Servant Leadership

 

 Matthew 20: 17-28

Jesus Foretells His Death a Third Time

¹⁷ And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, ¹⁸ “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death ¹⁹ and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.”

A Mother's Request

²⁰ Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. ²¹ And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” ²² Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” ²³ He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” ²⁴ And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. ²⁵ But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. ²⁶ It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, ²⁷ and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, ²⁸ even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Jesus clearly predicted his suffering and death, yet the mother of James and John seems to have missed the point and ambitiously seeks  prestigious place for her sons in the Kingdom of Jesus, as she understands it. Happily she did so, for it gave Jesus an opportunity to explain what it means to be one of his followers: a servant to others, and ultimately as he did, one who is willing to lay down his life for others. As we move further into Lent, may we not weary of the program we have set for ourselves, and continue to pray, sacrifice and give alms. And let us also think ahead to what we will do after Lent.  Will we be able to continue to keep some of these practices as now part of our spiritual life?  To be a servant for others is not just for Lent, but for life!

Bro. Rene 

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The life of your followers is one of service and self-sacrifice, a life like yours, Lord. Though you must have trembled before the betrayal, condemnation and suffering ahead, you did not turn away. No, you continued up to Jerusalem out of love for us.Fill us with your love and your strength, O God, so that we might be the servant of our sisters and brothers and thus imitate your great gift of love.