Matthew 20:17-28
17 And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, 18 “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death 19 and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.”
20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. 21 And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” 22 Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” 23 He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” 24 And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. 25 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. 26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. 2001 (Mt 20:17–28). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
Jesus is going up to Jerusalem in order to be betrayed into the hands of sinners. The Mother of the sons of Zebedee seems to almost know Jesus will be coming into his kingdom soon. Jesus is headed to be crucified and die for the forgiveness of sins. This connection is very interesting for us to understand.
It is very interesting to put this text together. Jesus talks about his future death. Jesus is approached by the Mother of two of his disciples. She asks him to have her sons sit with him when he enters into his kingdom. He says they must drink the same cup he will drink. This same cup he asks to be taken from him, when he prays to the Father in the Garden. Jesus will enter his Kingdom with one on his right and one on his Left. These two men will be crucified with him.
Jesus Christ enters into his kingdom when he dies on the cross. Jesus reminds his disciples that the Kingdom is not about authority or power. The Kingdom of God is about being saved from death. The Son of Man goes to be killed so that others may have life. Christ died so that you may have life everlasting.
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