Jesus came to serve [Matt 20b q]*

JESUS CAME TO SERVE AND TO GIVE

Key Verse – Matthew 20:28

1.      Read Matthew 20:1. Where were Jesus and his company headed? Why would Jesus go there and what would he be doing [Matthew 21:1-11]? What might have been the disciples’ anticipation?

2.      Read Matthew 20:18-19. What did Jesus say to his disciples? According to his words, what would be the primary event as he got to Jerusalem? Find the facts on this announcement and consider the significance of each fact. When did Jesus preach a similar message to his disciples [Matthew 16:21-22; 17:22-23]? Why do you think that Jesus repeated this three times? Is there any difference in the way he said? What was the emphasis on this[B1]  time? 

3.      Read Matthew 20:20-21. Who came to Jesus and what did they ask him? Why? Discuss this in view of the woman’s hopes and her belief in Jesus. Read Matthew 4:21, 17:1, Mark 9:38, 10:35, 13:3, and Luke 8:51, 9:54.  In view of these references, what can you conclude about John and James? Discuss these in terms of their hope and belief. Explore your thoughts and find your ultimate dream or hope in God.

4.      Read Matthew 20:22. What did these two men know before and what did they now know? Their ignorance was related to what? What was the cup that Jesus was about to drink? Describe this cup in the terms used in the passages within this lesson. Why was Jesus asking about this if they were willing to drink the cup that he was about to drink? What does drinking Jesus’ cup have anything to do with their request for a position in his glory? Explore the relationship between Jesus’ glory and his suffering [cf. Philippians 2:6f]. What was their answer? Through their answer, what can we conclude about their will or desire?

5.      Read Matthew20:23. What did Jesus reveal about their pursuit of power in his glory? What did this mean for them? What did it mean for them that it was not Jesus’, but God’s, authority to grant this position of power [Philippians 2:6f]?

6.      Read Matthew 20:24-25. What did this mean for the rest of the disciples? Why did they become indignant? What was their understanding of being great [Matthew 20:25]? How should it be different among Jesus’ disciples? In your view, why are such concepts so difficult for any men to accept? Had the concept of a great man-servant or great man-slave been introduced to men before this? If yes, then where? What is your idea of being great? How is your conviction exhibited in your life?

7.      How did Jesus introduce the new idea of a great man-servant [Matthew 20:28]? What might be the biggest stumbling block hindering men from accepting this? In what sense were the disciples blind regarding this truth [Isaiah 42:16, 48:6, Romans 3:17, and Hebrews 3:9]? How could this blindness be healed [Luke 24:32, John 14:28, and John 16:13]? In this regard, why do you think that Jesus ‘must’ suffer and die?

8.      As they were leaving Jericho, why did the two blind men call Jesus ‘Son of David’? What did Jesus ask them? What did they want? What did Jesus do to them and why? What happened to their sight? What does it mean that they ‘received’ their sight? How did Jesus heal the blind in the past? How could these two blind men come to believe Jesus?  Is there any parallel between the disciples and these two blind men? Why do you think that the blind men’s story is written here?