MATT. 20:17 And Je'sus going up to Je-ru'sa-lem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them,

18 Behold, we go up to Je-ru'sa-lem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death,

19 And shall deliver him to the Gen'tiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.

20 Then came to him the mother of Zeb'e-dee's children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.

21 And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.

22 But Je'sus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.

23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.

24 And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.

25 But Je'sus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gen'tiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.

26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;

27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:

28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

HEART OF THE LESSON

Jesus told a parable about rewards and explained how the landowner in the parable, representing God, would fairly give rewards based upon His own determination (Matt. 20:116). After concluding this parable, Jesus took His twelve disciples aside as they walked to Jerusalem and clearly revealed that at the end of their journey He would face crucifixion, followed by His resurrection.

1. The warning of Jesus' approaching death and resurrection (Matt. 20:17-19). For the fourth time, as recorded by Matthew, Jesus explained to His chosen disciples that He was going to die (cf. 12:40; 16:21; 17:22-23). Jesus had previously used Jonah's experience inside the fish as a simile for His resurrection after three days. He had also revealed that He would suffer at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and scribes and that He would be betrayed to men. Here He revealed that His betrayal would involve being turned over to the chief priests and scribes, who would be the ones condemning Him to death.

Jesus also revealed for the first time the order of events. After being betrayed to the religious authorities who would condemn Him to death, He would be turned over to the Gentiles, who would mock Him, scourge Him, and then crucify Him. He also repeated His promise of the resurrection. Since this further teaching was given during Jesus' last journey to Jerusalem, it was especially significant.

2. The request (Matt. 20:20-21). In sad contrast to what Jesus had just explained, the mother of James and John came to Jesus with them and made a selfish request. Previously (19:27-30) Jesus had revealed that in the future the twelve disciples who had followed Him would be rewarded by sitting on their own thrones, judging Israel. Apparently, she had this on her mind, and for whatever reason, was more concerned with the advancement of her own sons than with Jesus' revelation of His approaching death.

Although her timing was poor, their mother showed due respect, kneeling before Jesus with a polite request. Her reverence for Jesus is evidenced in other passages, particularly Matthew 27:56, where she is shown to be one of the women who remained at the cross until the end.

The mother of James and John asked that her sons be seated to Jesus' right and left in His kingdom, the two most prominent positions at a royal court. While illtimed, the request did show the faith they had in the promises of Jesus.

3. Jesus' response (Matt. 20:22-28). Jesus answered by explaining that they did not comprehend the magnitude of the request. Prior to the rewards that would be given in the future kingdom was the price that would be paid by Jesus and His disciples. He asked James and John whether they were willing to pay the price. He used His own upcoming trials and death to illustrate the similar fates that awaited many of His disciples in the years to come. The fact that they brought their request at this moment illustrated that they had apparently looked beyond the cost to the rewards.

Without hesitation James and John replied that they were able to endure the suffering that awaited them. Jesus assured them that regardless of the status of their rewards, they would indeed experience the suffering. James would be one of the first martyrs. John would suffer persecution late in his life and according to church tradition was exiled.

Believers are not to seek their own glory, and God will be the one who will choose the proper rewards.

QUESTIONS

1. How did Christ contrast the Gentile rulers with those who wanted to be His disciples?

2. How did Christ serve others during His earthly ministry?

3. How can Christians today follow Christ's example of service?

4. How was Christ's life given as a ransom? Why did Jesus use this figure in reference to His death?

(Reprinted by permission of The Incorporated Trustees of the Gospel Worker Society and Union Gospel Press, P.O. Box 6059, Cleveland, Ohio, 44101)