In no way was Jesus what people would expect God's son to be. In no way did Jesus act as people would expect God's son to act. Think of the significance of being God's son! But he was not at all what one would expect. He was different in perspective and attitude. He was different in heart and thinking. He was different in personal bearing and self concept. He was different in the way he related to God and to people. A human would expect God's son to think and behave as royalty. A human would not expect God's son to think and behave as an humble servant.
Christians are God's servants. Christians create, sustain, and nurture relationships. Only people whose minds and hearts are directed and controlled by God are committed to relationships. God's servants are committed to relationships because their God is committed to relationships. People ruled by God relate differently to all other people.
Christians do not feel, think, or behave as do people who do not belong to God. Christians have different values, different standards, different interests, a different focus, and a different life purpose. In many situations and circumstances, Christians do not "fit" in their culture or society.
Why? As God's servants, they are ruled and directed by the Lord who was a servant. This servant became the Master in heaven and on earth. They are a kingdom of servants who are ruled by the Lord who was a servant.
They are not "different" for "difference sake." The differences are not artificial. The differences are not manufactured. The differences are not a facade that they wear. They are servants who willingly surrender themselves to God's desires and purposes. To them, the eternal reality is more important than the physical reality. They keep their eyes on Jesus so Jesus can teach them how to open their eyes toward God.
The Lord who was a servant rules the minds and hearts of these people because they belong to him. He ransomed them. He purchased them with his own blood. He redeemed them. He gave his life to satisfy justice. He paid the full price of the consequences of their mistakes.
Christians exist as God's kingdom, citizens under God's rule, to be God's servants.
Matthew 20:20-28
The mother of the sons of Zebedee.
Her sons were James and John.
She came to Jesus bowing down. This was an act of reverence shown to either a human of importance or something considered divine. It basically was the act of kneeling. The same word is often translated "worship."
"What do you wish?" Since she obviously wished to make a request, he asked her for the request.
The request: please issue a command to reserve the places at his right and left hands for her sons to receive when he assumed his throne. She, as did everyone at that time, believed that Jesus would be the next literal king of the physical nation of Israel. She wanted her sons to have the most prominent positions in Jesus' administration. The most important positions were indicated by the seating arrangement. To sit at Jesus' side (each side) would signify that these two men held the most important positions within Jesus' governing administration.
"You do not realize what I am about to experience. Are you certain that you can endure the same experience that I am about to endure?" They had no idea that Jesus was about to be executed, but Jesus knew that he would be killed soon. They anticipated an inauguration, not an execution.
With no comprehension of what they were declaring, they affirmed that they could endure his experience.
His response: "You will endure my experience. However, I cannot grant the request. That request is not within my power to give. God grants the positions. God, not me, determines that."
They were indignant with James and John. They all wanted those positions. They likely regarded James and John as being responsible for the mother's request. They likely felt like James and John were trying to gain an "unfair" advantage. She requested that Jesus "command" this. She wanted those positions secured for James and John in an absolute sense.
Gentile rulers, men of position and power, lord it over their subjects. The more power they exercise through their authority, the greater their importance.
The twelve will not have nor exercise prominence or power. They will not be lords; they will be servants. Greatness will be measured in terms of humble service given. The person of highest (first) position will be the person who is the best slave.
Jesus did not come to be served. He came to serve. He came to give his life as a ransom for many (not for it to be taken from him). Our sins and evil kidnapped us. We were held hostage by the evil we committed. Jesus freed us by taking our place.
He came to serve and to give his life as our ransom.
Luke 22:24-30
They argued about which one of them was the greatest (the most important or most significant).
The Gentile kings lord it over those under them. Their subjects were required to call them "Benefactors." "Benefactors" was a title that kings in a Hellenistic culture gave to themselves. It carried the sense of "look how good I am to you!" as the subjects actually lived in a state of total dependence. The ruler "had it good," not the subjects. The subjects served the ruler, not the ruler the subjects.
The most important person should conduct himself as if he were the youngest person. In their societies, honor was given to the oldest adult. To be the youngest adult was to be the least significant. The youngest served and honored the oldest. Prestige and importance was not given to the youngest adult.
The leader should be a servant.
In this earth's kingdoms the person eating at the table is more important than the person serving at the table. Since Jesus was God's Son, he should sit at the most prestigious place at the table. In fact, the banquet should be in his honor. They knew he was the Lord, and that God sent him, and yet he served them.
They stood by him in his trials. They did not desert him during the trying times that occurred during his ministry. As an example, consider John 6 and especially note verses 67 and 68.
They would be allowed to eat and drink at his banquet table and sit on thrones as they judged the nation of Israel.
They must be servants who existed to serve others just as he was a servant.
Both views are held. The "on earth" view looks at the promise symbolically as being fulfilled in serving the mission of the Messiah (the resurrected Christ) as they "ruled" over the Israel produced by all the redeemed. Others consider it to be the promise that they will have a prominent place and role in heaven. The Jew used the image of the banquet much like the Christian uses the image of heaven. The important point is not where the twelve would receive these rewards, but that these rewards were available to the twelve only if they were servants in the same way that Jesus was a servant. If serving as Jesus served was essential for the twelve, it certainly is essential for us.
The path to greatness in God's kingdom is traveled by the believer who serves. God's kingdom is composed of unassuming people who serve. In God's kingdom people lead by humble example, not through authority. In God's kingdom, faith is in God's power, not human ability.
Link to Student Guide Quarter 2, Lesson 3