Show Don't Tell: Matthew 20:17-28

Instead of saying "Jesus taught servant leadership," watch the request backfire. Going up to Jerusalem, Jesus takes the Twelve aside: "The Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised." Then, immediately after this death prediction, James and John's mother approaches: "Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom." She's positioning for power while Jesus describes torture. Jesus: "You don't know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?" They can—and will. But seats of honor are the Father's to give. The other ten are indignant. Jesus gathers them: "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."