We Want Glory without Suffering

"We Want Glory without Suffering" - Matthew 20:20-28 Jesus' followers were thinking more of "their own glory than of the sufferings of their Lord." Who is the greatest? The most ambitious request of James and John. (Matthew 20:1819). They persistently closed their eyes to the warnings of tribulation and opened them only to the promise of glory: "On the third day He will rise again," thereby acquiring an erroneous, materialistic view of the Kingdom. (Scripture Union).

I. The mother of James and John came to the Lord asking that her children both sit next to Him in His kingdom.

A. Of course, to her credit that she wanted her children close to Jesus.

1. But she did not understand the principles on the basis of which honours were to be bestowed in the kingdom.

2. The three of them went to the Lord.

3. Jesus, "answering," told them frankly that they did not understand what they were asking for.

4. "They wanted a crown without a cross, a throne without the altar of sacrifice." "Glory without the suffering that leads to it."

5. So, He asked them emphatically, "Can you drink from the cup that I shall drink?"

6. We are not left without knowing what is meant by the cup; He had just described it in verses 18 and 19; greater, He will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes and they will condemn Him to death; and they will deliver Him to the Gentiles (as a humiliation) to mock Him (mock, mistreat, be harsh with pain), they shall scourge Him and crucify Him, but on the third day He shall rise again.

7. Jesus answered and told her frankly that they did not understand what they were asking.

8. They wanted a crown without a cross, a throne without the altar of sacrifice, the glory without suffering that leads to it; (I repeat).

9. Wherefore He asked them emphatically, "Can ye drink from the cup which I shall drink?"

10. James and John expressed their willingness to share in His sufferings, although perhaps their confidence was based more on zeal than on knowledge.

11. (23) Jesus assured them that they would "indeed" drink of His "cup."

12. James would be martyred and John persecuted and exiled to the island of Patmos.

13. Robert Little: James died a martyr's death; John lived a martyr's life.

14. Then Jesus explained to them that He could not arbitrarily assign places of honor in the kingdom (unjust, rashly); the Father had established a special basis upon which these positions would be assigned.

15. They thought it was a question of political patronage (persons who exercise functions), that because they were so close to Christ, they had a special right “to preferential positions”.

16. But it was not a matter of personal favoritism.

17. In God's counsels, those placed at His right hand and left hand would be given "on the basis of suffering for Him."

18. This means that the chief honors in the kingdom are not limited to first-century Christians: some living today might achieve them "by suffering”; Do you want it?

19. The other ten disciples were extremely angry (nothing new) at the request made by the sons of Zebedee.

20. Surely their indignation was because they themselves wanted to be the greatest and resented (faltering, decaying, anger) at any claim of priority on the part of James and John.

21. This (25-29) gave our Lord the opportunity to make "a revolutionary statement," "about" the greatness in His kingdom.

22. "The Gentiles" think of greatness in terms of "rule" and "dominion."

23. In Christ's kingdom, "greatness is manifested in service."

24. "Everyone who aspires to greatness" must become [first] a "servant" and "whoever wants to be first must become a slave."

25. (28) "The Son of Man" is the perfect example of humanity in service.

26. He came into the world "not to be served," but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.

27. The whole purpose of the incarnation = (Mysterious act of having taken on human flesh the divine Word in the womb of the virgin Mary) can be summed up (summarized) in two words: to serve and to give His life."

28. It is amazing to think that "the exalted Lord" would humble Himself "to the manger" and to "the cross."

29. His greatness was manifested in "the depth" of "His humiliation."

30. "And so, it must be for us."

31. "He gave His life as a ransom for us."

32. His death satisfied all "God’s just claims against sin."

33. It was enough to take away "all the sins of the world."

34. But it is effective only for those who accept Him as Lord and Savior.

35. We are converted because we are sinners, not because we seek something in return for Him.

36. You are not a child of God if you do not do His service. Amen