Dear Friends in Christ,
Two headings distinguish sections of our text. They are not part of the original but editorial additions. They do serve to divide our Savior’s words into two logical sections. Consider these alternatives to “Jesus Again Predicts His Death,” and, “A Mother’s Request.”
They could read “Jesus Again Predicts His Life” and “Jesus Predicts His Disciples’ Lives.” The first section ends with Jesus’ emphatic predication that he will rise to life. The second addresses God’s disciples and how we live in the kingdom of God, both now and when we are in heaven.
Predictions based on solid fact carry more weight than those built on thin air. Therefore, Jesus’ new life after death is the solid fact on which we build our new lives in his service. The Lord takes us from spiritual death to spiritual life, or spiritual freedom.
Our life is a life of Christ-like service. Spiritual Freedom for Christ-Like Service. Jesus’ death and life set us free. In that freedom, we serve others in the spirit of Christ.
Jesus previously had spoken twice about his impending death in generalities. Now he becomes more specific “to be mocked and flogged and crucified.” The leaders of his own people and the leaders of the Roman occupation of Judea would be the pair of hands that nailed Jesus to the cross. Their actions are typical of the innate hatred all of us have toward God, and toward his anointed one according to the sinful nature.
We have in our sinful nature that same loathing for God. It is only when we recognize the complete lack of love we naturally have for God that we can come to appreciate the complete love God has had for us in Christ. My total depravity brought about the total humiliation and suffering Jesus endured so that his death could set us free, and his new life declare it so.
Jesus had to suffer greatly to set me free from my sinning greatly. The Son of God became the Son of Man to deliver me from what is more than a few misguided steps of little consequence. He came and delivered me from the guilt and punishment of my transgressions of God’s holy will that I am expected to keep without exception. Jesus came to pay not a pittance for a pittance, but a huge ransom for huge sin.
Jesus speaks volumes about his work of service when he said, “The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. My life of spiritual death caused Jesus to lose his sinless life. Jesus death and life set us free because his death is the ransom that sets a prisoner free. Jesus’ life declares that his Father in heaven accepted that ransom he paid for us. Many here does not mean some and not others. It means the total of the redeemed is many because it is all people. Since I am one of all people, I know that I find spiritual freedom in Christ.
I am sure by Jesus’ resurrection that he has freed me from spiritual death as well as temporal and eternal death. He did all this for a reason, a couple of reasons. Those reasons do not include just standing around looking good to others like a trophy on a shelf.
Jesus redeemed so that I would be his own and live under him in his kingdom. That means I will go to heaven when I die. It means that I will live for him in righteousness, innocence and blessedness all the days of my life. That means that in my spiritual freedom, we serve others in the spirit of Christ.
A loving yet misguided mother sought an answer from Jesus about her sons. What mother would not want her children to be seated with the Savior in his perfect kingdom? Maybe we can even understand her seeking particular honor for one of them. That thought might have occurred to us as well. Christ died for me, therefore, what privilege, what advantage, what profit can I obtain and exercise over others? Shame on us.
The other disciples including Matthew who penned this account were not happy about her inquiry on James’ and John’s behalf. They were indignant. They thought that they too were worthy of such a place of honor because they wrongfully thought they could drink of the cup of Christ’s suffering. They all would drink of that cup one day as Jesus’ said. But, any places of honor in the kingdom are entirely the result of the Father’s gracious assignment.
All of these questions and the thoughts behind them had to do with service. There is the link between the two sections. Jesus made the point that worldly service to authority is a “have to” thing. When we serve God in our spiritual freedom, we serve God willingly. This service is a “want to” thing. Such is the service the disciple of Christ carries out in the kingdom. We serve in Christ-like service without any thought of personal glory, but with a willingness to bear our crosses. That is how Jesus served.
Jesus served us by his death not only in order for his life to declare us righteous but also so we will be righteous in our living. The love of Christ compels us in willing care and devotion one to another in the kingdom of God. Christ-like service is not a matter of lording it over others but becoming another’s slave.
The service we render to God now is not different in kind from what we will render in heaven. We serve in love having been loved. That will continue through all eternity. However, it is different in essence; imperfect now, perfect then. Our sanctification is limited and marred by our sin that still clings to us. In heaven, all that imperfection will have been left behind.
Jesus paid the price we could not afford to pay so we are able to render service that is like his. Jesus used his entire life in service to us so that we can render our entire lives in service to him. It is with no desire for a place of honor but only our desire for the honor to serve Jesus because he has served us that we sing with the conviction of our saving faith, “Lord of glory, you have bought us with your life-blood as the price. With your love our love renew.” Amen. <SDG>.