“Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up with her sons, and [knelt] before him… 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.’ 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.’ 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.’ And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. 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. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'”
“‘They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they… love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers… The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.'” Matthew 20:20-28; 23:5-8,11-12
Jesus came as an over-turner: enlightenment for confusion, hope for doom, forgiveness for conviction, freedom for slavery. In the flesh, His close friends wanted to be honored in what they dreamed would be His coming kingdom. In the synagogue, religious men desired public greatness defined by pomp and humanistic thinking. But the Divine uttered a whole new way of thinking and being to overturn and readjust their motivation. The Servant Savior would drink the cup to illustrate God’s economy in matters of salvation and life. Only when appropriating His subversive attitude would they fully grasp His gift. (Isaiah 55:8-9)
It is unnatural, and unappealing, to choose humility over honor, to serve rather than to be served. But for the earnest Christian who is willing to turn over his “I’m able,” to the Spirit’s sanctifying, the way of Jesus is increasingly absorbed. The better we know Christ, and the more we love Him, the more like Him our second nature becomes. Appropriating His death and resurrection for ourselves, we learn to slay the prideful beast and practice exchanged desires and impulses in His power. (Romans 6:4-13; 8:5-6,11)
What ideas about great and first need upturning in our day-to-day living? What particular attitudes of superiority, self-righteousness, or entitlement do we purport? What demands do I make to others’ detriment or discouragement? Where does my claim to greatness, or deserving first and best, disparage another or belittle my Lord? Are there areas I’ve taken credit for what He’s done or graciously allowed? Will I turn them over for cleansing? Only when we submit to Christ’s desire, ‘not my will, but Yours,’ will we truly see and be able to live right side up. (Luke 22:42)
Lord, help me honor You as sole Greatest and First.
As the rain and snow 