Follow Jesus, the Servant Leader

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Question: Anybody ever been caught in the “race for greatness?”
Context: On the way to Jerusalem, the disciples still haven’t learned the ways of Jesus’ kingdom: humility, service, suffering for righteousness.
Main Idea: Jesus’ life and mission is the path to the cross; Discipleship to Jesus is to follow him on that path, service, selfless suffering, servanthood.
Passage: Matthew 20:17-28

Follow Jesus on the Way to Jerusalem

(v. 17)
(v. 17)
Main Point: The way of Jesus is the Way to Jerusalem, the Way of suffering.
Jesus here pulls the disciples aside for a special time of teaching
Jesus is on his last journey to Jerusalem before his death; He is on the way to the cross.
Discipleship, to Jesus, is to follow him on his path to the cross. (See ). This path is a path of sacrifice, of suffering, and of death.
The content of Jesus’ teaching:
Son of Man
Danielic context?
will be delivered
that is captured or arrested
to the chief priests and scribes,
Jesus’ current enemies, representing the temple, the Sadducees, and the religious teachers from town to town, that is the Pharisees
and they will condemn him to death,
that is to convict him of a crime against God?
and they will deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified,
perhaps, having no charge with which to convict him or fearing the people who see him as a prophet similar to John the Baptist, turning him over to the civic authorities to charge him with a crime against Caesar, deserving of civic punishment and death
and he will be raised on the third day
Significance of the third day? Resurrection in the OT? Similarities of a resurrection in other religions?

Arrest, Conviction, Punishment, Death, Resurrection

(vv. 18-19)
Main Point: Jesus’ life and death are the model: discipleship to Jesus is a life of arrest for righteousness sake, false accusations, unjust imprisonment, unjust punishment, death for our faith, yet resurrection, exaltation, and glorification.
Jesus here pulls the disciples aside for a special time of teaching
Son of Man
Danielic context?
will be delivered
that is captured or arrested
to the chief priests and scribes,
Jesus’ current enemies, representing the temple, the Sadducees, and the religious teachers from town to town, that is the Pharisees
and they will condemn him to death,
that is to convict him of a crime against God?
and they will deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified,
perhaps, having no charge with which to convict him or fearing the people who see him as a prophet similar to John the Baptist, turning him over to the civic authorities to charge him with a crime against Caesar, deserving of civic punishment and death
and he will be raised on the third day
Significance of the third day? Resurrection in the OT? Similarities of a resurrection in other religions?
After describing his impending conviction and execution 3 times (references?), the disciples have not yet learned their lesson. Jesus continues to teach the disciples about humility, and the “upside down” nature of his kingdom, they have not yet humbled themselves. Nor, have they incorporated Jesus’ “servant” mindset.
The disciples likely believe that there is glory after conflict in Jerusalem. Thus, they request to sit at Jesus right and left hands.
(v. 18)
The content of Jesus’ teaching:
Son of Man
Danielic context ()
Daniel 7:13–14 ESV
“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.
will be delivered
that is captured or arrested
to the chief priests and scribes,
Jesus’ current enemies, representing the temple, the Sadducees, and the religious teachers from town to town, that is the Pharisees
and they will condemn him to death,
that is to convict him of a crime against God?
(v. 19)
and they will deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified,
perhaps, having no charge with which to convict him or fearing the people who see him as a prophet similar to John the Baptist, turning him over to the civic authorities to charge him with a crime against Caesar, deserving of civic punishment and death
Another Lesson in Humility
and he will be raised on the third day
Significance of the third day? Resurrection in the OT? Similarities of a resurrection in other religions?

Misplaced Priorities

(vv. 20-23)
Main Point: No matter how much “right theology” we have been taught, our selfish hearts often still seek our own greatness above the greatness of Jesus and his kingdom. Our priorities might be misplaced.
After describing his impending conviction and execution 3 times (; ), the disciples have not yet learned their lesson. Jesus continues to teach the disciples about humility, and the “upside down” nature of his kingdom, they have not yet humbled themselves. Nor, have they incorporated Jesus’ “servant” mindset.
The disciples likely believe that there is glory after conflict in Jerusalem. Thus, they request to sit at Jesus right and left hands.
(v. 20)
This request is made through the mother of James and John. And, because Zebedee is specifically named, it is likely that he eventually became a follower of Jesus after the resurrection.
This request also seems to indicate that James and John are Jesus’ cousins. A family tie is typically what encourages people to co-rule.
(v. 21)
The question of Jesus is: What do you want?
Jesus clearly cares for all of his followers, especially the request of a woman.
Her request: That James and John might sit at his left hand and right hand, that is, to be his co-rulers and his most trusted advisors, perhaps like princes.
(v. 22)
Jesus responds: “You don’t understand what is waiting for me in Jerusalem, a cup”
The cup of God’s wrath (; ; ; see also )
Psalm 75:8 ESV
For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup with foaming wine, well mixed, and he pours out from it, and all the wicked of the earth shall drain it down to the dregs.
Isaiah 51:17 ESV
Wake yourself, wake yourself, stand up, O Jerusalem, you who have drunk from the hand of the Lord the cup of his wrath, who have drunk to the dregs the bowl, the cup of staggering.
Jeremiah 51:7 ESV
Babylon was a golden cup in the Lord’s hand, making all the earth drunken; the nations drank of her wine; therefore the nations went mad.
Matthew 26:39 ESV
And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”
The boys, hearing Jesus’ response, respond without understanding, but with an understanding that what awaits Jesus and his disciples after suffering is glory. For this reason, they tell Jesus that they can drink Jesus’ cup
(v. 23)
Jesus answers that the boys will indeed drink from Jesus’ cup, but that only the Father can grant to sit at the right or left hand of Jesus.

Servant Leadership

(vv. 24-28)
(vv. 24-28)
Main Point: Leaders must be servants, God’s people must follow the Servant Leader example of Jesus, and the servant leader example of their leaders.
The disciples have not yet learned the lesson Jesus has continually been trying to teach them: that of humility and service.
(v. 24)
The “ten” other disciples are “indignant” at James and John. Yet, every one of them has been thinking along the same lines, that they would like glory and rewards for having followed Jesus.
(v. 25)
Jesus uses this as a time for teaching, a teachable moment.
If there are to be “rulers” among you, do not be like the Gentiles.
Gentiles “lord it over them.”
And you have become like the Gentiles! Eg. the Maccabees.
Matthew Explanation of the Text

Christ is saying the disciples are interested in authority rather than servanthood and have become just like the Gentiles they despise.

(v. 26)
This Jesus community is not to be like the Gentiles, that is, like the people of the nations of the kingdoms of the world.
The “great” among the Jesus community will serve the community
A deacon is a household servant, and came to be an office of the church, a Deacon, as a result of Jesus’ teaching servant leadership here and by his life as an example.
(v. 27)
Whoever would (wants) to be first among the community, Jesus says, this person must be a “slave.”
Paul frequently calls himself by this term (; ; ; See also ; )
Romans 1:1 ESV
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,
Philippians 1:1 ESV
Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:
Titus 1:1 ESV
Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness,
James 1:1 ESV
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.
Jude 1 ESV
Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ:
(v. 28)
In this way, Jesus says that the disciples follow his example, not to be served, but to serve.
Then Jesus says that he gives his life as a ransom for many.
A man’s life given
, ,
Isaiah 53:4 ESV
Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.
Isaiah 53:10 ESV
Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.
Isaiah 53:12 ESV
Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.
Redemption of the firstborn
; ;
Matthew Explanation of the Text

Jesus’ selfless act of “giving his life” is the very definition of the new ethical stance of servanthood.

Matthew Explanation of the Text

“Many” (πολλοί) refers to all who turn to God and his Messiah and accept the ransom payment, becoming part of the kingdom community.

So What?

Matthew 20:17–28 ESV
And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.” 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.” 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 Literary Context

Jesus here becomes the prime example of the “last” while the disciples want to be the “first”

Pt. 1 Follow Jesus to the cross; that is, take up your cross and follow him.
What does it mean for us to take up our cross, and follow Jesus on his “way” to Jerusalem?
Pt. 2 Jesus foretold the events concerning his death burial and resurrection, yet his disciples did not understand the meaning until after.
Jesus has died and rose again, that is a matter of historical fact.
The question for us is: How do we respond to Jesus death, burial, and resurrection? Do we respond in belief and worship? Or, do we respond only with an attitude of: What will I get out of it?
Pt. 3 We often misunderstand Jesus, his mission, his teachings, his intentions, and as here with James and John, what it means to follow him and participate in his suffering.
Do we, at times, pursue greatness, comfort, luxury, glory, rather than expecting the world to treat us poorly, and to suffer persecution and even death?
Pt. 4 The “great reversal,” or as we have described it, the “upside down” nature of the kingdom of God is not simply to characterize life in God’s eternal kingdom, at the end of the age, but should be characteristic of our lives here and now.
Matthew Main Idea

a microcosm of true discipleship, the choice between God’s will and our own desires.

The choice between the pleasures of this life and the life of service and suffering to which Jesus calls us.
Through suffering we have a special participation with Christ, a special fellowship. Not only does Jesus understand, but we come to understand him better. Thus, our fellowship is mutual.
In what ways have you suffered, or are you presently suffering for the sake of Christ? Do you feel farther from Christ, or closer to him in your sufferings?
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