Matthew 20:21-22, “‘[Let] these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and one at your left in your kingdom.’ Jesus answered, ‘You do not know what you ask.’”
Matthew 27:37-38, “‘This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.’ Then two robbers were crucified with Him, one at the right and one at the left.” Short Thoughts:
The law of His Kingdom is self-giving love, and in it, the throne of His glory will be the Servant’s cross….this is what James and John did not understand.
At the cross Matthew calls us to see Christ the King reigning over His kingdom…the kingdom where the great ones serve, and the greatest of all serves all in the greatest way—namely, giving Himself up, pouring out His life-blood, spending Himself to the uttermost so that He might ransom His enemies from sin and death and wrath and bring them to God as beloved children (Matt.20:28). Yes, the throne of Christ’s kingdom is a throne of service, a throne of self-giving love. The Messianic King, Daniel’s divine Son of Man is Isaiah’s Suffering Servant. Just as Moses prophesied, when the rulers of the people are gathered together their YHWH becomes King in Israel (Deut 33:5)….this is what James and John did not understand, this is what I so often cannot understand….that greatness in Christ’s kingdom is self-giving service to the uttermost.
When a cross of humility, a cross of service, a cross of un-recognized, self-minimizing, other-exalting service is presented to us….may we be given the grace not to shrink from the pain of ego crucified….rather, may we take it up for the love of our Lord, that by it we might—after a fashion—be with Him in His kingdom at His right or His left.
