James and John come up to Jesus like little kids wanting to pull some kind of scam on their parents. Any of you parents out there...have you ever had this happen? You child comes up to you and wants you to agree to something before they have even told you what it is? "Hey Dad, can you promise me you'll say yes to what I'm about to say?" No parent in their right mind would ever say yes in that situation, because they know that their kid is probably asking for something that they know is a little sketchy. When James and John walk up to Jesus, they know that they are crossing the line of appropriateness. There are twelve disciples and these two want to get a better spot in leadership when Jesus "takes over the world," so they ask him - "Rabbi, will you do whatever we ask you to do right now?" This move highlights the immaturity of James and John, and their misunderstanding about what it really meant to follow Jesus. It had to be a pretty frustrating conversation for Jesus, because they weren't getting the picture...they were motivated by selfishness...they wanted to know what they would eventually get out of their relationship with Jesus. I wonder...are we much different? Am I following Jesus because of what I get out of the arraignment? Am I a Christian so that I can sacrifice my life...my desires...my will...my time...my money to serve the Kingdom of God...or is it just about feeling good and staying out of hell?
Jesus, obviously, does not agree to do whatever they want him to do without finding out what it is first (Though I'm sure he knew...but he knew a teachable moment when he saw one!). He says, "So what is it you want?" And they answer back, "We want to sit and your left and right hand in your kingdom!" Basically what they are saying is that they want to be intimately involved in the new world order...they want to be the co-vice-presidents of Jesus' Empire. And I'm guessing Jesus hurts for them a little here...they just don't get it...they are entrenched in the power systems of the world and do not understand that his kingdom is so radically different. They actually expect Jesus to lead a revolution against the Romans and to basically take over the entire world and they want to be a huge part of the leadership structure. Jesus quietly says to them, "You don't know what you are asking. Do you really think you can drink the cup that I drink and be baptized as I am going to be baptized?" They excitedly say that they can...but they are still mired in confusion. This is no King's cup overflowing with the finest wines...the cup of Jesus is the cup of sacrifice. It is the cup of betrayal...it is the cup of violence...the cup of torture...the cup of shame...everything that will be poured out on him on the cross. His baptism is not a kingly anointing...it is the baptism of death...he will go into the ground for three days - DEAD...he will be baptized in the wrath of God as he takes on the sins of the world. James and John don't understand any of this, but they will. Jesus says to them, "You are right, you will drink my cup and experience my baptism, but you don't understand God's leadership structure." He knows that his disciples will eventually understand what it means to follow Jesus...they will eventually be killed for their faith in him...the will be baptized with fire and drink the cup of persecution.
And as all the other disciples join in the conversation arguing about who should be the highest authority amongst them in the coming kingdom...Jesus turns the tables on them and describes for them what leadership looks like in the Kingdom of God. You see, God's view of power and strength is completely opposite of the world's understanding of power and strength. These men believed wholly in the power of...might, power, authority, privilege, intelligence, wealth, etc. Jesus shattered their perceptions of strength by telling them that the greatest men and women in the Kingdom of God will be those who were the least. Those who will be seen as leaders in the eyes of God, are the people who considered themselves slaves...the people who relentlessly laid their own desires down to serve those who were around them. The most important members of Jesus' kingdom are those who never consider themselves important...those who focus only on serving God and others with the days that they have...those who are driven by their utter and complete commitment to THE WAY. I'm guessing the arguments of the disciples died away pretty quickly at that point. I'm guessing there was an awkward silence as their worldviews were completely shattered again by the radical Rabbi they had come to follow. How about you and I? Are we clear in our understanding of what authentic Christ-like leadership looks like? Do we boldly ask God to give us strength and wisdom to lead...to preach...to teach...to find success...to achieve...or do we have the guts to ask God to make us less that He might be made even more glorious in our lives?
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