Apostles, Pt. 12: "To Be Like Jesus"

TO BE LIKE JESUS (MATTHEW 20:17-28)
How many of you thought Hillary would certainly run for the presidency before 2007? Would you run for presidency after you have had eight long years in the White House with a spouse who confessed to an “inappropriate relationship” with a young White House intern and been impeached on counts of perjury and obstruction of justice? On top of that, your spouse finally admitted to an affair with a woman (Gennifer Flowers) who claimed she was his lover for twelve years and another woman (Paula Jones) who had filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against him. Would you welcome the headache, the media and the scrutiny again?

When my wife and I were speculating whether Hillary Clinton would run a presidential candidate, she said with firm conviction, “For sure.” I shook my head in disbelief, “No way.”

An old CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll reveals that only 16 percent of respondents said they would “definitely” vote for Hillary Clinton, while 51 percent said they would definitely not. She even once lost in the poll to Condoleezza Rice, a woman who has made it crystal clear that she has no intention of running for president.

I must finally admit she was right and I was wrong. Even my good friend Michael Wu said she would run. In retrospect Wu said: “I am not a prophet nor a son of a prophet, but my gut feeling was that she was an ambitious lady who would climb to the top of the social ladder if she sees the possibility.”

Henry Kissinger once remarked that power is the most potent aphrodisiac.

The first time the disciples heard that Jesus would be betrayed into the hands of men – 3 chapters ago - in Galilee, they were filled with grief. (Matt 17:22-23)
Now the stakes were higher, he was going up to Jerusalem (v 17). Before, Jesus told them that he would be betrayed and killed (Matt 17:22-23); now he revealed more but with less results: he will be “condemned to death… mocked and flogged and crucified.” (vv 18-19) For the first time Jesus revealed his “condemnation to death,” “mocking” and “flogging.” Further, the Greek word “crucify” occurs for the first time in the Bible.

Regardless of how urgent Jesus was, the disciples were indifferent, nonchalant, if not worse. Not only did the disciples not grief this time, two of them had ideas on their mind and up their sleeves. They thought of going to Jerusalem for political power, to reap favors and to cement connections.

Why does power have such a pull on people? Why do people want more and more power supply? Why do people rush in to fill a power vacuum? What is the alternative to power and ambition?

Live a Life of Simplicity, Not Show
20 Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. 21 “What is it you want?” he asked. She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.” (Matt 20:20-21)

A wealthy businessman was horrified to see a fisherman sitting beside his boat, playing with a small child.

“Why aren't you out fishing?” asked the businessman.

“Because I caught enough fish for one day, “replied the fisherman.

“Why don't you catch some more?”

“What would I do with them?”

“You could earn more money,” said the businessman. “Then with the extra money, you could buy a bigger boat, go into deeper waters, and catch more fish. Then you would make enough money to buy nylon nets. With the nets, you could catch even more fish and make more money. With that money you could own two boats, maybe three boats. Eventually you could have a whole fleet of boats and be rich like me.”

“Then what would I do?” asked the fisherman.

“Then,” said the businessman, “you could really enjoy life.”

The fisherman looked at the businessman quizzically and asked, “What do you think I am doing now?”

Mama Zebedee was a most interesting character to study. She was one of the women who had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs (Matt 27:55-56), so she knew as much as anyone they were on the way to Jerusalem and that now was as good a time as any to make her move. The Jewish mother was a force to be reckoned with, a proud mother, a heavyweight contender and a tough negotiator Jesus could do without. A mother of mothers that only mothers could be proud of, she had done her math and knew there was not enough room for Peter, James and John by both sides of Jesus and that sitting in front of or behind Jesus was rude, uncomfortable and embarrassing. Further, the family of three had contributed to the needs and ministry of Jesus more than any family, so she was entitled to a good turn.

Mrs. Zebedee took it upon herself to lend a hand, to make a point, to throw her weight and voice her support not for herself or Jesus, but for her sons. She was not shy or apologetic about making her opinion known, cutting to the chase and hurting other people’s feelings. To add drama to her cause and flair to her Oscar-winning performance, she knelt down in worship before asking him the favor. The word “kneel down” (v 20) is the traditional Greek for “worship” (proskunueo). As I have often say, Matthew is the gospel of worship; the word “worship” occurs 13 times in Matthew, more than the two occurrences in Mark and Luke and the 11 times in John. The only New Testament book with more references to worship is Revelation. Do you know Mama Zebedee worshipped Jesus even before the first time the disciples had done the same, which was after the resurrection (Matt 28:9, 28:17)?

Jesus was not mad at the flakiness, the melodrama and the superficiality of it all in her performance; and at no time and in no way did he reproach her approach because she, in a way, got it right because He was now on the way to Jerusalem to usher in His kingdom and fulfill God’s plan of redemption, and she simply wanted to cash in her double coupons on both sons. Her primetime performance and plea were touching and urgent enough that Jesus had to ask her what was her request. Yet Jesus was taken back by her audacity to ask for something she had no idea its cost.

Live a Life of Selflessness, Not Strife
22 “You don't know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” “We can,” they answered.
23 Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.” 24 When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. (Matt 20:22-24)

When I was young, older people and family adults would sarcastically chide kids like us for being ignorant about the cost of living: “Eat rice not knowing its cost吃米不知米價!”

So let me give you a test on how much you know, especially for the youth:
Do you know how much it cost at Ralphs with club price (3/24/07) :
Broccoli - $2 per lb
Roma tomatoes - $1.50 per lb.
Chicken breast $1.99, save $1!
Fresh center cut pork loin chops - $4.29, save $1
Eye of round steak or roast - $3.99
Large cooked shrimp - $6.99
Naturally preferred cage free white eggs – 2.50
12” DiGiorno Pizza $4.99
Mountain Dairy Gallon Milk 2% Reduced Fat or 1% Lowfat $2.35;
Sockeye Salmon Fillet $6.99 lb.
64 oz Minute Maid Premium Orange Juice. $3
Per gallon of gas? $3.09 this week at Corona’s 79 gas station
An oz. of gold? US$655.40
Cell phones per month?
Cable and internet monthly bill? We pay $99 per month for both
Median home price in Los Angeles County - $616,230

Do you know what it costs James and John, especially James whose name was listed first before John in 20 but one (Luke 9:28) instances in the Bible? James was the first apostle to die of martyrdom, put to death with the sword at the hands of Herod (Acts 12:1-2). Jesus said status, seniority and superiority in His kingdom is not for us to ask or choose. God is fair, objective, just, wise and knowledgeable. The reaction from the other disciples were not that kind. They were furious, fuming and frustrated. The Greek word “indignant” (v 24) occurs only seven times in the Bible. That was how Jesus felt when he saw disciples preventing children hindered from coming to him (Mark 10:14) and how the chief priests and the teachers of the law felt when they saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, “Hosanna to the Son of David” (Matt 21:14-15) and His healing on the Sabbath (Luke 13:14).

Matthew and Mark’s account (10:41) both note that the other ten disciples were indignant with James and John. Indignation was a grievous feeling the disciples would express at defenseless women and complete outsiders like the woman who anointed Jesus’ head with perfume. The disciples ganged up on her reacted with unrighteous indignation at the thought of the woman wasting more than a year's wages of “very expensive perfume” on Jesus (Matt 26:8, Mark 14:4). However, this was the first time the disciples turned on one another – with a vengeance.

The thinly-veiled cord of unity was about to break. Accord turned into discord, treaty into mistreatment, oneness into oddness. The ten were jealous, resentful and “small-winded.” They could not believe James and John were so crass, low and sneaky to bring in their mama, especially since the two had idealistically left father Zebedee and boat (Matt 4:22) to follow Jesus. What made them angrier and madder was their “we can” (v 22) answer to Jesus question. They were supposed to say “Gee, Mom” followed by “This is so embarrassing,” “Thanks for ruining my life” and “Where can I hide my face?” It goes to show that it was not all Mama’s idea or fault. They were harboring ambition in their midst for a long time without saying it. Their “Yes we can” answer shows they knew and they concurred; they were on board, had a part and had no shame.

Live a Life of Service, Not Supremacy
25 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave- 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matt 20:25-28)

Basketball players generally try to stay as far away as possible from anything having to do with zero. A goose egg is the ultimate sign of futility and loss, representing zero points, rebounds, assists and minutes. In the N.B.A., No. 0 and No. 00 used to be reserved for the league’s goofballs and contrarians. In college, it was often not available.

Lately, however, more college basketball players are wearing the number zero on their jersey out of choice because they believe they are viewed as zeros. The number 0 or 00 that was previously assigned mainly to mascots is now a common motivation for underrated players. These players played anywhere from around a minute a game to a full game. A 0-type player says, “No matter who you are, wearing the number means something. It means that you’ve got to be more than a zero.” Zero is a strange and disturbing choice for a jersey number, and by selecting it, a player seems to imply that he has no tangible value, that he is worthless, a total non-factor. But the zero’s negative connotation has actually become a popular number and motivation. Players do not choose the number because they lack confidence, but because they believe others lack confidence in them. They believe they are viewed as zeros.

Washington Wizards’ Gilbert Arenas has done more for No. 0 than anyone in NBA. He chose the number as a freshman at the University of Arizona, after hearing that he would play zero minutes for the Wildcats. “The zero is a powerful statement,” said Arenas, the guard. “It is for anybody who feels unappreciated or feels like somebody is telling them that they are worth nothing.” (“The Value of Zero Is Increasing,” New York Times, March 15, 2007)

What is the cup Jesus was about to drink? When Jesus was in the garden of Gethsemane he prayed twice to the Father for the cup to be taken from him (Matt 26:39, 42, Mark 14:36, Luke 22:42). Ray Stedman says it is the “cup of agony and terrible separation.”

Jesus did not call us to deny our personality or to turn our backs on people we love, but to turn our backs on prestige, power and prominence. We must be unlike the rulers of the Gentiles who “lord it over” their subjects, and their high officials who “exercise authority over” them” (Matt 20:25) – both come with the Greek preposition “over.” Jesus did the opposite – He gave his life as a “ransom” (v 28) for many – only instance Jesus and the Bible ever used this word, repeated for the same account in Mark 10:45. The apostles asked for a management position, but Jesus gave them a ministerial place; they preferred honor, Jesus offered humility. They wanted superiority, Jesus demanded surrender; they looked for glory and greatness, Jesus looked for genuineness and goodness.

Jesus was so straightforward and strong in His words. The Greek rendition is: “whoever among you will to be great (megas) will be your servant (diakonos) and whosoever among you will be chief (protos – from prototype: first of its kind) will be your doulos.” Jesus advanced from “megas” to “protos,” and from “diakonos’ to “doulos/slave.” There are other “greats” in the world but only one “chief” and if you desire to be chief, you will have to progress from diakonos to doulos. A slave is unlike and worse than a servant. A slave not only does menial, lowly things, he is owned and has no rights. A servant is inferior, but a slave is nothing. His value is defined and by his master.

Conclusion: Do you want to be great in the world’s eyes or in God’s eyes? Power comes with responsibility, humility and charity/love. Are you following Christ in the path of sacrifice, self-denial and even suffering rather than success and significance? Do you follow Him unconditionally and unreservedly?