Matthew 20:20-28, A Mother's Request

20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. 21 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.” 22 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.” 23 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.” 24 And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. 25 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. 26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Comments

The idea of heavenly rewards continues with aunt Salome, the mother of James and John and sister of Mary (Jesus’ mother) asking a big favor. She too follows Jesus. Her sons, James and John, form two-thirds of Jesus’ inner circle. Perhaps Jesus’ recent rebuke of Peter has opened the door for these two to move to the top of the 12-disciple pile!

The cup Jesus speaks of is the Old Testament metaphor for destined suffering. However, Jesus directs the conversation away from the mother to the sons. He teaches that our heavenly reward cannot be earned because God has already prepared it. He also teaches that the values of secular society do not apply among his disciples. Self-importance, respect, ambition, self-worth, and position imposed on others reflects the values of the rat race, not of the kingdom of God.

Jesus exemplifies servant leadership to his disciples, fulling the servant in Isaiah 52:13-53:12. The use of “ransom” points to the clear understanding that Jesus, through his death, provides for us what we cannot achieve for ourselves: release. He takes our place as the payment of an equivalent sum of money procures the release of a captive or debtor. The good news for us is that it is not for the few but for the many.

Prayer

Almighty and everliving God, in your tender love for the human race you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon him our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross, giving us the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of his suffering, and also share in his resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(BCP, p. 219)