When I was pastor of a church in Carteret, I received a phone call from a woman in our congregation. This woman was a widow who lived alone. She had been changing a light bulb when the bulb sheared right off. Now, she had a stub of jagged glass sticking out of her light socket. Concerned that this was a dangerous situation that could lead to a short or a fire, the woman called me as her pastor to get her light bulb free. This was something they didn't warn me about in Seminary. I thought as a pastor I was supposed to be a dynamic leader in God's church. I didn't know I had to join the electrician's union.
I mention this story because of Matthew 20. Matthew 20 contains one of the most foundational passages for Christian ministry. It provides an important reminder that leadership is not about how many serve you. It is about how many you serve.
In Matthew 20, the disciples are being their dense selves once again. Jesus is plainly telling them that His ministry will end in crucifixion. He will not be the political savior that they expected Him to me. James and John don't get it though. Egged on by mommy, they ask for the second and third seats in the kingdom. They want to be co-vice presidents as it were.
In some ways, their request makes sense. Along with Peter, they are the only disciples who saw Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration. This clearly speaks to their presence in Jesus' inner circle. It might seem that Peter would have a claim to one of the seats of honor too. But hadn't Jesus called him Satan not too long ago? Clearly, his candidacy had gotten off track. James and John (and mommy) know that now is the time to make the power grab. But Jesus doesn't react as they want Him to do.
Jesus' response here is particularly interesting to me. Notice that Jesus does not condemn James and John's desire to be great in the kingdom of heaven. What Jesus condemns is the way that the two disciples are going about it. James and John adopted a worldly view of success. They thought that greatness was about having authority over people. Jesus turns their idea of greatness on its head. He says greatness is about serving. The truly great person does not see any job as beneath them. They see themselves as a slave to the needs of others. In other words, the great person doesn't sit on the throne. Instead, they clean it.
I want to be great in the kingdom of God. How do I do that? Do I build a large ministry with lots of money and people? No. Instead, I view myself as a slave to other Christians, humbly extending myself to meet their needs.
Somehow, I got the light bulb out without electrocuting myself. And I learned again what being great is really all about.
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