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NT Doctrine -- Matthew 20:17-28 - Ed Hurst - 05-21-2022
They just didn't get it.
It's not just the Twelve, but by this time, Jesus has a substantial group following Him around. As is typical with Jewish folk, a significant portion of them were relatives. However, you can be sure that by this time, everyone in the group was committed to following Jesus as the Messiah. That much they assuredly believed. The part that troubled them was the otherworldly focus. Jesus wasn't going to have much effect on the human situation. His Kingdom would not be of any worldly kind, but a heavenly kind that would simply manifest in this world.
The parallel passages in Mark and Luke tell us that Jesus was making another journey, approaching the Old Jericho where Herod had built one of his palaces. Passover is near. The crowd following Him were convinced they were about to escort Him in triumph into Jerusalem to claim His rightful throne. He called the Twelve aside for a private discussion.
Then He told them again that His purpose in going to Jerusalem was to face charges before the Sanhedrin, who would sentence Him to death. They would turn Him over to Gentiles to slander, abuse and crucify Him. And then, on the third day, He would rise again. His description is rather detailed. The Scripture makes it clear the whole thing went in one ear and out the other, or so it seemed. We know that they later recalled everything, once the Holy Spirit fell on them, but this kind of revelation went into their hearts; it had no place in their minds.
Among His entourage, now these many months away from their home in Galilee, was His mother's sister, Salome. Her two sons, James and John, had prevailed upon her to make a formal request. It was an old Hebrew tradition that a female relative could make extravagant requests of a king, as we saw with David and Solomon, among others. On their behalf, she asked if her two sons could assume in His royal court the places on His left and right hands, the two most powerful men below the Master.
This isn't as unreasonable as it sounds, on human terms. James and John were His closest kin among His followers, and already among the Twelve. The other cousins were somewhat more removed in kinship. These two were just trying to get things lined up before they arrived for a whirlwind takeover of the throne in Jerusalem, currently vacant, with Pilate serving as Rome's representative. Shouldn't such matters be settled before all that?
Jesus played along for a moment. Would they be ready to pass through the same testing and sorrows with Him? They were convinced they could do it. He agreed that they couldn't avoid it, but that their request was not His to grant. Such matters would remain in the Father's hands.
The other ten disciples overheard enough to become rather peeved at this sneaky tactic James and John employed. But Jesus shut them down. None of them was getting the message, yet. Among humans, greatness is power over each other. In the Kingdom of the Messiah, greatness is power over the fallen human self. You must conquer the self and make it serve the Kingdom purpose. If you care about position and power, you are disqualified already.
Jesus turned everything upside down: Humility was greatness. Service was leadership. An ignoble death was victory. They had a lot to learn.