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Day 57 Matthew 20:17-28 Matthew 20:17 And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them, 18 Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, 19 And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again. 20 Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. 21 And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She said unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom. 22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. 23 And he said unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father. 24 And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren. 25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. 26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; 27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: 28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. How many people go after something without knowing the full extent of what they pursue? How many others are jealous of those who pursue something they also would like? Jesus had told his disciples about his death and resurrection for the second time. This time instead of being sorrowful as they were the first time he told them, James and John’s mother came to him with a special request, which they went along with. She wanted her sons to have special positions in his kingdom. Jesus didn’t rebuke them for the assumption of places in his kingdom. Instead, he asked them if they were willing to pay the price for that position. Without knowing the full extent of that price, they readily agreed they were willing to pay it. When Jesus told them they would pay it, the other disciples became jealous of what James and John’s mother asked of him, to find he almost agreed with them for the positions. Jesus then told his disciples all positions of authority were reserved for his Father to grant, not him. However, if they wanted any position in the kingdom, they were to work for it, being ministers and servants of the gospel. As Christians, you know leadership of any kind comes with a price. You don’t start out in ministry as the leader, but you work in positions, bringing the gospel to the far reaches of the world. You do this by going as missionaries, teachers, and regular lay people. Every person has a place in the kingdom of God. Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplies, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, makes increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. Your purpose then, is to work for the ministry, being part of the whole, fitly joined together, so everyone in the body benefits, and people come to know and accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. God your Father, determines your position in the body of Christ. It is your pursuit to be all you can be for Jesus, that determines where God will place you, and what gifts he gives you to do the work of the ministry. Your job then is to be all you can be for Jesus Christ, and not be jealous of someone else’s position, because you all have a place in the body of Christ. Let’s pray: Father, help me be all I can be for you, not seeking a position you have not given me, but working for you in the position you gave me, doing my best for your kingdom. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen. Copyright © 15 June 2018 by Valerie Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay