‘Then the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus with her sons. She knelt respectfully to ask a favor. “What is your request?” he asked. She replied, “In your Kingdom, please let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.” But Jesus answered by saying to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink?” “Oh yes,” they replied, “we are able!” Jesus told them, “You will indeed drink from my bitter cup. But I have no right to say who will sit on my right or my left. My Father has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen.” When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant. But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”’ Matthew 20:20-28(NLT)
We’ll be hanging out in the book of Matthew (with one minor detour) for the remainder of our devotional. When you’re looking for direction, I would always encourage you to visit the Gospels. Jesus has so much to teach us that you couldn’t possibly explore all of it in just a few read-throughs of the books.
Our passage of the day has almost nothing to do with marriage, but it has everything to do with Christians. It’s all about how we view the world and serve people around us. It just so happens that someone who is always around you and ready to be served is your spouse. As a result, this perfectly applies to your marriage.
It opens up with a relatively strange request by the mother of James and John, who is desiring for her sons to have high positions within the Heavens, right beneath Jesus to be exact. The question immediately misunderstands how we might consider Heaven, because it’s never been about power or levels. Greatness in Heaven has nothing to do with your status or how much honor you have, but everything to do with Jesus Christ. After all, we’re there to glorify Him. As Christ did many times during His earthly ministry, he flipped the script on what the disciples and people thought about Him. They were expecting a military leader, but didn’t get one. Now they were expecting honor and positions in Heaven, but don’t need it.
How should being a Christian shape our worldview knowing this? Certainly, the first thing that we must understand is that wealth, power, riches and other temporal passions are not what we strive for while on earth. They’re not our end goal. Some of us may attain these things and they aren’t evil on their own, but don’t make something that’s good, ultimate. Only Jesus is ultimate and later in our passage, He paints the perfect picture for how the Christian should see and act in the world. We are to serve because He first served us.
Jesus didn’t come to earth and expect people to come and serve Him; in fact, He served them in return. The Son of God, the creator of the world served them! Such a simple fact that can be overlooked sometimes. The only person worthy of praise to ever live didn’t want or need it; He served and gave His life. I wish I lived like that all the time, or even 1% of the time. Sin taints our efforts, but thankfully, God still works in and through us despite this. He can take our imperfect efforts and make them meaningful. You are called to serve your wife, and we learned that from yesterday’s devotion. Why should you serve? Because Jesus served you. He didn’t have to, but He knew that you couldn’t save yourself. He came to stand in your place and take your punishment.
So, the next time you have to sacrifice and help with the dishes, put the kids to sleep, or help with her work, remember how much Jesus served you. Your justifications for why you can’t serve just might melt away, God willing.
Uncommen Questions:
1. How do we get into Heaven?
2. Why do we serve others?
Uncommen Challenge:
Sacrifice something this week so that you have the time to serve your spouse.
Scripture Reference:
Matthew 20:20-28
from As One