September 20, 2013

“To Serve”

Blessings folk:

Today’s reading:

Matthew 20:20-28
Mark 10:35-45
Luke 22:24-27
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Ah, the Sons of Zebedee - James and John.
Pillars of the early church.

They come to Jesus with a child-like...wait, childish...question.
Paraphrased, “Jesus, we want to ask something of You, but You have to promise to do it.”
To make it “worse”, they got Momma to ask. LOL

Did they initiate?
Did Momma?
Does it matter?
Either way, they “went along”.

They wanted to sit on both sides of Him.
They wanted the glory, the power.

Jesus spoke simply.
“You do not know what you ask.”
“Are you able to drink the cup I drink?” They had no idea.
“Are you able to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” They had no idea.

They thought they knew what was ahead.

Jesus said, “OK, you will have such.”

But, to sit on the right/left was not Jesus’ decision.
It had been prepared already for someone.

We can imagine the response of the other ten disciples.
They were indignant.

Jesus dealt with it.

“Whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant.”
“Whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all.”
“Even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.”
The Son of Man came to give His life a ransom for many.

Are you seeking to be served or to serve?