Front of the Line
Read Matthew 20.
It's astonishing, really, at least the way Matthew tells it. They are, as they have been for some time now, headed to Jerusalem—for the last time. Jesus knows it, and he's tried to convey that truth to the disciples. Was it that they couldn't understand, or refused to understand, or just weren't paying attention? I tend to think it's the latter (maybe they just thought Jesus was having a bad day when he talked about his death), especially because of the response that two of the disciples have to his latest prediction.
Jesus tells this he is going to Jerusalem to die, and though he says he will rise again, that had to be hard to believe. If they heard anything at all, it would have been the word "die," because everyone knows it's foolishness to talk about rising again. Dead men don't rise.
So what would your response be if your pastor or your small group leader or even your boss at work says, "I'm going to be killed when we get to the city"? Perhaps sadness, or a certain gloom, or maybe just a whole lot of questions. Not James and John. They ask for positions of authority. Well, Matthew says they send their mom to do it for them, but Mark (10:35-45) tells us it was them directly who approached Jesus with the request. However it played out, these two want power and authority. The "right-hand" position was the place of power, number two in command (part of why we still describe someone who is an important assistant as a "right-hand man" or woman) and the person on the left was third in line. James and John, hearing that Jesus is going to die, run to the front of the line to try to get power.
We can come up with all sorts of excuses or reasons why they react this way, but let's put them aside. The larger point here is they've completely missed everything Jesus has said about (a) the nature of kingdom of heaven and (b) what true greatness looks like. Were they napping in class on those days? Were we? Because everything in our world takes a "James and John" approach. Get as much power and authority as you can. Make sure you're seen with the important, the powerful, the influential. Run to the front of the line and don't worry about who you pass (or hurt) on the way there. (Matthew says the other ten were "indignant"—and I bet that's an understatement, tempered by a few years' reflection on the event.)
When are you most tempted to run to the front of the line, to try to grab power and authority? Does it ever happen in the church? Of all places, Jesus says, among brothers and sisters in Christ, this should not be. Rather, he reminds all twelve disciples, "Whoever wants to be first must be your slave" (20:28). It's not about being seen. It's not about being in charge. It's not about demanding our own way. It's about following Jesus and serving as he serves. To the one who demands power, Jesus says, "Not so with you. Be a servant. Then you'll find true greatness." This is who you are.
It's astonishing, really, at least the way Matthew tells it. They are, as they have been for some time now, headed to Jerusalem—for the last time. Jesus knows it, and he's tried to convey that truth to the disciples. Was it that they couldn't understand, or refused to understand, or just weren't paying attention? I tend to think it's the latter (maybe they just thought Jesus was having a bad day when he talked about his death), especially because of the response that two of the disciples have to his latest prediction.
Jesus tells this he is going to Jerusalem to die, and though he says he will rise again, that had to be hard to believe. If they heard anything at all, it would have been the word "die," because everyone knows it's foolishness to talk about rising again. Dead men don't rise.
So what would your response be if your pastor or your small group leader or even your boss at work says, "I'm going to be killed when we get to the city"? Perhaps sadness, or a certain gloom, or maybe just a whole lot of questions. Not James and John. They ask for positions of authority. Well, Matthew says they send their mom to do it for them, but Mark (10:35-45) tells us it was them directly who approached Jesus with the request. However it played out, these two want power and authority. The "right-hand" position was the place of power, number two in command (part of why we still describe someone who is an important assistant as a "right-hand man" or woman) and the person on the left was third in line. James and John, hearing that Jesus is going to die, run to the front of the line to try to get power.
We can come up with all sorts of excuses or reasons why they react this way, but let's put them aside. The larger point here is they've completely missed everything Jesus has said about (a) the nature of kingdom of heaven and (b) what true greatness looks like. Were they napping in class on those days? Were we? Because everything in our world takes a "James and John" approach. Get as much power and authority as you can. Make sure you're seen with the important, the powerful, the influential. Run to the front of the line and don't worry about who you pass (or hurt) on the way there. (Matthew says the other ten were "indignant"—and I bet that's an understatement, tempered by a few years' reflection on the event.)
When are you most tempted to run to the front of the line, to try to grab power and authority? Does it ever happen in the church? Of all places, Jesus says, among brothers and sisters in Christ, this should not be. Rather, he reminds all twelve disciples, "Whoever wants to be first must be your slave" (20:28). It's not about being seen. It's not about being in charge. It's not about demanding our own way. It's about following Jesus and serving as he serves. To the one who demands power, Jesus says, "Not so with you. Be a servant. Then you'll find true greatness." This is who you are.
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