Matthew 20:17-28 (NIV)

Now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. On the way, he took the Twelve aside and said to them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the 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 to life!” 

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.” 

Jesus answered, “You don’t know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?”

“We can,” they answered. 

Jesus said, “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.”

The scene is set on the road to Jerusalem. Jesus has just given His third and most detailed announcement of His coming suffering. He is walking ahead of the Twelve, deliberately leading them toward the city where He will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law, condemned, handed over to the Gentiles, mocked, flogged, crucified—and on the third day raised to life. The disciples have heard this before, but never with such stark clarity about the Gentiles’ role or the horror of the cross. Tension is thick. They sense something monumental is about to happen, yet they still do not fully grasp it.

Right in the middle of this solemn journey, James and John—through their mother—step forward with a bold request. They want the seats of highest honor at Jesus’ right and left in His kingdom. The request reveals hearts still shaped by the world’s definition of greatness: positions of power, prestige, and privilege. Jesus does not rebuke their ambition outright; instead, He redirects it. “You don’t know what you are asking,” He says. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” The cup here is not one of joy but of sorrow and judgment—the very suffering and death He has just described. James and John confidently say they can. Jesus affirms they will indeed share in that cup. History proves it: James became the first apostle martyred (Acts 12:2), and John endured persecution and exile. But the places of honor, Jesus says, are not His to grant; the Father has already prepared them.

The other ten disciples become indignant—jealousy flares because they want the same honor. Jesus gathers them all and draws the sharpest contrast possible. The rulers of the Gentiles lord their authority over people; their officials flaunt power. “Not so with you,” Jesus declares. In God’s kingdom, greatness is measured in an entirely opposite way. Whoever wants to be great must be a servant; whoever wants to be first must be a slave. And then He points to Himself: “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.”

This is the heartbeat of the kingdom. Worldly authority climbs over others; kingdom authority stoops to lift others. Jesus Himself is the ultimate model. He left heaven’s throne, took on human flesh, washed dirty feet, and laid down His life as the ransom price—lutron (v.28) in the Greek, the payment that releases captives from slavery. Sin held us in bondage; Jesus paid the price we could never pay. His service was voluntary, motivated by love, not forced by guilt or demand. He reconciled us to God through sacrifice and service (Philippians 2:5-8).

Just hours before the cross, Jesus gave His disciples a living picture of this truth. In John 13:1-17, on the night of the Last Supper, Jesus—knowing His hour had come—rose from the table, wrapped a towel around His waist, poured water into a basin, and washed the disciples’ feet. This was the work of the lowest household slave. Peter protested, but Jesus insisted: “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” Then He said, “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you” (John 13:15). True leadership is seen in the towel, not the title. It is love in action, humility that serves even when it costs everything.

Jesus drives the point home in other moments as well. In Mark 10:42-45 He repeats the same teaching. In Luke 22:24-27, right after another argument about greatness, He says, “I am among you as the one who serves.” Paul later urges us to have the same mindset as Christ, who “made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness… and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:5-8). Peter tells elders to shepherd willingly, not domineering, but as examples to the flock (1 Peter 5:2-3).

This is not theory; it is the fruit that proves our faith. As Jesus taught, “By their fruit you will recognize them” (Matthew 7:16). Actions, not mere words, reveal the heart. Good fruit—righteousness, kindness, love, obedience—grows from a life reborn in Christ. Bad fruit—selfishness, blame, and power-seeking—exposes a heart still chained to the world’s system.

So how do we live this out practically as leaders in the church, in our homes, and on our daily walk? My own God-given vision is simple yet demanding: Honor God and expand my influence through being accountable, speaking the truth, and walking in love. That vision is lived out through ten core values that guide every leader who wants to follow Jesus’ example of servanthood:

• Courage: Facing difficult situations and criticism without a timid spirit, staying aligned with our convictions. 
• Credibility: Refusing to “blow smoke” or speak what is untrue for self-promotion. 
• Finding Favor with Others: Demonstrating we are truly “for” people, encouraging and rewarding their best efforts. 
• Trust: Earning it over time so others seek our guidance. 
• Positive Attitude: Bringing encouragement daily instead of discontent or complaint. 
• Take Ownership: Initiating momentum with enthusiasm no matter the pressure. 
• Work Ethic: Displaying responsibility that inspires those who follow. 
• Help Others: Correcting mistakes with grace rather than quick criticism, so they grow. 
• Improving Communications: Speaking face-to-face with clarity, eye contact, and love to build unity. 
• Respect: Treating others as we want to be treated—firm, fair, consistent, never showing partiality (James 2:9).

These values are not a checklist for climbing higher; they are the towel and basin in daily life. They flow from a servanthood mentality that says, “I am here to serve the interests of others.” The character of a faithful servant is devotion to others’ well-being, untiring care, and delight in their prosperity. It is not slavery—it is voluntary love, just as Christ, who had all authority, chose to serve.

the world tells us greatness is found in being served. Jesus says the opposite: greatness is found in serving. He has shown us the way—on the road to Jerusalem, at the basin of water, and on the cross. As His followers, we are called to be different. Let us honor God by expanding our influence not through position or power, but through accountability, truth, and love expressed in humble, sacrificial service. When we do, the fruit will be unmistakable, the walls of division will fall, and others will see the beauty of the kingdom where the greatest are the servants of all.

 Addendum: A Further Note on “The Places of Honor” (Matthew 20:23)

In the passage we just studied, Jesus tells James and John (through their mother), “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” (Matthew 20:23, NIV).

Some people wonder about this statement because we know that after His resurrection and ascension, Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven—a position of supreme honor and authority (Mark 16:19; Hebrews 1:3; 8:1; 10:12; 12:2). So, what exactly is Jesus referring to here, and who is the “left” prepared for?

Jesus’ words are not speaking about the heavenly throne room where He now sits at the Father’s right hand. That exalted place belongs uniquely to Him as the risen Lord and King. Instead, James and John were asking for the two highest positions of honor in Jesus’ coming earthly Messianic kingdom—the seats immediately to the King’s right and left, much like the most trusted advisors or co-rulers beside the throne.

Jesus gently redirects their ambition. He does not rebuke their desire for greatness, but He redefines it. He tells them they will indeed “drink the cup” of suffering He is about to drink (James would become the first apostle to be martyred—Acts 12:2—and John would face persecution and exile). Yet the specific places of honor in the kingdom are not granted by bold requests, family connections, or even by Jesus independently in that moment. Those positions have already been prepared by the Father according to His sovereign wisdom and according to the character He develops in His people through faithful service and endurance.

This is an important kingdom principle: positions of honor are ultimately in the Father’s hands. Jesus, in perfect unity with the Father, submits to that plan. He does not name who will occupy those places because the real lesson is not “Who gets the best seats?” but “Are you willing to serve and suffer like Me?”

The focus quickly returns to the heart of the passage: In God’s kingdom, true greatness is not found in climbing for prestigious positions like the Gentile rulers who “lord it over” others. Instead, whoever wants to be great must become a servant, and whoever wants to be first must be a slave—just as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:26-28).

This truth calls us back to the values we have discussed: courage to face suffering, credibility, trust, a positive attitude, taking ownership, a strong work ethic, helping others, clear communication, and respect. These are lived out not by seeking seats of honor, but by humbly serving others in love, just as Jesus did when He washed the disciples’ feet and laid down His life for us.

When questions arise about heavenly seating or the “left hand,” we can simply remember: Jesus has the highest place, and He invites us to share in His kingdom by following His example of sacrificial servanthood. The greatest among us are those who serve.