The Upside Down Nature of Service by Ariel Alexander

Service is one of those buzzwords that permeates Christian culture. A lot of talk about service centers around the idea of “servant-leadership:” defined as emulating Jesus’s leadership style. Service can indeed qualify Jesus’ type of leadership, but we do his example a disservice when we limit service to the sphere of leadership and don’t consider the deeper invitation that Jesus makes to all his followers.

One of my favorite stories in Scripture and about Jesus’ transformative invitation to his followers through service is found in Matthew 20:20-28. In this story, James and John’s mother goes up to Jesus and kneels before him. Jesus asks what she wants and she states, “Give your word that these two sons of mine will be awarded the highest places of honor in your kingdom, one at your right hand, one at your left hand” (MSG Matthew 20:21). Jesus responds, “You have no idea what you are asking,” and turns to James and John who we can imagine are standing right there, maybe a little behind their mother, one to her right and one to her left. And Jesus asks them if they are capable of drinking the cup that he was about to drink.

They said, “Sure, why not?” Jesus said, “Come to think of it, you are going to drink my cup. But as to awarding places of honor, that’s not my business. My Father is taking care of that.” (Matthew 20:22b-23 MSG)

First of all, I love this story. I can imagine James and John’s mother, in full mother hen mode, seeking the best for her boys, willing to intercede with Jesus himself on their behalf. This story also shows, not just a mother’s determination, but also her closeness to Jesus himself.  Perhaps she was a part of meals or gatherings, or she hosted him in her house. There is a relationship there that gives her the confidence to approach him and make her request.  It is also worth noting that Jesus does not get angry with her, or her boys for that matter. Rather, I imagine him responding with a pained expression on his face and maybe a tightness in his chest as he imagines the road and sacrifice that is before him and hears her request. The Message paraphrase helps to imagine this posture in Jesus’ response of “You have no idea what you’re asking…” Even with the uncomfortable question, the passage shows the beautiful depth of relationship that Jesus has, not just with James and John, but with their mother as well.

Though Jesus does not get upset by the mother’s question, the rest of the twelve disciples do when they find out. Again, the Message paints a colorful picture of their reaction: “When the ten others heard about this, they lost their tempers, thoroughly disgusted with the two brothers” (MSG Matthew 20:24). Of course they were ticked off. Here’s the sign that in the group of the twelve chosen ones, two are trying to get above the rest!  It is only after the rest of the disciples go off on the brothers that Jesus shares more about what he meant in his “can you drink the cup” answer.  

So Jesus got them together to settle things down. He said, “You’ve observed how godless rulers throw their weight around, how quickly a little power goes to their heads. It’s not going to be that way with you. Whoever wants to be great must become a servant. Whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave. That is what the Son of Man has done: He came to serve, not be served—and then to give away his life in exchange for the many who are held hostage.”  (Matthew 20:24-28 MSG)

His explanation shows what he expects of them as his followers and qualifies what He came to do. It is in Jesus’ explanation that we understand service as the antithesis to the world’s way of wielding power. We know the world’s way of grasping for positions of influence, authority, and even celebrity. All of these places involve being above others: to direct, to receive preferential treatment, to be admired and even envied.  In some cases we would even expect this power to then be used to decide over others, in indirect and direct ways. That is not the way of Christ or what he expects from his followers.

We’ve probably heard it said many times, that in positions of leadership we should orient ourselves to serving others, but service is a quality that should apply to all Christ followers, not just as an adjective to those chosen for, or aspiring to positions of leadership. In this story Jesus directs his disciples to serve the others if they aspire to be first, not because He chose them to be leaders, but because they will be emulating Christ’s example. 

When we orient ourselves to this type of service, as an outpouring of our decision to follow Jesus, we also receive the opportunity to reflect on the varying degrees of privilege we might have through various accidents of life, roles or positions. Positioning ourselves in a Service mindset can invite us to recognize where those privileges have removed obstacles for us and recognize that others might still have to face those obstacles. Service then invites us to relinquish some of our privilege or step aside and offer opportunities for others to grow into roles we might have naturally found ourselves in. We can choose to serve, and not be served.

Lastly, service is also one of the signposts of God’s upside down kingdom coming to this world.  Jesus’ affirmation that “it is not going to be that way with you” points to the prophetic way of relating to each other that should characterize the people of God. For followers of Christ there shouldn’t be “rulers” in our midst who “throw their weight around” or “lord their authority over others.” Rather, the call for each and every one of us should be to follow Christ’s example of service to others, even to the point of laying down one’s life.

Jesus’ question to each of us in the end, as his followers, is also “can you drink the cup?” Can we seek to serve instead of just lead? Can we let Jesus’ invitation to service allow us to recognize the different privileges we might have and to set those aside, to become last? Can we face what is commonly shown us as success, authority, a privileged place in this world and choose the upside down kingdom path of service to others? Jesus’ invitation is not just for would-be leaders but for anyone who would follow him. Can we drink the cup and show the beauty of God’s kingdom come in our service to others?