach these disciples: In God’s estimation, greatness comes from service; success is measured in terms of concern for another’s welfare. This is what Jesus demonstrated throughout His life and was about to demonstrate in an astonishing way by giving Himself so that sinners might be forgiven.

Jesus leaves us with these great truths just before He enters Jerusalem as a Lamb being led to the slaughter; just before He is betrayed and deserted and arrested and beaten; just before He is nailed to a cross and suspended between heaven and earth for our sakes, as our Servant. In the kingdom of Jesus Christ, greatness is achieved by imitating His humility and power is exercised by mimicking His submission. If you wish to be great in Christ’s kingdom, you should become a servant.

Application

As we come to a conclusion, I want to call attention again to the context in which Jesus taught His disciples on this occasion. The context, as I pointed out, was His approach to Jerusalem where He would give Himself in place of the disciples and, in fact, in place of all of us. This context made the words of Jesus particularly significant. He was about to die even though He was innocent of any crime or sin; He was about to give His life as a ransom for others.

In light of what the Savior was about to do, His words took on a specific importance. Jesus came to earth to suffer and die for His disciples, so whatever He had to say while He was here should have been received in that context. The disciples should have thought: “The One who came to pay for my sins is speaking. I will listen and I will cherish His word and keep His word.”

You probably agree with what I’ve just said. Is that the manner in which you receive the words of the Savior? As you read the Gospels, do you remember that the One speaking and the One being written about is the One who suffered and died for you? If so, I would think you would desire to listen carefully to Him and follow His words with diligence. Is that the case? How much do you love the words of Christ? What kind of effort do you make to know them and live by them?

Let’s be clear on this: is not a badge of honor to be oblivious, to be blind, to be uninformed or to be distracted from what really matters. And there are many, many Christians who live like this today. There are many believers who have their eyes on heaven, which is fine, but at the same time, they live as if there is nothing to be done between now and the time we get to heaven. They are, much like the disciples, oblivious to the obvious—they talk about heaven and about reward, but don’t realize that there is much to be done by the followers of Christ between now and then.

Collectively, the Church has pretty much given up the ideas of redeeming culture and fighting the good fight of faith. Generally speaking, the Church seems to be hanging around wondering what is keeping Jesus. What’s keeping Him is the continuing but yet unfinished expansion of His kingdom here in this world—here in history. The hard work of living out the gospel and the hard work of applying the gospel to every area of life remains undone.

I noted before that while we are rightly critical of the disciples, we have to be just as quick to point the finger at ourselves; we have to be just as quick to say that, today, very few Christians understand the principle Jesus identified. There are a lot of believers who want the glory without the pain; many who want prestige without paying a price. You never have trouble finding someone who will allow themselves to be honored or put forth as a good example. But it is difficult to find a Christian who understands that service is the calling of a disciple or a Christian who understands that being inconvenienced for the sake of Christ and for the sake of Christ’s people is the norm.

In the context of our passage, Christ’s kingdom was just beginning. The disciples had no idea of what awaited Him or them. Before they could be considered great in His kingdom, each one would have to give up all; each one would have to become a servant to the others and even to mankind as Jesus had done. Instead of worrying about which of them would occupy the seat of greatest honor in Christ’s kingdom, they should have been concerned with how they might serve one another.

This lesson is presented to you today. It should not surprise us to discover that things are this way in the kingdom of Christ. Those who are His subjects achieve greatness by becoming servants; they excel through humility and concern for others. The man or woman who would be first in Christ’s kingdom must be ranked last in the world’s estimation. This is the kind of kingdom Jesus established. It is not the kind of kingdom the disciples expected. They had to learn to look at life from a new perspective and so do we.

Remember the Lord’s rebuke: “It is not so among you.” There are many things we can say to explain what Jesus meant by these words. He meant, for example, that gaining an advantage over another is not a mark of Christ-likeness. Belittling or embarrassing another is not a mark of Christ-likeness. Achieving the envy of others at the expense of another is not a mark of Christ-likeness. When we hear that statement, “It is not so among you,” we should immediately take stock of our lives and, if necessary, repent of pride and arrogance and feelings of self-importance.

What pleases our Savior is not our intelligence or wit or anything else we might display. He is pleased when you act like Him. He is pleased when you sacrifice for others, when you put aside your desires for others, when you seek to elevate others, and when you become a servant to His people. Disciples are no better than their Savior. If, by becoming a Servant, He achieved redemption, then His disciples are obligated to imitate Him if they want to be counted among His people.

If you want to honor the name of Jesus Christ this week, if you want to glorify Him as your Savior, if you want to commemorate His sacrifice of Himself, then serve one another. Leave this place today and determine that you will find ways to serve one another; determine that you will look for opportunities to become a servant. Unless you are above the Master, this is the way in which you must walk. This is how we honor the One who gave Himself for us. We honor Him by being like Him.

Let’s pray…

Communion hymn

Conclusion

As you receive the bread and the wine, these symbols of the Lord’s body and blood, let me ask you: Are you willing to be a servant? Think about Him this week as you go about your lives, as you see others in need, as you hear of problems and worries which some of your brethren are bearing. Are you willing to do what Jesus commands? Are you seeking to serve others as He served you? This is what is required of His disciples. We can do no less, if we are called by His name. Whether by spoken word, by written word, or by conduct, determine to be a servant to others. This is how greatness is measured in Christ’s kingdom.

1 Cor. 11:23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.