04 Mar 26 | The Road to Jerusalem
Jesus reveals that His path to glory runs through suffering and redefines greatness as sacrificial service.
The Gospel: 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."
Today’s Focus
Jesus walks toward Jerusalem fully aware of what awaits Him. While the disciples are still thinking in terms of rank and recognition, He speaks of suffering, surrender, and service. Authority in His Kingdom does not rise through power but descends through sacrifice. The throne He speaks of will look like a cross. Greatness is not claimed; it is given. And it is revealed in those willing to serve.
In the Margins
This passage is the third Passion prediction (cf. Matthew 16:21; 17:22–23). The setting is significant, “…as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem.” Jerusalem is geographically higher, but more importantly it is the theological center, showcasing the Temple, sacrifice, authority. Matthew presents this ascent as deliberate and purposeful. Jesus is very detailed in His explanation of what is coming. It anticipates Roman execution. “Handed over” (paradidōmi) becomes a key Passion verb, indicating both human betrayal and divine providence.
Jesus again uses “Son of Man” (Daniel 7 imagery of authority and dominion). Authority and suffering are not competing themes, they are joined. Matthew is fusing Daniel 7, the glorious Son of Man with Isaiah 53, the suffering servant.
Immediately after the Passion prediction, the mother of James and John asks for seats of honor for her sons. Jesus is speaking of His crucifixion, but she is focused on rank. In first-century Mediterranean culture, honor and status were central social currencies. Sitting at the right and left of a king signified supreme proximity to power.
The request reveals continued misunderstanding of the Kingdom. In historical terms, the chalice in scripture often symbolized wrath (Isaiah 51:17), suffering appointed by God (Psalm 75:8), and overall judgement. Jesus isn’t asking if they can drink from the same cup, He is asking if they will withstand the same suffering. It is unclear if they interpret this the same way when they say they can, but Jesus foretells their own suffering by confirming that they indeed will. James will be martyred (Acts 12:2). John will suffer persecution and exile.
Jesus states that seats at His right and left are “prepared by my Father.” This echoes Matthew’s language of divine preparation (cf. 25:34). Authority in the Kingdom is not seized; it is given according to the Father’s will. Ironically, in Matthew’s Passion narrative, two criminals are crucified at Jesus’ right and left (27:38). The places of “glory” are places of crucifixion.
The other ten disciples become indignant, not because the request was inappropriate, but because they were excluded. They too misunderstand the weight of what is happening, as well as the message Jesus shared about what was to come. Jesus once again clarifies using the Roman imperial structure. This structure was highly visible, hierarchical, and force-based. Jesus is much more direct saying, “it shall not be so among you.” Jesus again defines greatness in the Kingdom as being from those who serve others. It is measured by what one is willing to give, how one is willing to forgive, and how the heart is willing to serve the Lord.
“Ransom” (lytron) refers to the price paid for release, the liberation from debt or captivity. Jesus indeed paid this ransom with His life. It echoes Isaiah 53 (bearing the sins of many), but was a cost so big that it continues to endure for all generations. Jesus’ passion was just as much for you and me as it was for the people alive at that time. He paid the ultimate sacrifice, and asked that we love as God loves.
Now, that is a high standard, but it doesn’t take complex mathematics or years of study to understand. Jesus’ life was a blueprint for how to love and how to serve. We have to be willing to cast aside our own earthly desires for more money, more fame, more success. We have to ignore the temptations for this “more culture” that surrounds us. We have to be willing to accept a viewpoint of “enough.” Jesus was enough and is enough to this day. Us loving each other as Jesus loved is enough for the whole world. People are not starving or living homeless because of a lack of food, money, or houses. It is because we have a lack of love like Jesus. We have made a culture of more and mine, instead of enough and us. Jesus paid for all of us.
Reflection Question
Where in my life am I still chasing recognition instead of embracing the kind of quiet service Jesus calls me to?
A Small Invitation
If this reflection helped you, consider sharing it with someone who may benefit from hearing this message.