Good morning, Calvary. This week, instead of giving you the sermon to read, I encourage you to watch it. If it’s any incentive there is an amusing—maybe somewhat ridiculous—puppet show.
I’ve included the passage below and some questions for personal reflection or cohort and small group discussions. May the Lord refresh your spirit and renew your connection with our beautiful Lord this Sunday and upcoming week.
Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him.
“What is it you want?” he asked. She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.”
“You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” “We can,” they answered.
Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.”
When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers.
Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.
Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him.
Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”
Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.
“Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.”
He had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.
Matthew 20:20-34
Questions for reflection:
- What did the mother want?
- What did the disciples want?
- What was similar or different in the motives of their requests?
- Who initiates the question, “What do you wish?”
- Why do you think Matthew placed these two stories next to each other?
- How was the compassion of Jesus shown in both of these stories?
- What changed for the mother? For the blind men?
- If Jesus asked you what you wished for, how would you answer that? Why?
I invite you to contact me with any feedback or questions.