Dan Herold | Matthew 20:17-28 | 3/26/2017
What would you do if you had a million dollars? If, by some sudden chance, you checked your bank account one day and there was $1 million more in it than you thought there was, what would you do? After you called the bank and they assured you it wasn’t an error and that someone had anonymously given you $1 million what would be your next move? Would you head to San Antonio or Austin? The outlet malls? Would you get in your car and drive as fast as you could to a dealership and trade that car in for something newer or better?
It’s kind of strange how we react the first time we have something valuable. Several years ago after my grandma passed away we were cleaning out what was left in the house where she lived. I happened to find a box of comic books that had belonged to my mom when she was young. I looked through them and there were a few Superman comics that caught my eye and then there were some strange ones—one in particular that I remember. For whatever reason there was a very short lived comic book series about the Lennon Sisters—the musical group from the 50’s and 60’s. At the time I actually considered just throwing it away because I had no interest in it at all. However, a few weeks later I became very interested in that comic book when I picked up a comic book price guide and learned that the Lennon Sisters comic book was the most valuable out of all the comics I had found. As soon as I saw that price I started devising a plan for how I was going to sell that comic and become rich…well at least rich to a 13 year old boy.
At the time when our Gospel reading this morning occurred in the life of Jesus and his disciples, the disciples had sort of just made this kind of discovery. They had been following Jesus for 3 years now. they had seen some miraculous things and they had begun to recognize just how great and powerful Jesus is. One day, shortly before Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday the mother of 2 of the disciples brought a request before Jesus.
“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.”
Some believe that she asked this question at the urging of the two sons, but nonetheless Jesus’ disciples could always be counted on to present an opportunity for Jesus to teach a lesson and that is just what happened. So, Jesus teaches a lesson about greatness—what it is and what it means.
What, do you think, was the thought process that led to the mother of James and John asking for her sons to sit at Jesus’ right and left in heaven? Of whom do you think they were thinking? It seems to be pretty obvious that they weren’t thinking of anyone other than themselves. They wanted fame, power, and glory—and they wanted it for themselves.
Now, if you were Jesus how would you respond? If I were Jesus, in that situation, and I had spent countless hours and so much time and energy teaching my disciples about humility and service only to have two of my closest disciples come up to me and ask for something so selfish I don’t think I would have been able to hide my frustration. Well, if Jesus was frustrated he did a great job of hiding it. He doesn’t get angry. Instead, he takes the opportunity to teach us that true greatness is not self-serving, but instead serves others.
Jesus simply asked James and John to think about what they were asking for. He said,
““You don’t know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?”
Or in other words, are you sure you’ve thought this through? Are you sure this is what you want? Apparently, though, the subtlety was lost on James and John, though, because they simply replied, “We can.”
So, Jesus has to be a little more direct. He tells 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.”
James and John had overstepped their roles a little bit, and you can see how the other 10 disciples reacted. They were upset that these two were trying to assert that they were better and deserved more glory than the others.
This whole passage seems a little ridiculous doesn’t it. I mean, who did James and John think they were, asking Jesus to give them special treatment and a seat of honor in heaven as if being in God’s presence wasn’t glorious enough!
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It’s easy to point fingers, but look at yourself. When I asked what you’d do with a million dollars, what did you think of? If you could ask for anything and expect to receive it, what would you ask? Would you ask for the heart of a servant, or for a bigger house or newer car? When you dream and imagine do you think of things that serve others or yourself? God certainly wants us to ask him for things and he says we can ask him for anything we want, but do you ever think that when we keep asking for more and more stuff it makes God frustrated? As if all that he has already given each of us isn’t enough?
I’m right there too, though…When I see the lottery jackpot posted on the gas station window I think there are a lot of really fun things I could do with that much money, and it’s all foolish selfish stuff. I could buy a fancy car, and why stop at just one? I could go travel anywhere and everywhere. I could buy whatever I want whenever I want and never have to worry about what it actually costs ever again. But then after I dream about all the stuff I’d buy when I win the lottery I start to get tired.
Do you ever feel that way? I start to get tired because I start to think about all the work it would be to maintain and manage all that stuff. I get tired because all that stuff would just be a distraction from the things that matter…from God, from my family, from being a humble servant like Jesus was and like he tells me to be.
Here’s the lesson Jesus shares with us about greatness.
“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.”
In 1 Peter 2 Peter compares people whose actions are guided by their sinful nature to animals that can only act on instinct. Our sinful nature is alive and active and it makes us act just like that. Our sinful nature makes us act on instinct without thinking. So when we are tempted to be selfish it is natural to jump right in and be selfish. Jesus has given us great power, though. By faith we have his power and his power defeated every temptation for us. Jesus’ power defeated sin and set us free. Jesus took us at our weakest point, when we were slaves to our sinful nature, and he broke those chains that kept us weak and made us strong. Jesus demonstrated true greatness.
On this side of Heaven, though, we will never be as strong as Jesus was. We still have weaknesses and temptations. Temptations come to each of us in different ways, but no matter what form they take Satan is trying to make us be selfish instead of being servants. When you hear Jesus say to you,
“Ask and you will receive.”
Satan immediately tempts you think about money, fame, and stuff you want to own. In fact, I don’t know that I have ever read that verse and not thought about some material possession that my sinful nature thinks it needs. But, Jesus teaches us that to truly be great is not to be rich and powerful..it is to be humble and serve.
Jesus doesn’t tell us that we can’t be great or that we can’t sit in a position of glory. He just tells us that we can’t get there the way that our sinful nature thinks it can. Sin is not great, so the only real way to be great is to get rid of sin and we can’t do that…but Jesus did it for us. You cannot make yourself great…but you are great. You are great and glorious in God’s eyes because you are clothed with the righteousness of Jesus, your savior. Embrace his greatness. Be what he has made you to be. The desires of your sinful nature are nothing more than distractions designed by Satan to draw you away from the only source of greatness. Satan hopes that he can distract you long enough with enough shiny things so that you forget about what it really means to be great.
So, next time you see one of those lottery jackpot signs in the gas station window try dreaming about who you’d give millions of dollars to if you could. Think about what you could do to help others. Next time you are wondering when you’ll be able to make a down payment on that new car, take a minute to think of other things you could do with that same amount—things you could do for others. Better yet, don’t just think about it, do it! Spend some time today and this week searching your soul. How can you show the world how great your Savior is and how great he has made you?
When James and John wanted to be great Jesus told them how. Take his lesson to heart. What Jesus instructs us to do does not come naturally at all. Make a plan, pray for strength and guidance, and above all trust your Lord. Trust that he has given you all the power, greatness, and glory that you could ever need and put those gifts to use to the glory of God until he brings you to your eternal, glorious heavenly home.
In His name,
Amen.