Scripture:
Matthew 20:17-28 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
The Third Prediction of His Death
17 While going up to Jerusalem, (A) Jesus took the 12 disciples aside privately and said to them on the way: 18 "Listen! We are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death. (B) 19 Then they will hand Him over to the Gentiles (C) to be mocked, flogged, [a] and crucified, and He will be resurrected [b] on the third day."
Suffering and Service
20 Then the mother of Zebedee's sons approached Him with her sons. (D) She knelt down to ask Him for something. (E) 21 "What do you want?" He asked her.
"Promise," [c] she said to Him, "that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right and the other on Your left, in Your kingdom." (F)
22 But Jesus answered, "You don't know what you're asking. Are you able to drink the cup [d] that I am about to drink?" (G) [e]
"We are able," they said to Him.
23 He told them, "You will indeed drink My cup. [f] But to sit at My right and left is not Mine to give; instead, it belongs to those for whom it has been prepared by My Father." (H) 24 When the 10 [disciples] heard this, they became indignant with the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them over and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles dominate them, and the men of high position exercise power over them. 26 It must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, (I) 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave; 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, (J) and to give His life—a ransom for many." (K)
Footnotes:
Matthew 20:19 Or scourged
Matthew 20:19 Other mss read will rise again
Matthew 20:21 Lit Say
Matthew 20:22 Figurative language referring to His coming suffering; [Mt 26:39]; [Jn 18:11]
Matthew 20:22 Other mss add and (or) to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with
Matthew 20:23 Other mss add and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with
Cross references:
Matthew 20:17 : Mk 10:32-34; Lk 18:31-33;
Matthew 20:18 : Mt 16:21; 26:66; Jn 19:7;
Matthew 20:19 : Mt 27:2; Ac 2:23; 3:13; 4:27; 21:11;
Matthew 20:20 : Mk 10:35-45; Lk 22:24-27;
Matthew 20:20 : Mt 4:21; 8:2;
Matthew 20:21 : Mt 16:28; 19:28; 25:31;, 34; Lk 23:42;
Matthew 20:22 : Is 51:22; Jr 49:12; Mk 14:36;
Matthew 20:23 : Ac 12:2; Rv 1:9;
Matthew 20:26 : Mt 23:11; Mk 9:35;
Matthew 20:28 : Lk 22:27; Jn 13:13-15; 2Co 8:9; Php 2:7;
Matthew 20:28 : Mt 26:28; 1Tm 2:6; Ti 2:14; Heb 9:28;
Reflection:
Jesus did the unthinkable! He wedded authority with service and with sacrifice — the sacrifice of one's life for the sake of another. Authority without sacrificial love is brutish and self-serving. Jesus also used stark language to explain what kind of sacrifice he had in mind. His disciples must drink his cup if they expect to reign with him in his kingdom. The cup he had in mind was a bitter one involving crucifixion. What kind of cup does the Lord have in mind for us? For some disciples such a cup entails physical suffering and the painful struggle of martyrdom. But for many, it entails the long routine of the Christian life, with all its daily sacrifices, disappointments, set-backs, struggles, and temptations. A disciple must be ready to lay down his or her life in martyrdom and be ready to lay it down each and every day in the little and big sacrifices required. An early church father summed up Jesus' teaching with the expression: to serve is to reign with Christ. We share in God's reign by laying down our lives in humble service of one another as Jesus did for our sake. Are you ready to lay down your life and to serve others as Jesus did?
Prayer For The Day:
Lord Jesus, make me a servant of love for your kingdom, that I may seek to serve rather than be served. Inflame my heart with love that I may give generously and serve joyfully for your sake.
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