THE KING AND HIS KINGDOM - MATTHEW 20:17–34

MATTHEW 20:17-19

17 As Jesus was about to go up to Jerusalem, He took the twelve disciplesaside by themselves, and on the way He said to them, 18 “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man will be [l]delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death, 19 and will hand Him over to the Gentiles to mock and scourge and crucify Him, and on the third day He will be raised up.”

MATTHEW 20:20-21

20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to [m]Jesus with her sons, bowing down and making a request of Him. 21 And He said to her, “What do you wish?” She *said to Him, “Command that in Your kingdom these two sons of mine may sit one on Your right and one on Your left.”

DON'T CONFUSE FOLLOWING JESUS WITH PROMOTING YOURSELF

MATTHEW 20:22

22 But Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?” They *said to Him, “We are able.”

EVERY CROWN HAS A CROSS

MATTHEW 20:23-26

23 He *said to them, “My cup you shall drink; but to sit on My right and on My left, this is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by My Father.”

24 And hearing this, the ten became indignant with the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. 26 It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, 

THE KINGDOM DOESN'T WORK LIKE THE WORLD

THE WORLD MEASURES GREATNESS BY HOW MANY PEOPLE SERVE YOU. JESUS MEASURES GREATNESS BY HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU ARE WILLING TO SERVE.

MATTHEW 20:27-28

27 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His [n]life a ransom for many.”

KINGDOM GREATNESS ISN'T CLIMBING OVER PEOPLE. IT'S CARRYING PEOPLE.

THE GREATEST KING WHO EVER LIVED BECAME THE GREATEST SERVANT WHO EVER SERVED.

MATTHEW 20:29–31

29 As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed Him. 30 And two blind men sitting by the road, hearing that Jesus was passing by, cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” 31 The crowd sternly told them to be quiet, but they cried out all the more, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”

WHEN YOU KNOW JESUS IS YOUR ANSWER, YOU STOP LETTING THE CROWD DECIDE HOW LOUDLY YOU CALL HIS NAME.

MATTHEW 20:32

32 And Jesus stopped and called them, and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?

Faith doesn't require you to see everything; faith requires you to know Who you're calling on.

MATTHEW 20:33-34

33 They *said to Him, “Lord, we want our eyes to be opened.” 34 Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him.

THREE QUESTIONS FOR THE CHURCH

1. AM I FOLLOWING JESUS FOR HIM OR FOR WHAT HE CAN GIVE ME?

2. AM I TRYING TO BE SERVED OR AM I LEARNING TO SERVE?

You don't find your purpose by asking, What can God do for me? You start discovering it when you ask, God, who can I serve?

3. WHAT DO I NEED JESUS TO OPEN MY EYES TO?