A Mother's Heart

Mt. 20:25-28

But Jesus called them to him and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,  and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Salome, the mother of the sons of Zebedee, came straight to Jesus with her desires. In that respect, her asking was good. She knew where to go, and she went undeterred. Certainly, from a human standpoint what she was asking was a normal mother request. What mother doesn't want her child to excel and rise to the top? However, Jesus explained to her that she really didn't understand the issues. Not only was she was asking for something that He could not grant, something that was decided by the Father's sovereign will and plan, but it was something that had far reaching effects. Her request seemed to spread unrest and created a ripple effect in the group. Many of the others were indignant. I mean after all they were disciples as well! What a great example of the flesh claiming its rights, the rights of a mother, the rights of the good friends, and the rights of the entire group. But all of them were missing the principles of the kingdom. 

Jesus explained that this seeking for favor and advancement was the way of the Gentiles and the way of the kingdom of God was drastically different; in fact, the kingdom way was and still is the exact opposite. If a follower is to be great in the kingdom of God, he or she must be a servant (that goes for mothers and disciples). Whoever would be first must be last, even as Jesus came not to be served but to serve and to give His life a ransom for many. I wonder if they could grasp at all what he was saying since he had not yet died. What a startling and revolutionary idea! I need to seek to be last, to serve instead of being recognized and applauded. How hard it is to buy into this idea! Still today within the church, the body of Christ, disciples vie over position and praise. Even though we look back to the Crucifixion and the resurrection, possess the living Word of God in all its power, and have the
unlimited resources of grace and the Spirit of God, we still want people to notice us and give us a pat on the back. How strong is the flesh! How insidious is the pull of Satan to defeat us in our very core!

Father,
Teach me Your kingdom way and reveal my heart to myself. Expose those roots of self that are tangled and entrenched deep in the dark corners of my heart. Root out that sin and give me Your grace to serve others unreservedly.
In the name of my Serving Savior,
Amen