NOTES for Mat 20:17-34
Jesus is making His way to Jerusalem, where His Kingdom is to be fully realized. And the disciples, as His close associates, are ready to share the glory due to Him: they are ready to recline beside Him at the meal, having first undergone the ritual washing with Him, and to drink from His royal cup. But He stops them: they have no idea into what depths He is to descend or what cup He is to drink. These lines of the Gospel were written not only to describe the Apostles' lack of understanding and ambition. They were addressed, and are still addressed, to Christ's new disciples, who are just as ready to share His promised triumph but do not want to remember that the Kingdom of God is realized paradoxically, through service and self-sacrifice. The Son of God came into this world to serve. What did we come here for?