Devotion: Seeing the Big Picture
Matthew 20:20-22
Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to [Jesus] with her sons, and kneeling before him, she asked a favor of him. And he said to her, “What do you want?”
She said to him, “Declare that these two sons of mine will sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” But Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?”
They said to him, “We are able.”
We don’t know much about the mother of the sons of Zebedee, James and John. We do know this: she had a lot of nerve.
Jesus has just told his disciples a third time that he will soon suffer and die a painful death before he is raised on the third day. Ms. Z takes the opportunity to ask Jesus, while he’s still there, to give her boys the seats of honor next to him in heaven.
James and John are quick to answer “yes” when Jesus asks them if they can drink the cup of suffering that awaits him. Jesus tells them they will indeed drink that cup but what their Mom asked for is not his decision; God the Father will decide.
The other disciples are understandably upset about the situation. Jesus tells them, “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
James, John and their mother have missed the big picture of Jesus’ life and what it means to live in Christ. It’s not about being honored; it’s about serving others as Jesus did and showing his love to the world.
Earlier, the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. In the Lord’s Prayer, they – and we – ask that God’s kingdom will come in heaven and on earth. We are called, you and I, to bring in God’s kingdom on earth, to be agents of Christ’s love in our daily life. This is our grateful response to the love and grace and redemption first given to us through Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.
We bring in God’s kingdom when we care for the people God places in our vicinity and in our concern. We build it when our lives exhibit the Fruits of the Spirit – when we are loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle and self-controlled.
James and John went on to proclaim the Gospel and they served others in Jesus’ name. Again, this is our calling, too. When we do this, we demonstrate that we understand the meaning of Jesus’ life – the big picture – and that Jesus lives in us.
Jesus, help me remember that the entire focus of your life was on serving others. Help me to do this, too. Amen.
Written by Cheryl Stubbendieck