Subverting Power A reading from Matthew 20:20 28 on the Daily Bible refresh.

Hello my friend Dr. Brad Miller here with the Daily Bible Refresh.

This is your daily reading of the Bible from a progressive point of view.

In a bit I will read the New Testament lessons selected from the Revised Common Lectionary for this very day.

The reading is understandable.

I use the Message version relatable.

Please listen to the points to ponder and applicable with action steps you can take.

We pray and are done in less than 10 minutes.

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Here's today's reading.

Reading from Matthew 20:20 28 from the Message it was about that time that the mother of the Zebedee brothers came with her two sons and knelt before Jesus with a request.

What do you want?

Jesus asked.

She said, give your word that these two sons of mine will be awarded the highest places of honor in your kingdom.

1 At your right hand, one at your left.

Jesus responded, you have no idea what you're asking.

And he said to James and John, are you capable of drinking the cup that I'm 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.

When the 10 others heard about this, they lost their tempers, thoroughly disgusted with the two brothers.

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.

That ends the reading.

And this is really a reading about where Jesus is challenging the traditional power structures and offers a radical new vision of leadership.

So let's get into the points to ponder.

The first is about the seduction of power.

The disciples desire for positions of honor reflects our own struggles with power and privilege, even in the progressive space we can fall into seeking status and authority.

Jesus response challenges not just individual ambition, but entire systems that prioritize hierarchy and dominance.

A second point is about drinking the cup.

Jesus asks if they can drink the cup, which is a reference to suffering and sacrifice.

In our context, this raises questions about the cost of true solidarity.

Are we willing to risk comfort, privilege, safety to stand with marginalized communities?

Real allyship often requires more than verbal support.

A third point is about leadership as liberation.

Whoever wants to be first must be your slave isn't about glorifying servitude, but about radically redefining leadership.

This challenges both religious and secular power structures, suggesting that true leadership means working to liberate others from systems of oppression.

Here's your action step.

Examine your own relationship with power and privilege and identify one position of authority or influence that you may hold in the workplace, at your church or community organization, or in your family and create a specific plan to use that position to amplify marginalized voices and share power rather than consolidate it.

This might mean stepping back from leadership, creating collaborative decision making processes, or actively mentoring others who have been historically excluded from power.

We'll have a closing prayer here in just a minute.

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Let's pray.

O God, you are the Divine disruptor of hierarchies and we confess our attraction to power and status even as we work for justice.

When we are tempted to seek positions of honor, remind us that true greatness lies in service and solidarity.

Help us recognize where we hold privilege and power and give us courage to use it for liberation rather than self promotion.

Guide us in creating communities where leadership means lifting others up, where service isn't about subordination but about mutual empowerment.

Grant us wisdom to drink the cup of commitment to justice even when it costs us something in the spirit of collective liberation.

Amen.

My friend, I am delighted you chose to join me for today's reading.

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My name is Dr. Brad Miller and I'll be right here tomorrow with your daily Bible Refresh.

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Remember, God's loyal love doesn't run out.

His merciful love hasn't dried up, it's created new every morning.