- Matthew 20:20 - Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.
- Matthew 20:21 - And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith 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.
- Matthew 20:22 - 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.
- Matthew 20:23 - And he saith 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.
- Matthew 20:24 - And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.
- Matthew 20:25 - 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.
- Matthew 20:26 - But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
- Matthew 20:27 - And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
- Matthew 20:28 - Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
What do you want Christ to do for you? Jesus asked this very question of the mother of James and John when she requested that her sons be given places of honor and authority in His Kingdom (Matt. 20:20–21). It is beneficial for us to examine our own requests to Jesus: what do we ask of Him?
We live in a culture that often equates greatness with power, recognition, and ascending the ladder of success. But Jesus taught something entirely different: “But whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister” (verse 26). In God’s Kingdom, greatness is measured not by worldly achievements and prominence, but by humble service to others.
From an eternal perspective, true greatness is measured not by how well known a person is on earth, but by how faithfully they served the Lord. When we stand before the judgment seat of Christ, the Lord will look at how we used the opportunities He entrusted to us for His name’s sake; not by our impressive accomplishments or our standing in society.
A humble person understands who they are and Who the Lord is. Their task on earth is to use everything God has entrusted to them in a way that brings glory to Him and benefits others. This is the path Jesus showed us: not to strive for position, but to humbly serve with the gifts given to us.
Reflection
In what areas of your life do you see a conflict between humble service and worldly greatness? How can you apply Jesus' teaching to your own life?
