Matthew 20:17-28
As Jesus
was on the way to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and talked to
them about what would happen to him when they arrived. “I will be betrayed to
the chief priests and other Jewish leaders, and they will condemn me to die.
And they will hand me over to the Roman government, and I will be mocked and crucified,
and the third day I will rise to life again.” Then the mother of James and
John, the sons of Zebedee, brought them to Jesus and respectfully asked a
favor. “What is your request?” he asked. She replied, “In your Kingdom, will
you let my two sons sit on two thrones next to yours?” But Jesus told her, “You
don’t know what you are asking!” Then he turned to James and John and asked
them, “Are you able to drink from the terrible cup I am about to drink from?”
“Yes,” they replied, “we are able!” “You shall indeed drink from it,” he told
them. “But I have no right to say who will sit on the thrones next to mine.
Those places are reserved for the persons my Father selects.” The other ten
disciples were indignant when they heard what James and John had asked for. But
Jesus called them together and said, “Among the heathen, kings are tyrants and
each minor official lords it over those beneath him. But among you it is quite
different. Anyone wanting to be a leader among you must be your servant. And if
you want to be right at the top, you must serve like a slave. Your attitude
must be like my own, for I, the Messiah,* did not come to be served, but to
serve, and to give my life as a ransom for many.”
Food for thought!
As Jesus
was on the way to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and talked to
them about what would happen to him when they arrived. “I will be betrayed to
the chief priests and other Jewish leaders, and they will condemn me to die.
And they will hand me over to the Roman government, and I will be mocked and
crucified, and the third day I will rise to life again.”
These words of Jesus are very revealing of him; they show a Jesus that is focused on something, his death. In light of his death, Jesus is going to Jerusalem, to die. The gospel reading says that he took his disciples aside and started to talk to them about his death. I wonder if you ever take anybody aside to them about your death! Or it is a tabu?
Talking about your death will help you to be focused like Jesus. Jesus was a man whose face was set on some goal. He was a man whose mind was made up. He was a man who was determined to go somewhere and who refused to be distracted from his mission. Jesus was a focused man, whose mind was fixed on some mission and who was determined to carry it out. Jesus was ready to pay the price, come what may.
This is what Jesus is asking the two disciple: “Are you able to drink from the terrible cup I am about to drink from?” Jesus is telling John and James that what they are focusing on has a price tag; are you ready to pay the price? This is a lesson for all of us: whatever we want to achieve in life, whatever we focus on getting, like having good life, good family, great business, good job, good spouse, has a price tag. You can't have your dream realized without paying its cost.
James and John paid the cost too. As you know, James was the first apostle to die a martyrdom and his brother John was the last apostle to die, in exile. In other words, the two got what they wanted, that is, be one on the left and the other on the right of Jesus; one died first, the other last! Next time you kneel down to ask Jesus for something think twice; think not only of what you ask for, but also for what you will pay to get it.
What is on your mind today? What is your focus, your goal? What are you asking Jesus? Are you ready to pay the price? Do you ever think of your death? Do you ever talk about it as Jesus did many times? Do you share with anybody about your death? Have you planned for it? How would you like to be buried? Where? Do you have a will, a testament? This is the best way to plan for and think of and share death. Don't be afraid. Like Jesus, take your friends aside and talk to them about your death.
These words of Jesus are very revealing of him; they show a Jesus that is focused on something, his death. In light of his death, Jesus is going to Jerusalem, to die. The gospel reading says that he took his disciples aside and started to talk to them about his death. I wonder if you ever take anybody aside to them about your death! Or it is a tabu?
Talking about your death will help you to be focused like Jesus. Jesus was a man whose face was set on some goal. He was a man whose mind was made up. He was a man who was determined to go somewhere and who refused to be distracted from his mission. Jesus was a focused man, whose mind was fixed on some mission and who was determined to carry it out. Jesus was ready to pay the price, come what may.
This is what Jesus is asking the two disciple: “Are you able to drink from the terrible cup I am about to drink from?” Jesus is telling John and James that what they are focusing on has a price tag; are you ready to pay the price? This is a lesson for all of us: whatever we want to achieve in life, whatever we focus on getting, like having good life, good family, great business, good job, good spouse, has a price tag. You can't have your dream realized without paying its cost.
James and John paid the cost too. As you know, James was the first apostle to die a martyrdom and his brother John was the last apostle to die, in exile. In other words, the two got what they wanted, that is, be one on the left and the other on the right of Jesus; one died first, the other last! Next time you kneel down to ask Jesus for something think twice; think not only of what you ask for, but also for what you will pay to get it.
What is on your mind today? What is your focus, your goal? What are you asking Jesus? Are you ready to pay the price? Do you ever think of your death? Do you ever talk about it as Jesus did many times? Do you share with anybody about your death? Have you planned for it? How would you like to be buried? Where? Do you have a will, a testament? This is the best way to plan for and think of and share death. Don't be afraid. Like Jesus, take your friends aside and talk to them about your death.
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