Devotional Thoughts: A life of service to others

Am looking at Matthew 20:20-28 this morning.

James and John and the mom of James and John came to Jesus and asked, "Will you let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one at your right and the other at your left?"

I don't know about you but the word that came to my mind was chutzpah!

Anyway, Jesus responds to them, "You don't know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of sorrow I am about to drink?"

Indeed, the request seems all the more bold in light of the fact that Jesus had predicted his death in Matthew 20:17-19. I suppose maybe the James and John heard the part about raised from the dead and figured that Jesus was going to set up the Kingdom right away. So a positive spin would be to say they had great faith and that they heard Jesus talk about the suffering part and felt it would be worth it. On the other hand, sometimes, we only hear what we want to hear and they skipped over the suffering part.

The other disciples heard about the request and they were indignant.

Why?

Maybe they felt, drat, why didn't I ask first? James and John are always beating us to the punch! Or maybe they felt, those two guys sure have a lot of chutzpah to ask for something like that! I'd really be curious to know what impetuous Peter had to say about the whole thing?

Jesus then like a good football coach calls over the team and uses this as a teachable moment and says:

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.

You have clicked over to this blog for whatever reason, I hope you'll consider what was said by Jesus. Don't be content with just knowing the Jesus of greeting cards, Hollywood movies and pop culture.

If you don't believe in Jesus but are curious, take some time to read about what he said and did by reading Matthew, Mark, Luke and John in the Bible.

If you already believe in Jesus, are you finding some ways to serve others?

If you believe in Jesus and are trying to serve others, keep on keeping on and God bless!

I need to be the first person to listen to my "preaching" and put this into practice!