An Unusual Life
A Study in the Life of Jesus
St. Michael’s Home Group Program
Week 5: A Mother’s Request (Chris Luyt)
Matthew 20:20-28
Reflection
James and John’s mother had high ideals for her boys. Which good parent doesn’t? Even Jesus’ mother, Mary, chose to ignore His gentle rebuke when she instructed the servants at the wedding in Cana to ‘do whatever he tells you’ (John 2:3-5). Jesus humored her on that occasion and turned the water into wine. Mary’s ideal reflected a distorted messianic ideal that would later cost her son His life – ‘This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too’ (Luke 2:34-35) she had once been told as she cradled her boy in her arms. The many cups generated in Cana that day would terminate with a single cup in Jerusalem.
Having ideals for our children, for others, or even for ourselves, is not inherently bad. But in this account involving James and John’s mother, Jesus draws our attention to the true meaning of greatness in God’s eyes –servanthood.
If we are not careful, we find ourselves influenced by the world’s definitions of success. In no time at all we are jostling for comfort, recognition and power. It wasn’t just James and John who were vulnerable; the Bible tells us that all the other disciples became indignant when they heard about the presumptuous request.
Greatness in God’s eyes comes with,not a great cost, but an absolute cost. “You don’t know what you are asking,’ says Jesus. ‘Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?’ Luke 22-23 reveals in detail exactly what Jesus meant by ‘the’ cup. The fact that this conversation happened around the event of the last supper accounts for James and John’s impulsive affirmation that they could drink the cup – after all it was just a cup of wine.
The real cup, however, would be a cocktail of Judas’ betrayal; the disciples’ unanimous selfish ambition and ultimate desertion at Gethsemane; Peter’s disowning; the Gentile guards’ abuse and mockery; the political ambivalence of the puppet Jewish monarchy, the oppressive Roman government and the ambitious religious authorities; and ultimately of God’s taking upon Himself the full brunt of our collective human hostilityin the form of the cross.
Jesus is saying to James and John that if they want to be greatly esteemed by God then they must journey with God into the heart of human suffering and hostility and maintain love and truth in a bid to remind fallen human beings of God’s original, authentic universal parental ideal: “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” (John 20:26-28).
Application
- Read James 3:13-18; 4:1-3
- What is the difference between an acceptable desire to progress and the selfish ambition identified in this scripture? How can we tell which of these two defines our ideals?
- What does Luke 14:28-33 tell us about our desire for spiritual progress?
Closing Prayer
Lord, help me to see the real needs around me and, instead of withdrawing, to get on with meeting those needs without any consideration of the personal cost involved. Help me to clothe the naked, feed the hungry, care for the sick, befriend the lonely and those trapped in all kinds of prisons. Help me to trade my ambitions for comfort, affirmation and power for the privilege of comforting, affirming and empowering those whom you bring across my path. Rather than being seated with you in heaven, help me to walk with you on earth. Amen.