Yesterday, we began a discussion about the attitude necessary for ministering in the Kingdom of God.
 
We saw the disciples struggling over greatness when they came to Jesus and asked him, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” (Matthew 18:1-4).
 
Actually, as Mark explains it, they were arguing like little children over which one of them was the greatest…
Mark 9:33–34 (NIV)
33 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” 34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.
 
Of course, they all would acknowledge that Jesus was the greatest, but they wanted to be next in line for greatness.  That would mean that they would be sitting on each side of Jesus when the kingdom was fully established.  That desire was so great that the brothers, James and John, manipulated their mother in to asking Jesus to grant them those positions.
 
Matthew 20:20–24 (NIV)
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.” 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.
 
The mother of James and John wanted what she thought was the very best for them: Fame, Power, Influence, Center-stage, Prominence.
 
This led her to an attempt to manipulate Jesus (note the phrase, “kneeling down.”)
 
Clearly, she was being used by her sons. When she was speaking, all Jesus heard was James and John talking through her. Jesus knew that mom was a mouthpiece for her sons. We know this because Jesus never answered their mother.  Instead, He looked right past her and spoke to the brothers. (Note Jesus’ response, “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them.)
 
Mark validates this because when he wrote about this incident, he doesn’t even mention their mother.
Mark 10:35–37 (NIV)
35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” 36 “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. 37 They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”
 
Mark goes straight to what was really happening. These two brothers were trying to get an upper hand over the other disciples. 
 
Talk about sowing division among the brothers…
Matthew 20:24 (NIV)
When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers.
 
Of course, the only reason the other ten were indignant was that they hadn’t thought of asking first.
 
With everyone mad at everyone, this led Jesus to have to have a straight talk with all of them.
Matthew 20:25–28 (NIV)
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.”
 
If you are normal, you want to achieve greatness in some things: as a mom or dad, in your work, in your hobbies, in your character, in sports, in certain projects, in your church, etc.
 
I want to be a great pastor and leader.  I want to preach great sermons. 
 
A desire for greatness is very natural.  It reflects the image of God within us. There’s nothing wrong with a desire of greatness as long as our desire for greatness is measured Jesus’ way.
 
Jesus points out that there are two view of greatness:
      1. The world’s view of greatness.
      2. The Lord’s view of greatness.
 
We will look at these in detail tomorrow.