More upside down thinking
Here’s another example of the higher road. Jesus tells us the way to greatness and success is different than what we might think. In the scriptures below we find Jesus being approached by James and John with their mother. I think most mothers can identify with this mom’s desires for her sons. But Jesus turns her request into spiritual enlightenment about the cost of suffering and the way to greatness. It’s a great lesson for us today as well.
Read Matthew 20:21
1. What did this mother ask of Jesus?
Read Matthew 20:22
2. What was the response Jesus gave her? What do you think the cup represented?
Read Matthew 20:24
3. How did the rest of the disciples feel about this request?
Read Matthew 20-25-28
4. How did Jesus explain greatness to them?
Once again Jesus explains that the way to greatness is humble servanthood. Our flesh has its own personal agenda. We seek to be noticed or win the approval of others. It’s usually all about us. Jesus’ teachings change all that. What a paradigm shift for those who seek their own agenda or who push for personal greatness! It’s really all about God, not us. We were created for God’s pleasure, not our own. Our purpose is to bring Him glory. It sure gets our minds off of ourselves and on to Christ and others when we think this way. Jesus encourages us to come up higher above personal preference and human tradition in order to go God’s way…a higher way.
Wonderful lesson – I want to move up HIGHER each day. She wanted her two sons to sit one on the right hand and the other on the left hand in HIS kingdom. JESUS answered the Mother – You do not know what you are asking. I believe the cup represents JESUS’ life and all of the things HE could do as the Son of GOD – you and I can follow close to him down here on earth and help bring other people into the fold and follow after JESUS. When the others heard about this and the guys sitting on the right and left they were having thoughts again the two brethren. JESUS explained that none is greater than the other – we are given different jobs here on earth – but none of us are greater than the person doing another job next to us – You and I are all the same in the eyes of the LORD and we must do our jobs assigned to us with our eyes upon JESUS at all times. We are the servants of the LORD and we are to bring HIM honor in all that we do in our lives. We must read HIS word and climb higher with HIM each day of our lives. Wonderful thoughts to think upon during this week – We just need to do the work the LORD have given each one of us to do here on earth.
Good word, Karen. We, unfortunately, live in a world where people want the reward without paying the price. My prayer is that I will continually have a heart to serve others. I often think of an old song by Aaron Wilburn called “Who Will Be Jesus To Them?” That should be our goal. Not to seek glory for ourselves, but to truly be Jesus’ hands and feet to those around us. Something we need to keep in mind during this busy Christmas season and all year.