Foundations: The Greatness of Service

Matthew 20:20-28
Pastor Darrin Mariott

Big Idea: Jesus reminds us that service and sacrifice is priority.

I. The Request: Prominence and Position (v. 20-23)
Matthew 20:20-23
20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. 21 “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.” 22 “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. 23 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.”

A. In Matthew 19:28-29, Jesus reveals to the apostles their role with Him in the coming Messianic age. Consequently, James and John attempt here to gain position over the other apostles (vv. 20-23). It’s clear the apostles not only misunderstood Jesus’s mission, but the importance of a servant mindset.

Matthew 19:28-29
28 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.

B. We see the apostles get caught-up in their own ambitions and expectations and Jesus must remind them:
1. It’s not about their glory, but God’s glory
2. Focus more on eternal matters and less on temporal ones
3. To keep a “God’s Kingdom” perspective
4. Leadership means service and sacrifice

II. The Reality: Service and Sacrifice (V. 24-28)
Matthew 20:24-28
24 When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. 25 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. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 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.”

A. We should note here that Jesus isn’t dismissing the importance of leadership, rather, He is emphasizing the right motives in leadership. Truth is, there is a cost to following Jesus, it means giving up notions of power and prestige for a higher purpose—one that glorifies God and builds up His church (cf. Jn. 13:12-17)

John 13:12-17
12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

B. Verse 28 reveals the heart of Jesus’s mission and example for us, in it we see:
1. Sacrifice – A willingness to give up something we value to achieve something greater
2. Suffering – The willingness to pay the price to achieve our calling and purpose
3. Service – The willingness to put other’s needs ahead of our own (cf. Phil. 2:3-11)

Philippians 2:3-11
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God,did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothingby taking the very nature of a servant,being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man,he humbled himselfby becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest placeand gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,to the glory of God the Father.

Application: Today’s passage invites us to reflect on what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. Humility is an attribute that helps as is it emphasizes a trust in God, considers other first, and in unconcerned with power, prestige, and position.