The FaithOfJesus2 Daily Devotional

Focus:

kjv@Revelation:14:12 @ Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

( FaithOfJesus thread begun by rRandyP )

Today's Verse:

kjv@Matthew:20:20-28

kjv@Matthew:20:20 @ Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.

kjv@Matthew:20:21 @ And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.

kjv@Matthew:20:22 @ But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.

kjv@Matthew:20:23 @ And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.

kjv@Matthew:20:24 @ And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.

kjv@Matthew:20:25 @ But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.

kjv@Matthew:20:26 @ But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;

kjv@Matthew:20:27 @ And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:

kjv@Matthew:20:28 @ Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Today's notes:A Ransom for Many

Context:

Before - shall be betrayed
After - they cried the more

What is man believing/doing?:

a woman Salome watching out for the welfare of her two sons, seeking major position in the coming kingdom
becoming indignant about the two's request

What is making man to believe/do as he is doing?:

ambition without clearly knowing what such position entails, being of a household well to do enough to have servants, (possibility of Salome being Mary's sister)
given the context of all those having given all to follow receiving a seat on the twelve tribal thrones/first last last first seeing as Lord sees right/few chosen, it seems pretty arrogant to ask for more than all that or to ask for oneself and not for the others

Notes:

There must be something more here than just what the church calls servant leadership. Anyone of any faith can achieve the near identical effect, in fact some personalities seem predisposed to this. The difference appears to be in the model set forth by Christ.

Christ did not submit Himself to doing whatever everyone else needed or wanted; far from it. In everything He was focused on what the Father needed from Him and for the others also, connecting them at every opportunity to their own relationship to the Father and their communion one to another; that which serves truly them best in all facets. Otherwise our service to others is not service to God, but service to human nature.

James final drinking of the cup kjv@Acts:12:1-2

Key Messages:

What does this say about our present condition?

Leadership is commonly viewed as taking control, taking authority, exercising dominion over. Very few have such power, it is more typically set as the strength of determination of one's will over a situation above another's, thus becomes a battle of wills. Alliance and consolidation become all important the larger the project as does in many cases the willingness to put down opposition.
The Church itself is no place for such control most certainly; though this is where it appears to be exerted the most. In the history of the Church it's darkest moments have come at the hand of one side getting over on the other, enforcing it's will upon another. The history of local churches much more frequented. Perhaps simply the congregation is a draw to such types. Perhaps the exercise is a breeding ground for such anticipated measure. Both the assumed leader and the indignant have much to learn from so stately an example as Christ's.
Ambition in its own right is never wrong and should not be discouraged. That said, it is almost always misdirected and mis-proportioned , the sure sign of it seen in a fellow servant's indignation. Ambition instead needs to be re channeled and refocused incrementally and continually.

Further Resources:

Comment Board:Matthew:20:20-28
index:FAITHOFJESUSDEVOTION - Devotional Index
strkjv@Matthew:20:20-28 rwp@Matthew:20:20-28 mhcc@Matthew:20:20-28
FaithOfJesus2 - Devotion Index

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