Bible Study Sunday | Jesus Defines Greatness Differently (part two)

Matthew 20:17-28

We are continuing our journey through Matthew 20. Jesus tells His disciples something they don’t really want to hear. He is going to Jerusalem to suffer, die, and be raised again.

Then, almost immediately, James and John’s mother asks Jesus to give her sons positions of honor.

The timing is not great.

Jesus is talking about the Cross. They’re talking about the corner office in the Kingdom they envision Jesus building. The earthly kingdom, not the eternal, heavenly one.

Jesus uses the moment to redefine greatness:

“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.”

Matthew 20:26-28 ESV

That’s radically different from the world’s definition of success.

The world asks who all knows your name?

Jesus asks how many people have you served?

The world says, climb higher. Jesus says, stoop lower.

The world says, make yourself important. Jesus says, make yourself available.

And then Jesus points to Himself. Jesus doesn’t merely teach servant leadership. He embodies it.