Sacrificial Leadership (Matthew 20:17-28)

Jesus tells His disciples—for the third time—that He is headed to His death and resurrection, but it seemingly goes right over their heads for now. We then get the somewhat amusing but also embarrassing story of James and John’s mother asking for privileges of leadership on their behalf.

Jesus uses this opportunity to teach about leadership in the Kingdom. And in the upside-down priorities of the Kingdom, we see that leaders should be servants. Opposite from the way the world (and let’s be honest, many a church) thinks, where leaders have power, privilege, and priority, in the Kingdom leaders are to be sacrificial.

The words Jesus uses here are diakonos and duolos. Diakonos is the word transliterated deacon. In my tradition, this word is rightly understood to mean servant or minister; but in practice it tends to work as an authority as the world sees the role of leader. Jesus pairs it with duolos, however, and that word means a straight up slave.

Making matters clearer, Matthew makes sure that we see this conversation takes place with Jesus’ death on His mind. He warns the disciples that they too will drink the cup He is about to drink. And He uses His upcoming sacrificial death to exemplify the kind of servant leadership He intends to see in the Kingdom.

Leadership in the Kingdom of God is not a privilege to be sought after, but a costly ministry that requires a clear calling, and a higher, more demanding responsibility. Who would want that other than those called and gifted? Even then, it isn’t pure pleasure.

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