Jesus responds to a particular request from a mother of two of his disciples with a surprising answer about a person’s place in the kingdom. Jesus tells her that the greatest among his followers is the one who becomes a servant, as Christ became a servant. And to do that, there will be suffering. Bill Clark opens our series on the way to lived a redeemed life by exploring how serving is essential.
Jesus responds to a particular request from a mother of two of his disciples with a surprising answer about a person’s place in the kingdom. Jesus tells her that the greatest among his followers is the one who becomes a servant, as Christ became a servant. And to do that, there will be suffering. Bill Clark opens our series on the way to lived a redeemed life by exploring how serving is essential.
On Serving
Redeemer People | Week 1
September 9, 2018 | Bill Clark
Matthew 20:20-28 NIV
Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. “What is it you want?” he asked. She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.”
“You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?”
“We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.”
When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Matthew 20:24 NIV
When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers.
Matthew 20:21 NIV
"What is it you want?"
MOTIVATION
Matthew 20:25-28 NIV
Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and that their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must become your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
SUFFERING with Jesus
Matthew 20:23 NIV
"…you will indeed drink from my cup."
SELF-SACRIFICING Servant
What is God calling me to do?