Insightful Musings on the Scriptures
by
Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67
Passage: Matthew 20:17-34
Focus: “Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave.” Matthew 20:26-27.
Among other things, I’m seeing a case of selective hearing take place in this account. Let me try to explain what I mean.
At the beginning of this reading Jesus explains in very clear terms what was soon to take place—they were going to Jerusalem, Jesus would be arrested, condemned, crucified, and then raised back to life on the third day (20:17-19). Did the disciples get it? Nope. It was like Jesus was talking Chinese. But compare this setting with the one only a few paragraphs back (19:28-30), where Jesus responds to Peter’s question on what their benefits will be for leaving their families and following Him. Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” Wow! That sounds too cool! The whole idea of reaching stardom, having a throne, and wielding power, was pretty attractive heady stuff for some poor fishermen. They not only got that, they ran with it. Selective hearing.
My imagination is purring. It could be that the mother of James and John heard her boys talking about all this. “I bet my throne will be bigger than your throne.” “Well, mine will be closer to Jesus’ throne than yours.” Good grief! Whatever was said, it was enough to send that mother into action to specifically request of Jesus places of prominence for her wonderful sterling mature boys.
The other disciples were more than irritated when they learned that James and John beat them out in their dirty quest for being first.
The first thing we should do in processing this account is to figure out what is meant by first. Let’s look over to the last part of chapter 19 where Jesus draws paradoxical contrast between first and last. “But many who are first (competitive, talented, esteemed by the world) will be last (disqualified for being selected for special positions), and many who are last (appear to be unimportant or unclassy) will be first (given prominence and leadership)” (19:30). And now following the disciple’s “me first” fight, Jesus sets forth the paradigm shift of the Kingdom of God: “…and whoever wants to be first must be your slave (last)—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served (first), but to serve (last by the world’s standards), and to give his life as a ransom for many (20:27-28).”
Does this make any sense? Maybe a good use of our competitive nature is to make sure this makes MORE sense to us right now than it did to the disciples back then. After all, we have the edge (and responsibility) of a fuller revelation.