Thursday, 12 May 2016 - "Zebedee’s wife: misguided motherhood led to an important lesson"
Daily Scripture: Matthew 20:20 Then Zavdai’s sons came to Yeshua with their mother. She bowed down, begging a favor from him. 21 He said to her, “What do you want?” She replied, “Promise that when you become king, these two sons of mine may sit, one on your right and the other on your left.” 22 But Yeshua answered, “You people don’t know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I am about to drink?” They said to him, “We can.” 23 He said to them, “Yes, you will drink my cup. But to sit on my right and on my left is not mine to give, it is for those for whom my Father has prepared it.”
24 Now when the other ten heard about this, they were outraged at the two brothers. 25 But Yeshua called them and said, “You know that among the Goyim, those who are supposed to rule them become tyrants, and their superiors become dictators. 26 Among you, it must not be like that. On the contrary, whoever among you wants to be a leader must become your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave! 28 For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve — and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Reflection Questions:The mother of Jesus' disciples James and John asked that they have the highest rank in his Kingdom. (Mark 10:35-45 said the men asked directly. If so, surely their mother approved.) Jesus said neither she, nor the other disciples who resented the brothers, understood what drove his way of life. He hadn’t come for “perks” or prestige. He came to serve, to give his life to liberate many people.
- Jesus said: “Those who rule the Gentiles show off their authority over them and their high-ranking officials order them around.” Power like that can be a “high”—but Jesus ruled it out in his kingdom: “That’s not the way it will be with you. Whoever wants to be great among you will be your servant.” In which parts of life do you have power (parent, boss, teacher, pastor, public servant, etc.)? What helps you remember to use your power for the good of others, not your own? How can you become a stronger “servant leader” in your sphere?
- Ambition seems to be natural to almost all human hearts—and sometimes even more powerfully for our children than for ourselves. But the motives behind ambition can be very mixed, and sometimes create unhealthy pressures on the children who are their focus. How is God growing you into a secure, content “servant” who is primarily motivated to see yourself (and your children) glorify God and serve others?
Lord Jesus, you reminded us that ambition for our children is not always the same as love. Shape all of my ambitions into a passion to serve you and your kingdom. Amen.
Insights from Dr. Amy Oden
Dr. Amy Oden is Professor of Early Church History and Spirituality at Saint Paul School of Theology at OCU. Teaching is her calling, and she looks forward to every day with students. For 25 years, Amy has taught theology and history, pursuing scholarship in service of the church.
Mary, the mother of Jesus, was the source of some debate among early Christians. They asked, was she Mary, the mother of a divine-human being? Or Mary, the good Jewish mother of a good Jewish boy who grew up to be an amazing Jewish man? Or Mary, the Mother of God? Yes, yes and yes?
They generally agreed that Mary was the first apostle. That is, she was the first one sent by God into the world to proclaim Christ by literally carrying him in her body. Or, to put it more clearly, Mary carried and gave birth to the Incarnate God.
But wait–how can God be born? There are lots of theological debates about exactly what this deep Mystery of God’s birth means. For us today, it means discipleship is an ongoing motherhood. We follow in Mary’s courageous carrying of God into the world. Mary, the Mother of God, calls each of us to be God-bearers over and over through every encounter and daily event. Christ is born into our lives in sometimes messy, painful ways.
Meister Eckhart, a thoughtful Christian in the 13th century, put it this way: “We are all meant to be mothers of God . . . for God is always needing to be born.”
Download the GPS App
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Mary, the mother of Jesus, was the source of some debate among early Christians. They asked, was she Mary, the mother of a divine-human being? Or Mary, the good Jewish mother of a good Jewish boy who grew up to be an amazing Jewish man? Or Mary, the Mother of God? Yes, yes and yes?
They generally agreed that Mary was the first apostle. That is, she was the first one sent by God into the world to proclaim Christ by literally carrying him in her body. Or, to put it more clearly, Mary carried and gave birth to the Incarnate God.
But wait–how can God be born? There are lots of theological debates about exactly what this deep Mystery of God’s birth means. For us today, it means discipleship is an ongoing motherhood. We follow in Mary’s courageous carrying of God into the world. Mary, the Mother of God, calls each of us to be God-bearers over and over through every encounter and daily event. Christ is born into our lives in sometimes messy, painful ways.
Meister Eckhart, a thoughtful Christian in the 13th century, put it this way: “We are all meant to be mothers of God . . . for God is always needing to be born.”
Download the GPS App
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224, United States
913.897.0120
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