True greatness

And turn if you go to Matthew 20. Matthew chapter 20, that's page 825 in the Church Bible. Matthew chapter 20.

Matthew 20 · chapter mention Matthew 20 · chapter mention

! I'm going to look at verses 17 to 34.

When it comes to greatness,

there's one man that comes into my mind, and I expect it comes into many of your minds.

He's the three-time heavyweight boxing champion, Cassius Clay, or we might know him as Muhammad Ali.

Do you remember him? He had five career losses, 56 wins, 37 of those were knockouts.

The sports illustrators, BBC, Laureus, they needed to be named the greatest sportsman of the 20th century.

What was his catchphrase?

I am the greatest, wasn't it?

I am the greatest, that's exactly right.

He would speak about how great he was.

He would build himself up.

So listen to some of his quotes.

It's hard to be humble when you're as great as I am.

I'm not the greatest, I'm the double greatest.

Not only do I knock them out, but I kick them around.

His autobiography was imaginatively called the greatest in his own words.

Cassius Clay was a man on a mission.

A mission to be the greatest boxer in this world has ever seen.

And in Matthew 20 we come across another man on a mission.

Another candidate for greatness.

Like Cassius Clay, he was great.

Like Cassius Clay, he had profound things to say that people around him didn't like.

But his mission could not have been more different.

His closest followers identify him, this man, as the promised ruler of the world.

And they say, Jesus, you are the holder of the keys to the kingdom of heaven.

You let me live.

You're the one who can give entry.

You are the very son of God.

And that is who his followers think he is.

But this is how Jesus outlines his mission.

His mission.

And look at verse 18, you see.

Jesus says in Matthew 20, 18.

We are going up to Jerusalem.

And the Son of Man, that's his way of describing himself, will be delivered over the chief priests and scribes.

And they will condemn him to death.

They'll deliver him over the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified.

And he will be raised on the third day.

To see greatness for Jesus looks very, very different, doesn't it?

And the Jews, his own people, they are about to condemn him to death.

Not because he did anything wrong, but because he offended them.

Because he caused them problems.

They're not very followers, are they?

And in order to keep the peace of the Romans through the ignition of the time,

they mock him, they flog him, and they will publicly execute him.

They'll nail his hands and his feet to a plank of wood.

They'll hoist his naked body into the air for all to see a criminal's death.

And so Muhammad Ali, he punches the air.

He stands on his arms aloft.

And Muhammad Ali says, I am the greatest.

But the Lord Jesus allowed his arms to be nailed to the cross for us.

And so let me ask you, what's your idea of greatness?

What is your idea this morning of greatness?

Jesus has barely finished explaining how he's going to pour out his life,

how he'll be crucified,

when the mother of James and John, two of his closest followers,

comes up to Jesus.

She's got a sore sore on her knees.

She's looking for a fever.

She's dragged her two sons,

slightly embarrassed, I think, with her.

And if you thought pushing pear in the sleep room was the thing of today,

don't be mistaken.

So here is James and John's mum coming up,

saying, I want something for my sons.

Jesus says to her, what is it that you want?

And she says literally this, promise me.

Promise, she says.

You know, it's like when somebody asks you to promise something

before they tell you what it is.

That's so that you'll say yes on the spot.

Promise me this.

Say that.

Verse 21.

One of my sons, these two sons of mine,

one of them is able to sit at your right hand,

and the other on your left at the kingdom.

Do you remember what Jesus said he's going to do?

Remember what he said he's going to do when he gets to Jerusalem?

He said, I will pour out my life.

I will be crucified.

But all the disciples could think of as their position in the coming kingdom.

Now it's true, in the previous chapter we looked at a few weeks ago,

that Jesus had told the twelve disciples they would have a special place.

Chapter 19, verse 28.

Truly I say to you, in the new world,

when the son of man will sit on his glorious throne,

you who followed me will also sit on twelve thrones,

judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

And everyone who's left,

or brothers, or sisters, or father,

or mother, or children, or lands, for my name's sake,

they'll receive a hundredfold,

and they'll inherit a certain life.

And the many who are first will be last,

and the last first.

You see, that's all they heard.

The one of the disciples heard,

there's something in it for them.

They are like moths,

spellbound by a great light,

flapping around,

they're not able to see anything else.

They're totally oblivious to what Jesus says about death.

All they can see is,

I'm going to get some glory,

and it will be awesome.

And Jesus is saying,

the first shall be last,

and the last shall be first.

And he is living it out, isn't he?

That Jesus is about to pour out his life.

He's about to become the last.

So that others can become the first.

But all the apostles are doing,

is they are worrying that they get the first place.

They've completely misunderstood the mission of Jesus.

You don't know what you're asking Jesus as to the Lord.

Are you able to drink the cup that I will drink?

So the disciples, they think, don't they,

that glory and greatness

come from political positions.

From kind of worldly power,

and conquest,

and lofty schemes.

That's what's in their minds.

Ruling and reigning.

That's what is in their minds about what Jesus is going to do,

despite what he said.

But the cup that Jesus is speaking of in this passage,

it's not the kind of,

the royal silverware.

It's not the royal doulton that you have in a special box.

It's not high tea condiments

that you need.

When Jesus speaks about a cup here,

he's using a figure of speech,

an Old Testament picture.

A picture of God

pouring out his judgment on the world

because they are in rebellion against him.

And it's a serious issue.

And Jesus says,

I'm about to drink that cup.

I'm about to drink the cup of God's anger

against what you and I have done.

Against how you and I have rebelled against him

and lived without a thought frame.

And that drink is about to be poured out

into Jesus' mouth.

James and John,

do you really think you're able to drink the cup

from which I'm about to drink?

And ironically,

the brothers say,

well, we are.

We are able.

And they don't know what they're asking.

They've got no idea.

But Jesus knows, doesn't he?

He knows the massiveness

of what is about to go on

in the next few years.

He knows that James will be

the first apostle to die.

He knows that King Herod

will cut his throat

of the sword

for being a follower of Jesus.

He knows that John

will live a long life,

a long life of persecution

and suffering,

exiled to an island called Patmos.

Where he has a life

which is suffering for the gospel.

And so Jesus is like,

doesn't he?

Verse 23,

if you look at this.

He says,

you will indeed.

You will drink my cup.

But to sit at my right hand

and my left is not for mine to grant,

but it is for those

for whom it is to be prepared

by the Father.

Now,

I want you to notice something here.

Do notice,

Jesus doesn't compliment

our mission.

He doesn't say anything

about their desire for greatness.

Instead,

what he does here

is,

he says,

if you want to share

in his glory,

then you have to share

in his suffering.

Let me say that again.

If you want to share

in Jesus' glory,

then you need to share

in his suffering.

Who sits at the right hand

and the left hand

for Jesus

is irrelevant.

He's not coming to sell

box seats in his kingdom.

He's coming to make his kingdom.

And he does that

by drinking the cup

of God's anger,

of God's judgment,

so that you and I

don't need Jesus.

By exhausting

the penalty

that we deserve

by dying on the cross

in our place.

And in this long,

before the other ten

disciples get wind

of what James and John

and their man had asked,

they hear that

James and John

are asking

for the plush seats

in the kingdom.

So Matthew tells us

in verse 24,

when the ten

heard about it,

they were indignant

at the two brothers.

They were furious.

And you think

that they would be angry

at James and John.

You've just not

got it, boys.

You've just not

understood it.

What the kingdom is like.

But it's nothing

like that at all.

They are furious

that they didn't get it first.

They figure that

they've missed out

on the best tickets.

That James and John

have jumped the gun

and now they're going

to have to settle

third and fourth

and fifth place.

And so Jesus

calls them over

and he sets the record straight.

And he explains

how this world works.

And he says

in this world

rulers dominate.

Men of high position

they exercise power.

That is how the world

works, isn't it?

Greatness in this world

is about status.

It's about having people

under you.

It's about calling

the shots

and being able

to do whatever

you want.

It's about being

better than anybody else.

whether that's

in your business.

Whether that's

better than your neighbours.

Whether that's

better than your friends.

That's what greatness is.

But Jesus says

not so

with you.

Verse 26

it shall not be so

among you.

It shall not be so

among you.

I want us to be

really careful here.

I think we need

to be careful

because Jesus

is not saying

that greatness

is wrong.

Greatness

is not wrong.

We were made

to be great.

The Bible says

that every human being

was made in the image

of God.

The Bible says

that every human being

has been crowned

with glory and honour.

And we are

the greatest

of God's creation.

for the New Testament

tells us

for those of us

who follow Jesus

that we now

are seated

in the heavenly realms

with Jesus Christ.

We have an inheritance

that never perishes

or spoils or fakes

and is kept in heaven

for us.

The Bible says

to the New Testament

Christians

it says

we will rule the world

with Christ.

We will judge the world.

We will share

in the inheritance

of God's own son.

We will be called

children of the

creator of the universe.

He will call us

as sons

and daughters.

And so

human beings

striving for greatness

that there is

inside of every human being

and you look at our culture

and it's there

isn't it?

That is not wrong.

There's nothing wrong

with greatness.

You strive for it.

You don't have to be

embarrassed about it.

Because greatness

is not the problem.

The problem is

how we get there.

that's the issue.

I've only already

wanted to follow

this sermon.

And this is the point.

It's true greatness

comes from service.

True greatness

comes from service.

That's what Jesus

showed us.

Look at verse 26.

Whoever would be

great among you

must be your servant.

must be

a slave.

And whoever would be

first in man

you must be your slave

even as the son of man

again that's referring to

Jesus

came not to be served

but to serve

and to give his life

as a ransom for money.

And Jesus takes this

worldview of greatness

and he just turns it

on his head.

He shows us that

the way that we

picture greatness

is just the wrong

way round.

So greatness in the world

works like this

doesn't it?

We strive for

greatness.

It goes like that.

But he says

greatness in my kingdom

goes the exact

opposite way.

It goes down.

The greatest

will be the slave.

Greatness is about

being a servant.

It's about being

a slave to others.

Now let's think

about that for a moment.

Let's think

how do men work?

How do guys work?

Well the way we

take a lot

comes down to

power and status.

Doesn't it?

So the first question

when I walk into

a room full of guys

the first question

I ask when I meet

someone I haven't

seen in a while

is

what do you do

with yourself

these days?

What are you up to

now?

I want to know

how I fit

how I compare

to them.

I want to know

if their job

is better than

my job.

I want to know

if they earn

more money

than I do.

I want to know

who's the greatest.

I think we

would struggle

with this

in a similar

but different

way.

How many times

do you think

to yourself

do I look

as fat as her?

Do I look

as skinny as her?

Am I that short?

Or what about

if you've got kids?

At least our

kids don't behave

as badly as

so and so's kids.

There's so many

ways we do it

aren't there?

So many ways

that actually

we don't like

to repent.

We compare

we build

ourselves up

and we say

we aren't

great.

You want to be

great says

Jesus?

Be a slave.

Be a slave.

Such sharp

language.

It's so you

can get through

the disciples

thick skulls

and you can

get it through

my thick skull.

And there's

no romance

is there?

There's no

prestige.

There's no

power in

being a slave.

You've not

got control

of it.

You are

serving.

You are

pouring yourself

out to love

others.

You're doing

things that

don't benefit

you but

benefit others.

You're doing

it just like

Jesus did.

Jesus didn't

do it to

build himself

up.

But to

pour himself

out to

those he

loved.

Not so he

felt comfortable.

Not so that

he felt he

got his

desires but

so that he

could sue

others.

That is

too

greatness but

it's not

easy is it?

It's not

easy being

a slave.

And as I

try to

think through

what is

it that

makes it

so hard

I think

it comes

down to

this.

It comes

down to

the one

sin.

The base

sin.

And it's

a sin of

pride.

That I

want others

to see me

as great

for who I

am.

So I

don't want

to serve

others.

one of

the

reformers

said

really

helpful.

That pride

was the

undergarment

of sin.

It's the

first thing

we put on

as Christians

and it's

the last

thing we

take off.

It's like

a vest in

winter.

It's the

first thing

you put on

in the

morning and

the last

thing you

take off

at night.

It sits

there

festering

away.

Amongst

everything

we do

and it's

a hard

one to

kick

isn't it?

And so

we need

to watch

our pride.

We need

to admit

it.

But I

have to

say that

as I

thought more

about this

this church

is full

of greatness.

Look

around you.

You've

got people

who selflessly

hear

coming early

who run

rotas

who

give up

their

time on

Thursdays

so

children

can learn

about

the

Lord

Jesus.

People

sitting

next to

you

who

spend

their

time

preparing

lessons

to teach

English

as a

second

language

and get

the Bible

open.

People

who open

up their

homes to

visitors

and strangers

even when

they're

tired

and

exhausted.

people

who come

to a

parent

toddler

group

on a

Monday

morning

when it's

the last

thing they

want to.

People

committed

to serving

the church

week in

week out

year in

year out

decade in

decade out.

Families

that cut

back so

that they

could give

sacrificially

to the

church.

Families

that stay

in a

smaller

house

in the

Ealing

area

instead of

being able

to move

to the

leafy

countryside

and have

a great

larger

house

and a

better

stop

to

live in.

Folk

who

put their

hand up

again and

again.

Friends

who look

out for

one another

and call

one another

up and

text one

another

when the

chips

are down.

Who

go out

and enjoy

one another's

company.

Not because

it's good

for them

but because

they want

to serve

each other.

And so

when I look

around and

as I think

of the

church this

morning I

see a

church full

of greatness.

A church

where people

do serve

one another

actually in

a great

way.

The other

are still

things out

that get

in the

way of

our

greatness.

There are

still little

things that

hold us

back from

serving.

as a

minister of

this

church

that very

title is

supposed to

mean servant.

And yet we

all know

can't we

that that

can be a

way of

holding power

and authority

in a way

that's very

very unhelpful.

I'm not

saying that

authority is

bad but I

am saying

that you

can use

your title

to get

your

greatness.

And

whatever

title we

have we

must find

our

greatness

not in

that.

But our

greatness

should be

derived from

our serving

others.

That's what

it means

to be a

leader.

And then

as servant

hearted

people we

find ourselves

often

serving only

those who

are attractive.

I don't

mean that

in a physical

sense though

that is

possible

isn't it?

But we

can find it

easy to

serve some

people.

It struck

me that

Jesus didn't

say serve

the people

that you

like being

around.

And he

didn't say

serve the

ones that

you're

well with.

And he

didn't say

serve the

people just

like you

or people

that have

the same

background

as you

or serve

the people

that wear

the same

kind of

clothes

as you

or serve

the people

of the same

kind of

parenting

style as

you

or the

ones who

have a

good sense

of humour

and you

get on

well with.

So let's

call it

speed to

speed.

Do you

know why

it's hard

to serve

other people

who are

not like

us?

Because deep

down we

think we're

better than

them.

We

actually think

more important

or significant

that it

doesn't

actually

matter if

I don't

look after

or serve

this person

or that

person.

Sometimes

the wrong

isn't just

us despising

others and

thinking we're

better than

others but it's

exactly the

opposite.

We look around

and we see the

gifts of other

people.

We see their

intelligence,

their way with

people, how good

they are with

people and we

draw comparisons

and we feel

so inferior.

And then we

just back out

of services

altogether.

We back out

of relationships

because I'm

not as good

as that.

I couldn't

possibly do

that.

Do you want

to break free

from those

ways this

morning?

Then take

a risk.

Serve

someone.

Don't worry

about what

they're going

to think,

what they're

going to say

about you

or what

they think

you think

about them.

just serve

them.

Look at the

example of

our Saviour

we follow in

his footsteps.

You see the

last weapon

against the

problem of

pride that

we see in

this passage

I think is

the Lord

Jesus.

He is the

greatest one

of all.

He is the

one who

spoke and

things came

into being.

He's the

one who

sustains

all things.

So our

comes and

thanks for

Muhammad Ali

is great.

But we

remember

Muhammad Ali

at the end

of his

life.

Those last

10-15

years shaking

the

targets.

So fragile

trying to

light the

flame

at the

Olympics.

I can

push him

over.

And in

Jesus he's

risen to

the right

hand of

God and

is ruling

over the

world.

That's what

we're going

to look at

gloriously

tonight and

next Sunday

night.

Jesus is

a man on

a mission

and his

mission is

not to

lord it

over his

people.

Jesus'

mission is

not to

pulverize

his enemies.

It's not

to be

served like

some royal

prince,

although that's

what he

is.

Rather,

Jesus'

mission is

to be

served up

like a

lamb.

To be

served up

like a

lamb to

slaughter.

And he

takes the

penalty that

you and I

deserve and

Jesus drinks

that cup of

punishment.

And he

says to you

this morning,

let me

serve you.

Let me

save you.

And that

is the

right response,

isn't it?

So let

this great

one serve

us.

To save

us, to

trust in

what he's

done.

And then,

and only

then, we

can live

lives serving

one another

because our

hope, and

our status,

and our

identity, is

secure in

him.

Look at

verse 29

with me.

As they

went out of

Jericho, a

great crowd

followed him.

And behold,

there were two

blind men

sitting by the

roadside, and

when they

heard that

Jesus was

passing by,

they cried

out,

Lord,

Lord,

have mercy

on us.

Son of

David.

The crowd

grew a big

window.

Shut up.

Be quiet.

But they

cried all

the more,

Lord, have

mercy on

us, son of

David.

And stopping,

stopping,

Jesus called

them and

said, what

do you

want me to

do for

you?

Same

question that

he asked

James and

John's

honor.

And they

said to

Lord, let

our eyes

be opened.

Jesus

in pity

touched

their eyes,

and immediately

they recovered

their sight

and followed

him.

So what's

Matthew

trying to

do here?

Matthew

is trying to

show you

the contrast

between

James and

John and

the two

blind men.

Lord, have

mercy on

me, they

cry.

Those

are the

words of

the blind

men.

There's no

I am the

greatest

here.

These two

blind men

recognize Jesus

for whom he

is, that he

is the son of

David, the

promised

savior, and

they cry out

for mercy, and

they follow

him.

And the

disciples, they

are so

thick, so

stupid, so

blind, that

they are

striving for

greatness in

the worldly

way.

Not the

kingdom

way.

As I was

writing this

sermon, I

was thinking,

I want this

sermon to be

great.

And I

actually, I

want this

sermon to be

seen as

great.

I want it

to be a

great sermon.

You

hypocrite

leave me.

But I

like you

have to

run from

seeking my

glory, to

seeking the

glory of

my savior, and

the glory of

others.

By serving

others.

True

greatness

comes from

service.

True

greatness in a

sermon comes

from the

plain

explanation

of God's

word.

And seeing

that, all

of us, and

how we need

to change

because of

what God

says to

us all, it's

not about

the preacher.

It's about

putting our

lives at the

feet of our

great God.

As I want to

say to you

this morning,

if you've

not seen

Jesus, it's

really great

for so many

visitors here

this morning.

It feels like

Sarah's brought

half the

school over

there.

But if you

do not yet

follow him, I

want you to

look around.

I want you to

look around

this room and

see a

community of

people who

are so

convinced of

the greatness

of Jesus

and of his

death in our

place that we

take him at

his word and

we trust him.

And so, like

Jesus, there's

no need for

gruesome

dictatorships.

There's no

need for

one-upmanship

over one

another.

And I hope

that if you

come along to

this group,

what you'll

see is a

loving community

of Christians.

who find

their greatness

in what

Jesus has

done for

them.

And so the

Christian life

is you

follow the

example of

the Master

and you

serve.

And if

you're not a

follower of

the Lord

Jesus, and

if you've

come here

this morning

and you've

not really

seen him

as he is,

maybe you're

working out

this morning

that there's

something about

it.

And can I

urge you to

cry out for

mercy to

call out to

this, the

greatest man

that the

world has

ever seen,

who became

the slave

of God.

And to

ask him to

take the

penalty that

you deserve,

that he

takes the

cup that

you should

really drink,

the cup of

God's

anger, so

you can

drink today

at this

table from

the cup of

God's

blessing.

God's

trust him.

Let's

pray.