Matthew’s recollection of the events on Jesus’ final journey to Jerusalem are worrying. It’s about a week before his crucifixion, and Jesus has alerted his disciples that his most challenging days are almost upon him. As Matt 20:17-19 records it: “Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them, ‘We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!‘”
Betrayed, condemned, mocked, flogged and crucified. It’s sobering stuff. Heartbreaking actually. Which makes what happens next so disturbing. Instead of the following verses recalling a concerned discussion with his disciples on alternatives and coping strategies, Matthew informs us that hot on the heals of this announcement came a request from the mother of Zebedee’s sons, James and John. She asked that as Jesus would apparently soon be dead he commit himself to ensure that when Jesus’ kingdom came, he would promise that her boys could sit at the right and left hand side of Jesus in glory.
Oh my goodness – talk about insensitive opportunism… (Matt 20:20-21).
It’s a little like someone announcing that they have been diagnosed with a terminal illness and the first response from a friend is: “Have you remembered to include me in your will? Oh – and make sure that I get more than anyone else – a lot more. I’m only really interested in your best stuff.”
Lest you think that James and John simply had an embarrassing mother, the following verse (22) makes it clear that they are fully supportive of her request. Jesus asks them if they are equipped for this kind of honour. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” he asks. Far, far too quickly they reply, “We can.” Yeah – right, they had really thought that one through.
Jesus replies with great seriousness, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant” (23). And Jesus was correct, for James was the first of the disciples to be martyred, Acts 12:1-2 recording his beheading. Of all the disciples John lived the longest – probably the only one of them to die a natural death – but this was after an extended period of enforced hard labour while imprisoned on the Island of Patmos. Life was not easy for either of them. They did indeed drink from a cup of significant suffering. But back then they were simply thinking of rushing ahead of their fellow disciples to the seats of greatest honour.
The response of the remaining disciples is interesting – actually, equally disturbing. v24 informs us: “When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers.” Jesus’ response to their indignation makes it clear that it wasn’t because they were concerned at the calculating manipulation behind the brothers’ request, but that James and John had got in before them. They were as desperate to get the seats of greatest honour. How dare James and John try to sneak in ahead of them!
Put yourself into this situation. It’s about a week before Easter. In haunting terms Jesus has told them he will be betrayed, condemned, mocked, flogged and crucified. Their response? What’s in this for us? Is this our ticket to the best seats in glory?
I wonder how Jesus felt at that moment. He had modelled and taught them a new way for the last 3 years. They had been his closest companions. He was entrusting his mission to them. And here they are – squabbling over who was the greatest and deserved the most. His crucifixion is just days away. It appears that they have learnt nothing, and internalised nothing. They were so not ready for what lay ahead.
I wonder if Jesus took a deep breath before he carried on, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to be 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” (25-28). There is so much in this passage that is challenging, but I wonder if those 4 little words “Not so with you” aren’t the most challenging. “Not so with you…” There is a different way. And a few days away from crucifixion, you haven’t got it yet…
It is again about a week before Easter – or more strictly, our annual memory of Easter. I’d like to think we have learnt more than Jesus’ disciples did in their first 3 years with him. It would be nice to give ourselves a great tick alongside the “not so with you” instruction, or at the “must be your servant, must be your slave” command. Truth to tell, it’s as elusive today as it was then. We just aren’t wired that way.
But then, remember, this is Easter – our reminder that “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many”. To give his life as a ransom for many… Actually, that’s about you, and about me, and about the way we just aren’t wired…
Nice chatting…
Photo by Rodolfo Clix: https://www.pexels.com/photo/silhouette-image-of-person-praying-1615776/
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