Wednesday of Reminiscere

The mother of James and John came to Jesus with her sons, bowing down and asking something from Jesus (Mt 20:20). The timing of this request couldn’t have been more inappropriate. Jesus had just finished predicting his death for the second time. “The Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes. They shall condemn him to death and hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked, scourged, and crucified, and the third day he shall be raised up (Mt 20:18–19). Any questions about the brutal suffering and death that I’m about to endure?” “Yes, Jesus. We have a question. Actually, our mom has a question. Can we sit in the seats of honor at your right and left hand?”

James and John give us a glimpse of our own foolish hearts. Even though we have every intention of contemplating the suffering and death of Jesus throughout the forty days of Lent, we easily lose sight of Christ and turn to other thoughts: “Where am I going to sit? What’s for dinner? Is it time to watch my favorite show?” James and John weren’t being particularly wicked with their question; they are simply examples of run-of-the-mill human sinfulness. “I hope Jesus stops talking about his suffering and death soon so we can ask about sitting next to him before Peter does.”

Jesus didn’t rebuke James and John or their mother. Instead, his response was gentle, “Are you able to drink the cup which I am about to drink?” (Mt 20:22). James and John didn’t know what they were asking. “Jesus, when they crown you king, when they clothe you with the purple robe, when you are lifted up on high for all the world to see, can we be there on your left and on your right?” “Are you able to drink the cup which I am about to drink?” Jesus is speaking of his mocking, scourging, and crucifixion. He is speaking of the terrible cup of the Father’s wrath that he must drink down to the very dregs. His crown will be of thorns. His stage of glory will be the cross. “Are you able to drink this cup?” Jesus asks.

“Of course, we are able,” they answered. Once again, they had no clue. But then the rest of the disciples heard and were angry with James and John. “How dare they ask for the seats of honor! I should get to sit there.” So Jesus gathered the disciples around and said, “The rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you, for I am among you as one who serves. Whoever desires to be great shall be your servant, and whoever desires to be first shall be your slave. The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom in place of many” (Mt 20:25–28).

Everywhere you look in this world, you see people fighting and clawing to get ahead, to gain power and authority – not just unbelievers, but Christians too. But what we often don’t see is that, while we are caught up trying to climb higher on the ladder, our Lord Jesus is passing us on his way down to the bottom. He was the greatest of all. He sat in the highest place. Unto him belong all power, authority, glory, and dominion forever. And he set all of this aside to take the lowest place among us. He came down into our dust of sin, sickness, and death, so that we might be raised up to heaven. He was despised, so that we might be exalted. He became sin, so that you might become righteous.

“Lord, can we sit at your left and right?” “I don’t think you know what you’re asking. In this world, the one with the biggest stick, or the most money, or the smartest mind, is the king. But Jesus says to his church, “It shall not be so among you.” His words are not a command. Jesus isn’t telling us to stop being so selfish, or to think a little more about others. These words are a promise. They are a description of reality. This is how the kingdom of God is. The one who is the greatest has become our slave. No one else could drink his cup. No one but Jesus could give his life as the perfect ransom in place of many. The Lord of all did not come to be served. Instead, he came to be our servant. To him be the all glory, honor, and power, forever. Amen.

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