20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him.

21 “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.”
22 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?”
“We can,” they answered.
23 Jesus said to them, “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.”
24 When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. 25 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. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 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.”
Two Blind Men Receive Sight
29 As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. 30 Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”
31 The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”
32 Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.
33 “Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.”
34 Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.
Video
Summary 1 – Matthew 20-29
Summary 2 – Matthew 29-34
Discussion Questions?  
Jesus says that greatness is serving others.
How can we serve people in our church community in simple ways?
The blind men cried out to Jesus and He had compassion on them.
How can we show the compassion of Jesus to people who are struggling, lonely, or lost?
Sometimes the church can focus only on itself.
How can we make sure our church is looking outward and helping people who do not yet know Jesus?
After they were healed, the blind men followed Jesus.
How can we help people not only hear about Jesus, but also grow as disciples and follow Him?


When we read this passage, we see two very different moments happening close together.
First, there is a conversation about greatness. Then, a moment of compassion beside a dusty road.
And somehow, these two moments help us understand the heart of Jesus.
The first scene begins with a request. A mother approaches Jesus with hope and boldness. Like any parent, she wants the best for her sons. She asks for something significant, she wants them to have places of honour in Jesus’ kingdom.
It is easy to understand why someone would ask for that. All of us, in one way or another, like the idea of being important. We like recognition. We like respect. The world often teaches us to aim for the top, to be noticed, to be first.
But Jesus shifts the whole conversation.
Instead of speaking about status, He speaks about service.
Instead of talking about power, He talks about humility.
He reminds His followers that God’s kingdom does not work the same way as the systems of this world. In the world, people often try to rise above others. But in the kingdom of God, greatness is found in going lower, in choosing to serve.
And then Jesus does something remarkable. He points to Himself as the example.
The Son of Man, the one with all authority, did not come demanding that others serve Him. He came to serve. He spent His life helping, healing, teaching, and lifting people up. And ultimately He gave His life so that others could be saved.
That is what love looks like in God’s kingdom.
Not control.
Not recognition.
But service that flows from a humble heart.
As this conversation finishes, the story then moves to another place entirely. Jesus and His disciples are leaving Jericho. A crowd is moving with them!
But sitting beside a busy road are two men who cannot see.
For them, life is very different from the excitement of the crowd. They live in darkness. They rely on others. Most people probably pass by them without noticing.
But when they hear that Jesus is near, something rises in them. Hope!
They begin to call out to Him. “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”
Their voices break through the noise of the crowd. People around them try to silence them. They are told to be quiet, to stop shouting.
But they refuse to give up. They cry out even louder. “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”
And in the middle of all the movement, all the noise, all the people following Him, Jesus stops.
That moment is beautiful.
Jesus pauses for two men that the crowd wanted to ignore.
He turns toward them. He listens. He cares.
And the Gospel tells us that Jesus was moved with compassion.
Compassion is not just feeling sorry for someone. Compassion moves toward people. Compassion acts. Compassion sees suffering and responds with love.
Jesus reaches out and touches their eyes. And suddenly their world changes. Darkness becomes light. Their lives are restored.
But the story does not end with the miracle.
After receiving their sight, they begin to follow Him.
They move from the side of the road into the path of discipleship.
And when we hold these two scenes together, something becomes clear.
Jesus teaches His disciples that greatness is serving. Then He shows them exactly what that looks like.
It looks like stopping for people others overlook.
It looks like noticing those who are suffering.
It looks like compassion that moves toward people who are lost.
This is the calling of the church.
Sometimes it can be easy for churches to focus only on themselves, our meetings, our activities, our comfort.
But the heart of Jesus always moves outward.
There are people all around us who are lost and hurting. People searching for hope. People carrying burdens we may not see.
Some are crying out quietly. Others loudly.
And just as Jesus stopped for those men beside the road, the church is called to notice the people others pass by.
We serve one another within the church community, yes. But we also carry the compassion of Christ into our neighbourhoods, our workplaces, and our city.
Because the mission of Jesus has always been the same, to seek, to save, and to restore.
And when people encounter His love, their lives change.
Just like those two men, they begin to see. They begin to follow. They step into a new life with Christ.
When the church lives this way, serving, loving, and reaching out, we begin to reflect the heart of Christ.
• A community that follows Jesus and serves one another to become more like Him.
• A community that sees those who are lost.
• A community that points people toward the hope and salvation found only in Jesus and helps disciple them.
And when that happens, the kingdom of God becomes visible right where we are!
Amen, Lets Pray!