Become a Servant and a Slave

Jesus Is Lord
Exalting Christ
Jesus' Humility and Exaltation

Mark 10:35-45

The Message

The Highest Places of Honor

³⁵ James and John, Zebedee’s sons, came up to him. “Teacher, we have something we want you to do for us.”

³⁶ “What is it? I’ll see what I can do.”
³⁷ “Arrange it,” they said, “so that we will be awarded the highest places of honor in your glory—one of us at your right, the other at your left.”
³⁸ Jesus said, “You have no idea what you’re asking. Are you capable of drinking the cup I drink, of being baptized in the baptism I’m about to be plunged into?”
^39-40 “Sure,” they said. “Why not?”
Jesus said, “Come to think of it, you will drink the cup I drink, and be baptized in my baptism. But as to awarding places of honor, that’s not my business. There are other arrangements for that.”
^41-45 When the other ten heard of this conversation, they lost their tempers with James and John. Jesus got them together to settle things down. “You’ve observed how godless rulers throw their weight around,” he said, “and when people get a little power how quickly it 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 to be served—and then to give away his life in exchange for many who are held hostage.”

For Reflection

What moved the others to lose their tempers with James and John?  What caused them to argue?  In what ways were the ten acting out the question that was raised by James and John?  What special position did they think they held what would give them privilege and authority to be so judgmental?

Sometimes our need to occupy a special position expresses itself in disguise. What is a God-centered alternative to outrage and accusation? How did Jesus handle it?

Pray

that you will approach your life in Christian humility.  Pray that you will practice Christian hospitality.  Pray that you will exchange your self-centered life to help those who are held hostage in a cultured-centered life style.