Matthew 20:17-28

Matthew 20:17-28

As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem,

he took the Twelve disciples aside by themselves,

and said to them on the way,

“Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem,

and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests

and the scribes,

and they will condemn him to death,

and hand him over to the Gentiles

to be mocked and scourged and crucified,

and he will be raised on the third day.”

Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons

and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something.

He said to her, “What do you wish?”

She answered him,

“Command that these two sons of mine sit,

one at your right and the other at your left, in your kingdom.”

Jesus said in reply,

“You do not know what you are asking.

Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?”

They said to him, “We can.”

He replied,

“My chalice you will indeed drink,

but to sit at my right and at my left,

this is not mine to give

but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”

When the ten heard this,

they became indignant at the two brothers.

But Jesus summoned them and said,

“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them,

and the great ones make their authority over them felt.

But it shall not be so among you.

Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant;

whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.

Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve

and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Opening Prayer: Lord God, you sent your Son to save us and redeem us. He took the form of a servant, humbled himself, and became obedient unto death. And because of this, you greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name. I confess today that your Son, Jesus Christ, is Lord!

Encountering the Word of God

1. The Third Passion Prediction: All three synoptic Gospels – Matthew, Mark, and Luke – contain three passion predictions on the way to Jerusalem. These predictions occurred after Peter confessed Jesus as the Messiah. By speaking frequently about his destiny in Jerusalem, Jesus made sure that his disciples did not have a false view of the Messiah. He redefines messiahship as involving suffering, rejection, death, and resurrection rather than political triumph or military victory. Jesus was not a victim of circumstances, but willingly embraced suffering and death as part of his Father’s plan. Jesus conquers not through military power, but through loving sacrifice and obedient suffering.

2. My Chalice: This understanding of the Messiah was met with some resistance. After the first passion prediction (Matthew 16:21), Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him, saying that “no such thing shall ever happen to you” (Matthew 16:22). And Jesus pointed out to Peter that he was thinking in merely human terms, and not as God does. After the second passion prediction (Matthew 17:22-23), the disciples were overwhelmed with grief. After the third passion prediction (Matthew 20:17-19), two of Jesus’ disciples jockey for positions in the kingdom of God. Little do they know or truly understand what reigning in the Kingdom of God looks like. And Jesus doesn’t hold back and offers his disciples to drink from his chalice of suffering. If Jesus reigns from the Cross, then his followers will also share in his reign through the Cross. 

3. Ransom for Many: Jesus speaks about giving his life as a ransom (lutron) for many. A “ransom” was the price paid to secure the release or redemption of a slave, a captive, or someone in bondage. Jesus’ life – his death on the cross – becomes the payment that liberates people from bondage. The notion of a “ransom” is also connected to the Exodus: God ransomed Israel from slavery to Pharaoh and led them home to the Promised Land. Jesus will ransom humanity from slavery, not from slavery to Pharaoh but from slavery to sin and death. Jesus comes as the Son of Man to inaugurate a new Exodus that will lead us to the heavenly Promised Land. He will not be a tyrant king, but a servant king. He will serve his people by dying. He invites us to enjoy the greatness of eternal life by serving our brothers and sisters. In this way, we share in the redemptive work of Christ. 

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, help me to embrace your invitation to humble service. I want to enjoy eternal life with you and will follow in your footsteps. Lead me and guide me with your Spirit this day.

Living the Word of God: How is God inviting me to embrace suffering in my life? Have I focused too much effort on a life of comfort rather than a life of service? How can I be more detached from worldly things and alleviate the sufferings of those around me this Lent?