What Do You Want From Jesus?

Laetare - March 6, 2005

Matthew 20:17-28

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

How many of you understand the mother of the sons of Zebedee? I mean, think about it, she’s just like all mothers. She is only wanting what is best for her sons. She wants them to succeed, to have more and do better than she and Zebedee did. Isn’t that what we all want for our children?

How many of you have gotten to know Pauline, the mother of my children? Can you imagine her at a soccer game with either Nathan or Timothy playing? She’s there on the sidelines, screaming out what to do, shouting encouragement, and I look at her and smile. That’s my wife, I love her. And you think I’m loud?

Nathan and Timothy started wrestling this year. I cannot get to practices because they happen when I have meetings and am teaching Bible Study. Pauline has learned a lot about wrestling this year. You know how I know? Because I have been at wresting meets and she’s there shouting out directions to them, “Slip in the half... OK, now drive him... OK, don’t let him get you, bridge.” In the mean time, I sit there just repeat whatever she says, maybe they’ll hear it if both of us are shouting instructions.

Hey, we just want our boys to be better than we were, to have things we didn’t have. Those of you with school-aged children, I could walk into your homes, go into the kitchen and find the shrine of pride in your home - it’s called the fridge. There are papers there, especially the ones with A’s circled in red, photos of different things, certificates of achievement, all proudly displayed.

How many parents haven’t sat there on the sidelines shouting to send their kid into the game, he can hit, se can field the ball, he can score a touchdown, she’s got the moves on court, and whatever. “Jesus, grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at Your left in Your kingdom.”

I understand where she’s coming from. I know the feelings she is having about her sons. She sees Jesus as a new king. She wants her sons to be there, in the limelight. She wants her sons to share in the power and the glory. And of course, James and John don’t say a word, they let mom do the talking.

We must understand, that from their perspective, this request is not entirely selfish nor is it completely improper. These two men wanted to give themselves entirely into lifelong service to Jesus, so He didn’t rebuke them. Instead, He attempted to show them exactly what the future held for them as servants in His kingdom.

And so, Jesus says, “You don’t know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?”

These two brothers, full of an eager desire to get on with the task of Jesus kingdom, prove they have no clue whatsoever. In all eagerness, they tell Jesus, “we can.”

It is here, in proclaiming they could drink the cup Jesus was about to drink, they prove that they had not a clue. They still didn’t understand what it was all about. They prove that, although Jesus had just explained it to them, they weren’t paying attention.

You know, these men had been with Jesus for three years. They had seen the miracles - healing even those born blind. They had heard the Man preach, with power and authority, even casting out demons. He had made the wind and sea stand still. They felt the swell of approval that Jesus appeared to be riding like a surfer, how the people loved Him. They wanted to be a part of it, the coming of God’s kingdom - glorious and mighty.

But they weren’t listening. Jesus had just taken the twelve aside, including James and John, and said to them “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!”

This is the cup Jesus was going to drink. Could they drink it? What does that mean? Jesus was going to fulfill the prophecies foretold of Messiah. Jesus life and work was about to be brought to fulfillment and completion. The cup that Jesus was to drink was to carry in His perfect flesh the iniquities of us all. That which should have brought us death was about to be laid upon Him so that we might be healed.

Could James and John drink that cup? Could they bear the sins of the world? Could they die in the place of each other to pay the ransom price demanded of their own sins, much less the sins of others? No, they could not! Only Jesus, the perfect, sinless, Lamb of God, could take away the sins of the world.

But, they would drink from Jesus cup. They would suffer. No, not to pay for the sins of others, but they’d pay for following Him and preaching about Him. James and John, as would all the faithful 11, suffer incredible persecution for being His apostles and proclaiming the truth about Christ. All but John would suffer horrific death at the hands of evil men, for their stalwart confession. So yes, they would drink from Christ’s cup - they would suffer for His name. But they could never drink His cup.

What did they want from Jesus? At this point, they were not sure. The other disciples got angry, because they wanted the same things that were requested. They wanted power and glory in this coming kingdom of Jesus. But they didn’t understand it. They were not paying attention to their Teacher.

But, all would be made clear to them on Maundy Thursday when Jesus is arrested - and they scatter to the four winds. Where will they be then? Beneath the cross, will they still want to be on His right and on His left? That is after all, where Jesus takes up His crown and reigns - winning the kingdom of heaven for all believers as He defeats sin and death. Is that what they want from Jesus?

What do you want from Jesus? Do you want power? Do you want glory? You want what you want from Jesus, but what you receive in life is often nothing that you’d like to receive. And so, you believe that it either isn’t from Jesus, or that Jesus should give something different.

Too many today want that even in church. They’d like this to be a praise service. Many would like happy-clappy and excitement. We need to really whoop it up and make a loud and joyful noise to the Lord. But, they also want to do without the cross thing. Get rid of that confession of sins and all the sin and death talk. Too often, most Christians would like to be like James and John, and the rest of the twelve and tune out what Jesus said before their mother made that request. “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!”

Jesus had to drink the cup which the Father set before Him. He needed to take upon Himself our sinful selfishness. It was in His self sacrifice, doing the Father’s will upon the cross, that Jesus frees free James and John, their mother, the rest of the disciples, and all mankind, including you from our sin of selfishly desiring insignificant things from God. Jesus selflessness, is His act of service that frees you and me from our sin. Christ’s life is given as a ransom for many, that is the kingdom He brings.

This is exactly what the disciples would understand, and give their lives in service to God and mankind to proclaim, even to point death. Being a Christian isn’t easy, it is selfless service to Christ and to our fellow man.

Jesus promised that they would drink from His cup, but not as they thought. As they would drink from His cup, they would be given from Jesus, the strength to endure suffering and trials. Yes, they would drink from His cup, suffering even as He did, but the most precious cup Jesus gave them to drink, it is as they drink from the cup in which He gives His own blood - that they might have sins for given and be strengthened to drink from the cup of human woe.

Dear friends, what do you want from Jesus? I pray you desire what He wants to give you - forgiveness, eternal life and salvation. He also wants you to endure the cup of suffering for His name’s sake.

This is why we gather together in worship, for the Son of Man did not come into our midst today to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. That is exactly what He is doing. He has shown you your sins, even as He gives you the benefits of His work as your Savior. Drink from His cup. Receive the cup of blessing that is filled from His riven side, the cup of His blood, shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. Drink and be satisfied, strengthened to endure the cup of woe. Drink and be satisfied, strengthened unto life everlasting. Drink that He might give you His comfort and peace, now and forever more. Amen.

The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

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