Series: All!
Jesus has all authority,
So that all nations
Might pledge all allegiance to him.
Title: “Why did Jesus come to earth?
Scripture: Matthew 20:20-34
Heavily indebted to Douglas Sean O’Donnell’s & David Platt’s commentaries for this message. (See below)
Bottom line: The way of greatness is the narrow way as seen in the humble example and sacrificial substitution of Jesus Christ on the cross.
““Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
Matthew 7:13-14 NIV https://bible.com/bible/111/mat.7.14.NIV
The cross of Christ is great because
It shows that humble servanthood and sacrificial suffering are exalted actions, (Example) and
It gave eternal life to many as he died in their place. (Substitution)
“The first reason can be shortened to Jesus’ death as example, the second reason to Jesus’ death as substitution.” -O’Donnell
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
SERMON OUTLINE & NOTES
MAIN REFERENCES USED
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Discussion questions for group and personal study. Reflect and Discuss:
1. How does the misguided approach of the disciples beginning in Matthew 20:20 parallel your own approach to God and the Christian life?
2. How does Jesus' healing of the blind men in Matthew 20:29-34 contrast with the request for privilege by James and John in the previous paragraph?
3. Why can't grace and pride coexist? Can you think of other Scriptural passages that speak to this truth?
Final Questions (optional or in place of above)
What is God saying to you right now?
What are you going to do about it?
Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast
Weekly questions I answer in preparation for the sermon:
Q. What do I want you to know?
A. Why Jesus came to earth. That he came not to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom. And he came to show us how to live after our rescue. He came to show us how to live and to empower us to live that way.
Q. Why?
A. To remind us why we follow Jesus in this way. His example and sacrificial act should inspire us through gratitude.
Q. What do I want you to do?
A. Live like he lived serving others sacrificially. (SOS)
Q. Why?
A. Because his example and his substitution are worthy of our entire lives. This is why we were saved in the first place.
OUTLINE & NOTES
Introduction
How to Avoid the Titanic Mistake (by Rick Warren via Nicky Gumbel)
James Cameron, director of the movie *Titanic,* describes the Titanic as a ‘metaphor’ of life: ‘We are all living on… \[the\] Titanic.’
When the Titanic set sail in 1912, it was declared to be ‘unsinkable’ because it was constructed using a new technology. The ship’s hull was divided into sixteen watertight compartments. Up to four of these compartments could be damaged or even flooded, and still the ship would float.
Tragically, the Titanic sank on 15 April 1912 at 2.20 am. 1,513 people lost their lives. (111 years ago almost to the day)
At the time, it was thought that five of its watertight compartments had been ruptured in a collision with an iceberg. However, on 1 September 1985, when the wreck of the Titanic was found lying upright on the ocean floor, there was no sign of the long gash previously thought to have been ripped in the ship’s hull. What they discovered was that damage to one compartment affected all the rest.
Many people make the Titanic mistake. They think they can divide their lives into different ‘compartments’ and that what they do in one will not affect the rest. However, as Rick Warren (from whom I have taken this illustration) says, ‘*A life of integrity is one that is not divided into compartments.’* David prayed for ‘*an undivided heart*’ (Psalm 86:11). He led the people with ‘*integrity of heart*’ (78:72). Supremely, Jesus was a ‘*man of integrity*’ (Matthew 22:16; Mark 12:14).
I would add that what makes this sinking so tragic is the hubris behind the idea that because of technological cleverness, they could move full steam ahead without concern for anything bad happening. But they were vulnerable because of this.
So are we.
Bottom line: The way of greatness is the narrow way as seen in the humble example and sacrificial substitution of Jesus Christ on the cross.
Why did Jesus come? “To serve and give his life as a ransom for many.” (20:28)
He came to show us how to live and to empower us to live that way.
Because…5 reasons:
He came to suffer. The “cup” was descriptive of Jesus “drinking down the wrath of God in the place of sinners.” (Platt, p. 271)
He came to save. “Ransom is a word that can refer to a payment made to release someone from slavery.” As in slavery to pay off a debt.
He came to be our substitute. “For” can also be translated “in place of.” Read the verse again substituting these words (no pun intended). He died for you but he also died instead of you.
He came to show us how to live.
A different kind of leadership.
To selflessly live for the good of others instead of yourself.
Love people by serving people.
SOS = Serving Others Sacrificially
James was beheaded and John was exiled to the island of Patmos.
This kind of sacrificial service is what defines kingdom greatness.
He came to serve us.
He came to be our lowly servant by becoming a man and providing salvation for us.
The one who deserves to be served came to serve, and this service was ultimately demonstrated on the cross.
Cf. Phil 2:3-8 Furthermore, He said He came “to give His life a ransom for many.” Some scholars say Jesus paid a ransom to the devil to set us free, but that is not the biblical picture. It is true that ransoms were paid in military tribunals in antiquity to secure the release of those who were held captive by the enemy. More frequently, however, ransoms were paid to secure the freedom of those who could not pay their debts and were facing indentured servitude. Jesus paid a ransom to purchase His beloved people out of their bondage to sin. Is it any wonder that the Apostle Paul says, “You were bought at a price” (1 Cor. 6:20)
Jesus is our servant.
But this doesn’t mean I tell Jesus what to do.
It does mean Jesus gives us what we need.
We are Jesus’ servants.
But this doesn’t mean that Jesus needs our aid.
This does mean that we submit to Jesus’ authority.
Two Blind Men
Applications:
Boldly confess your need for his mercy.
Humbly believe in his power to do the miraculous.
Conclusion
A missionary to Africa told someone, “When we want to share the gospel in a village in Africa, we don't send them books. We send them a Christian family.”
Why is it better to send the family than some books? It’s certainly cheaper. Seems more efficient. But this experienced missionary understood that the Christian life lived like Jesus would demonstrate the love of God through serving others sacrificially. Therefore, the gospel wouldn’t just be taught but caught.
It’s not about putting God or our church experience into a compartment and then living the rest of our lives without a care for what Jesus did for us. We recognize that we are vulnerable if even one compartment gets hit. We need God to cover everything in our lives. We must live with him at the center of our lives as we trust and follow him completely.
What about your neighbors? Co-workers? Classmates? Teammates? Coffee dates?
Bottom line: The way of greatness is the narrow way as seen in the humble example and sacrificial substitution of Jesus Christ on the cross.
Q. What do I want you to do?
A. Live like he lived serving others sacrificially. (SOS)
Q. Why?
A. Because his example and his substitution are worthy of our entire lives. This is why we were saved in the first place.
Notes
LGLP = SGSP
Compassion motivated by love
SOS = Serve Others Sacrificially
Search and Rescue Operation at great personal risk
Matthew 20:17-28
Mrs. Zebedee (Salome?) asks Jesus to elevate her 2 sons to second highest in his kingdom. She obviously thinks they deserve it and she wants the honor for them and for herself. Some think that Salome is Mary’s sister (Jesus’ mother Mary) so they’d be related. This seems inappropriate to ask. Perhaps she feels so safe with Jesus (they were among the earliest followers) that she boldly asks the desire of her heart. And is it really a bad thing for a parent to want to see their sons in such a prominent, honorable position empowered to serve under Jesus’ reign?
Jesus clearly sees the inappropriateness of her question. For he makes decisions by the leading of the Holy Spirit. she may not yet realize that.
Jesus gives 2 responses:
“You don’t know what you are asking.” Because she—and they—don’t yet see that his kingdom is not of this world. That his kingdom is not run like other king domes. Her ignorance is not her fault.
“Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” This question seems to be directed towards her sons (you is plural) for they answer Jesus. The “cup” refers to God’s holy wrath for the sins of the world. This will happen at the cross. It refers to suffering for his kingdom cause/mission. Now they may know what he’s referring to. After all, he just shared that in vv. 17-19 (and that for the 3rd time)
Well, whether they do or not, they answer that they can drink from that cup. It’s hard to believe that they comprehend what that could be like. In our zeal, we all tend to be overly optimistic about what we can and will do. Certainly they are willing. “The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.”
Jealous replies that they will indeed drink from the same cup but ot so they can get what they want. That’s for the Father to decide.
Of course, the other 10 are infuriated about this because either
It’s inappropriate for them to ask,
It means they think they’re more worthy and that Jesus might choose them. Hence, jealousy, or
It means they asked first and the rest missed their chance.
Jesus moves now to teach them a kingdom principle: unlike the rulers of the kingdom of this world, if you want to be great or first in God’s kingdom, you must serve others sacrificially. (SOS)
Jesus is the ultimate SOS example. He served by literally exchanging his life for ours at the cross. Great love!
O’Donnell says that Mrs. Zebedee’s question is cowardly, commendable and condemnable.
Cowardly in that the guys seem to have put their mother up to it. (Maybe not, but they didn’t stop her either; this is bold for a woman (unless she’s Jesus’ auntie))
Commendable in that they believed Jesus’ kingdom was inevitable.
Condemnable in that they were asking for glory when Jesus just said he was going to pathway of shame via the cross. Who are they to think their path would be any better? “Jesus will be lifted up on a tree, and these boys want to be lifted up to thrones number two and three.”
I would like to add some thoughts here on American Christianity and our collective desire to be in power politically.
Our desires to affect change in our culture is not bad in and of itself. But the way we tend to want to go about it is the same as the “Gentiles” and Romans did. (And everyone else) We want to operate from a position of power. But Jesus calls us to change our ambition from being served and first to being he servant and slave and last. Who’s doing this today? Very few.
What I’m trying to say is that I wonder if we’re not operating more like Mrs. Zebedee, James and John than we are like Jesus.
Matthew 20:29-34
Two blind men are out panning for alms as they likely did every day. They hear a large crowd coming. They’re excited because they’ve already heard that Jesus of Nazareth is coming through. They believe he will heal them.
So when he comes through, they cry out for mercy. They call him:
Lord = master, sir at the very least; but, in context, probably even Messiah
Son of David = Not only a king in David’s dynasty but the prophesied king of kings (divine)
Have mercy on us. They are indeed in need of mercy. They can’t see and so are dependent on others for most needs. Those they depend on already have a hard life.l
Jesus stops after they cry out again (despite the crowd’s reaction) and asks them what they want him to do for them. They reply they want what they obviously need—to see.
Jesus, motivated by compassion, gives them what they ask for but way more than they asked for. He gave them the ability to see
In this world
Into the next world. This was the greater blessing.
So Jesus models SOS adding a key ingredient to the recipe of LP: Compassion. That is our motive—the mercy and love of God for those in need around us.
Notes from Douglas Sean O’Donnell
Nothing funny about prideful ambition.
O’Donnell says that Mrs. Zebedee’s question is cowardly, commendable and condemnable.
Cowardly in that the guys seem to have put their mother up to it. (Maybe not, but they didn’t stop her either; this is bold for a woman (unless she’s Jesus’ auntie))
Commendable in that they believed Jesus’ kingdom was inevitable.
Condemnable in that they were asking for glory when Jesus just said he was going to pathway of shame via the cross. Who are they to think their path would be any better? “Jesus will be lifted up on a tree, and these boys want to be lifted up to thrones number two and three.”
2 lessons:
“We should recognize that true faith and real error can be mixed in the heart of the Brest Christian’s…Thus we ought to persistently pray for purity, and we ought to gently seek to purify one another.”
“Do we believe Jesus will reign? Do we give a passing thought to the eternal kingdom? Do we hope to get a good spot in it?
Jesus won’t condemn the 12 but he will correct them.
He’s given us his last-first theology (his view of kingdom greatness) twice in these last 2 sections in Matthew.
He follows with telling them why the cross is so great:
“The cross of Christ is so great because it shows that humble servant hood and sacrificial suffering are exalted actions.
“The cross of Christ is so great because the two-day death of one man gave eternal life to many.”l
Jesus’ Death as an Example
“Jesus’ corrective her is straightforward:
A. Gentile or pagan rulers rule this way because they view greatness this way;
B. You are to rule another way because you view greatness in the opposite way; and
C. That way is the way of the cross. And the way of the cross is humble servanthood.”
“Whoever would be great among you
Must be your servant.
Whoever would be first
Must be your slave.” Vv. 26-27
Synonymous focus:
“I’ll put it this way. Do you want to be ‘great’? Then you need to be a ‘servant’ (diakonos)—that is, wait tables, serve others. Do you want to not just be ‘great’ but to be ‘first’ I(the first among the greats)? Then you need to be a ‘slave’ (doulos)—that is, someone ‘who has no right or existence on his own, how lives solely for others.” P. 571
“Our culture ‘ceaselessly’ directs us up, up, up; we must ‘pray almost daily for the wisdom and courage’ to go down, down, down.” “He descended into greatness.” Cf. Phil 2:5-11
Jesus’ Death as a Substitution
“The cross of Christ is so great because the three-day (Good Friday, Holy Saturday) death of one man gave eternal ire to many. The first reason can be shortened to Jesus’ death as example, the second reason to Jesus’ death as substitution.
3 Key words: (2 from v. 28)
“For” — or “in the place of”; The preposition means substitution
“Cup” — 1) “the hostilities that arise from faithful gospel proclamation and living?, 2) “God’s wrathful judgment upon wickedness.”
“Ransom” — The price paid to release slaves. “It could also refer to money pain int he place of capital punishment.”
MAIN REFERENCES USED
“Preaching the Word” Commentary, Douglas Sean O’Donnell, Edited by Kent Hughes
“Matthew” by RC Sproul
“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)
“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)
“Exalting Jesus in Matthew” by David Platt (CCE)
Outline Bible, D Willmington
NIV Study Bible (NIVSB)
ESV Study Bible (ESVSB)
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