What Jesus Did : Matthew 20:24 - No Better than the Worst
by Phil Ware
No Better than the Worst - Matthew 20:24
The other ten followers heard this. They became angry with the two brothers. (ERV) Full TextKey Thought
Isn't it amazing that we can get so angry at others for the same sin that is tripping us up! James and John and their mother are asking for what all the apostles wanted. The other disciples are angry and jealous of the position that the two brothers were aspiring to fill.
Jesus' example is so different. He is serving and will ultimately give up his life to build his Kingdom. Here his disciples are fighting to see who can have a position of "power." Jesus' point is that there is no one with power but God alone and those to whom he gives it. Our job as his followers is to be ready for him when he returns by living as a servant for others while he is gone.Today's Prayer
Father, please forgive me when I am arrogant or detached from those you have sent me to serve. Please help me to be more aware of those around me who need your grace instead of looking over my shoulder to see if anyone is watching. Please use the works of my hands and heart and life to your glory. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Today's Verses in Context
Jesus was going to Jerusalem. His twelve followers were with him. While they were walking, Jesus gathered the followers together and spoke to them privately. Jesus said to them, "We are going to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be given to the leading priests and the teachers of the law. The priests and teachers of the law will say that the Son of Man must die. They will give the Son of Man to the non-Jewish people. Those people will laugh at him and beat him with whips, and then they will kill him on a cross. But on the third day after his death, he will be raised to life again." Then Zebedee's wife came to Jesus. Her sons were with her. The mother bowed before Jesus and asked him to do something for her. Jesus said, "What do you want?" She said, "Promise that one of my sons will sit at your right side in your kingdom. And promise that the other son will sit at your left side in your kingdom." So Jesus said to the sons, "You don't understand what you are asking. Can you accept the kind of suffering that I must have ?" The sons answered, "Yes, we can!" Jesus said to them, "Truly you will suffer the same things that I will suffer. But I cannot choose the person that will sit at my right side or my left side. My Father has decided who will have those places. He has prepared those places for those people. Those places belong to them." The other ten followers heard this. They became angry with the two brothers. Jesus called all the followers together. Jesus said, "You know that the rulers of the non-Jewish people love to show their power over the people. And their important leaders love to use all their authority over the people. But it should not be that way with you. If one of you wants to become great, then he must serve you like a servant. If one of you wants to become first, then he must serve you like a slave. It is the same with the Son of Man. The Son of Man did not come for other people to serve him. The Son of Man came to serve other people. The Son of Man cameto give his life to save many people." When Jesus and his followers were leaving Jericho, many, many people followed Jesus. There were two blind men sitting by the road. The blind men heard that Jesus was coming by. So the blind men shouted, "Lord, Son of David, please help us!" All the people criticized the blind men. They told the blind men not to speak. But the blind men shouted more and more, "Lord, Son of David, please help us!" Jesus stopped and said to the blind men, "What do you want me to do for you?" The blind men answered, "Lord, we want to be able to see." Jesus felt sorry for the blind men. Jesus touched their eyes and they were able to see. Then the men followed Jesus.-- Matthew 20:17-34 (ERV)
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