We Don't Understand

Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. But Jesus called them to him and said, “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.”  Matthew 20:20-28 (ESV).

In this story, the mother of the sons of Zebedee (James and John, two well known disciples) came to Jesus and kneeling before him asked that one of her sons could sit at his right hand and the other on his left hand in God's kingdom.  They didn't understand, even today Jesus sits at the right hand of Father God. That is like asking the one on the left to sit in God's place.  They really didn't understand. All through time, Christ's followers have wanted to win. Even today we want to win. 

When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But he turned and rebuked them. And they went on to another village. Luke 9:51-56 (ESV).

 Here we see the same James and John that wanted to sit on his right hand and left hand wanting to call down fire from heaven to destroy a city of Samaria because the Samaritans did not want these Jews to stay in their village overnight. There was animosity between Jews and Samaritans. Jesus rebuked them because they did not understand. Jesus did not come to win battles. As Jesus tells us above, he came not to be served (win) but to serve and give his very life as a ransom for many.  If we want to be great we must learn to serve others. There are so many ways to serve others. His whole life I believe Jesus was teaching to serve. The feeding of the four thousand and the feeding of the five thousand, Jesus was meeting the needs of people. The people he healed, delivered from demons, Jesus taught serving. Even when Jesus was arrested before his crucifixion, Peter cut off an ear of a servant of the High Priest that was coming to take Jesus to be crucified. They didn't understand, Jesus didn't come to win, but to give his life. I believe he spent a big part of his ministry serving the needs of needy people. We want to convert everyone to Christianity but perhaps our message would be better heard if we quit trying to win and learned to serve others. Think of Mother Theresa, Think of so many missionaries that go into poor countries and see the needs of the people, Samaritans Purse an organization that sends food and medical supplies all over the world to meet the needs of needy people. Yes, they do present the gospel but they try to fill hungry stomachs and meet medical needs while they are at it.  Do you realize how many hospitals and colleges were started by Christians to meet the medical needs and educational needs in our country? I wonder if we got Jesus' message, he came to serve, if we would win more to an eternal truth?  Jesus didn't come to win political battles but to meet needs. We do have spiritual needs as well as physical and emotional needs. Have we found a way to serve society? I use to think I couldn't work for God in a secular job like building airplanes. But I realize even secular jobs sometimes fill a need in our society. Have you found something to do that blesses society and fills a need in society? We all understand that nurses and doctors serve others. Do we understand that farmers that make a living feeding our nation are also serving others?  Do we work in a field that blesses society in some way?  People needed airplanes to travel and even move supplies around the world even grain, it served society, not in a big way like a doctor or a nurse, but it was needed. That nurse and doctor and school teacher needed transportation to get to their job. The farmer needed machinery to raise the food that feeds our nation.  I don't have anything good to say about a drug dealer or a thief that destroys society, but any honest wage is probably giving something good back to society. Have you found a way to serve society? Have you built shelter (homes)  to protect people from the elements? Have we found a way to serve society? I still believe that Jesus is the only way to God but have I learned to serve others or am I still trying to win? I wonder if the opposite of winning is serving others? God bless, LVZ.