Receiving Sight of Spiritual Things

Matthew 20:20-34

Greatness Is Serving

20 Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him.

21 And He said to her, "What do you wish?"

She said to Him, "Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom."

22 But Jesus answered and said, "You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?"

They said to Him, "We are able."

23 So He said to them, "You will indeed drink 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 is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father."

24 And when the ten heard it, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

Two Blind Men Receive Their Sight

29 Now as they went out of Jericho, a great multitude followed Him. 30 And behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, "Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!"

31 Then the multitude warned them that they should be quiet; but they cried out all the more, saying, "Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!"

32 So Jesus stood still and called them, and said, "What do you want Me to do for you?"

33 They said to Him, "Lord, that our eyes may be opened." 34 So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.

Jesus opened the yes not just of the physically blind, but also of those unable to see and comprehend spiritually.  Here the mother of two disciples wanted them to have the preeminence in heaven by having the best seats next to the Lord in His kingdom to rule with Him.  She could not see the implications of that and so Jesus asked the sons if they were able to see the suffering they would have to endure for His sake, taking the cup of pain and being immersed in death on a cross as a cleansing for the sin of the world that only the Christ could endure.  They blindly assured the Lord that they could endure it all and He acknowledged that they would suffer for the kingdom but not rule at His side as their mother asked.  That position was only prepared already to be given by the Father in heaven whom they still could not see.  The other disciples did not like those two asking for a place above them and so Jesus gathered them all together to teach them to see how being a servant was what they should desire and not to lord over others (1 Peter 5:2-3).  Heavenly greatness is serving others as a menial servant, not having authority over them.  Such are first in the kingdom who make themselves last in their own estimation.  He Himself was their example of serving unto a penal substitutionary atoning death on the behalf of all His people at the expense of His own lowering and suffering for them.  He ransomed us from death’s authoritative grip by the hands of sin as we faced the justice of God’s wrath.  Such is the example of self sacrifice Jesus gave for us to serve and not be served as lords over others.  He reinforced this need to see by giving sight to the two blind men on the road from Jericho as they left there.  His compassion to help them see must have resonated with the disciples after being helped to see the spiritual aspects of the kingdom lived out as servants as well.  They had received 20:20 sight of the spiritual things of the kingdom of heaven.