Serve (Matthew 20:20-28)

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A Motherʼs Request
20Then the mother of Zebedeeʼs sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him.
21 “What is it you want?”he asked.
She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.”
22 “You donʼt know what you are asking,”Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?”
“We can,” they answered.
23Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.”
24When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers.25Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.26Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,27and whoever wants to be first must be your slave--28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

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• Big Idea
  • When we humble ourselves in serving our neighbors we can all experience the life of God's kingdom.
• A Favor                                                                                                                                    
  • Jesus was open to the mother of sons of Zebedee's request.
  • Mrs. Zebedee wanted to have an if-then relationship with her Savior.
• The Cup                                                                                                                             
  • The cup as a metaphor meant different things.  Psalm 16; Psalm 23; Isaiah 51:17; Matthew 20:11-19
  • The two disciples wanted the glory, but not the cross.                                                                                                          
• Prepared                                                                                                                    
  • As disciples we take up our cross daily. Luke 9:23; Philippians 4:12-13; Ephesians 2:10
• Ransomed                                                                                                                                  
  • We're meant to bless others as a body in Christ. 
  • Service in the kingdom is all about the focus of our hearts.