The Price for Greatness

CALL TO PRAYER

 Title: The Price for Greatness

By:  Daniel Peter

Date: 13.04.2022

And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom. But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.

Matthew 20: 21-23 KJV 

When Jesus was on earth, He communicated mysteries of the kingdom not just by His sermons, but also through His interaction with His disciples. One of such interactions was initiated by the mother of James and John, when she asked that her children sit at the right and left hand of our Lord in His Kingdom (Matt. 20: 20 -21). Jesus’ revealed the reason why God may sometimes allow suffering, which can be a reason for rejoicing during difficult times.

“The right hand and the left hand” of a king is suggestive of places of honour and greatness. What John and James were asking through their mother was that they wanted to be the greatest among the followers of Jesus Christ, and nearest to Him in His Kingdom. The reply of Jesus Christ is one to consider carefully, He said “Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? (Matt. 20: 22)”. The cup that Jesus drank of and the baptism He was baptized with was the suffering of the cross. Therefore, Jesus Christ was telling them that by their request, they are asking to endure the sufferings of the cross in the same measure that He did. Indicating that suffering (for a while) is a requirement for greatness.

When God has destined you for greatness, He usually may allow you to go through difficult times, as preparation. Joseph was an example of this, whom God had ordained to be a saviour in His generation. On his path to the fulfilment of destiny, He had to suffer rejection, endured slavery, and he was a prisoner. None of what He suffered was because he did wrong, his suffering was the will of God, as it was for Jesus. Again, Apostle Paul rose to be the greatest of the Apostles in his dispensation (judging from the impact of his work). When Ananias (the vessel God used to save him) inquired about him, The Lord’s reply was “….Go! This man is my chosen instrument… I will show him how much he must suffer for my name (Acts 9:18 -19)”. This suffering God assigned Apostle Paul for was not because of his sins before salvation (for it was wiped by the blood of Jesus Christ just like every believer), but was because of the greatness God has chosen him for.

Therefore, when God allows you to experience difficult situations, rejoice, for it’s a sign that you are being prepared for greatness. However, the fact that we experience “sufferings” of the cross is not the reason we are great, but we are great because God has chosen us for it as an act of His grace. This was the reason Jesus went further to tell James and John “Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father (Matt. 20: 22)”. So, we must always acknowledge His grace and not our pain. 

Prayer Point: 

Let’s thank God for His word today. Let’s ask Him to help us to see Him in every situation. 

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