April 11, 2025
Daily Devotion:
"Ransom for Many"
Matthew 20:20-22
20 Then the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus with her sons. She knelt respectfully to ask a favor. 21 “What is your request?” he asked. She replied,“In your Kingdom, please let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.” 22 But Jesus answered by saying to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from thebitter cup of suffering I am about to drink?” “Oh yes,” they replied, “we are able!”
In this passage, the mother of the sons of Zebedee approaches Jesus with a request for her sons to sit at His right and left in His kingdom. Jesus responds by asking if they are able to drink the cup He is about to drink, referring to His forthcoming suffering and sacrifice. They confidently affirm they can. Jesus then explains that such positions are not His to grant, but rather for those for whom it has been prepared by the Father.
Jesus uses this request as a teaching moment for His disciples, emphasizing that greatness in God’s kingdomis not measured by power or status, but through servanthood. He summarizes this by declaring that the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.
1.Understanding Greatness: Reflect on what "greatness" truly means in the context of the Kingdom of God. Jesus redefines success and leadership as serving others rather than seeking to control or lord over them.
2. The Cup of Suffering: Consider what it means to share in Christ’s suffering. Just as James and John proclaimed their willingness, think about how we might respond to God's call in our lives that requires sacrifice or enduring hardship for the sake of the gospel.
3. The Call to Serve Jesus' call to servanthood is transformative. Meditate on practical ways to serve others in your community. How can you embody Christ's servant heart in everyday interactions?
4. God’s Authority: Recognize the sovereignty of God in distributing roles and callings within His kingdom. Trust in His plan for your life and the lives of others, even when they differ from your expectations.
