Called to Serve
Mark 10:35-45 (MSG)
James and John, Zebedee’s sons, came up to him. “Teacher, we have something we want you to do for us.”
“What is it? I’ll see what I can do.”
“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.”
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?”
“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.”
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.”
Reflection
“It’s my turn to be first!” “I want to be the leader!” I heard phrases like these so many times while employed with the public school system for over 20 years. There had to be some intervention before things got out of hand. Some rules and guidelines had to be established. Some sort of explanation was needed to teach a lesson. These students had to understand that always being first ignored the needs of others and pointed to their selfish behavior of constantly focusing on getting what they wanted.
Two of Jesus’ disciples, James and John, wanted to arrange things so that they could be near the front of the line in heaven, one on Jesus’ right side and one on Jesus’ left. The other disciples became angry with James and John for making such a request so Jesus had to intervene and explain the selfishness of this request from James and John. Jesus shared that even though we might feel we have privilege to be front and center, we are not to live that way. Jesus’ life showed us that we are called to serve and not to be served. We are to think of others above our own desires. Let’s line ourselves up with the words of Jesus as we seek to live a selfless, sacrificing life of service.
Action Steps
1. Are you living your life aligned with the words of Jesus as He is calling you to be less selfish and more of a sacrificing servant to others?
2. What needs to change in your attitude going forward to accomplish this?
Prayer
Father, it is sometimes hard to put myself at the end of the line instead of in the front where I can be the focus of attention. I often want to be served and not have a servant attitude like You do, Jesus. Help me to line myself up with Your ways and not mine. I want to be more like You, Lord. Thank You for helping me along the way. Amen.
James and John, Zebedee’s sons, came up to him. “Teacher, we have something we want you to do for us.”
“What is it? I’ll see what I can do.”
“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.”
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?”
“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.”
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.”
Reflection
“It’s my turn to be first!” “I want to be the leader!” I heard phrases like these so many times while employed with the public school system for over 20 years. There had to be some intervention before things got out of hand. Some rules and guidelines had to be established. Some sort of explanation was needed to teach a lesson. These students had to understand that always being first ignored the needs of others and pointed to their selfish behavior of constantly focusing on getting what they wanted.
Two of Jesus’ disciples, James and John, wanted to arrange things so that they could be near the front of the line in heaven, one on Jesus’ right side and one on Jesus’ left. The other disciples became angry with James and John for making such a request so Jesus had to intervene and explain the selfishness of this request from James and John. Jesus shared that even though we might feel we have privilege to be front and center, we are not to live that way. Jesus’ life showed us that we are called to serve and not to be served. We are to think of others above our own desires. Let’s line ourselves up with the words of Jesus as we seek to live a selfless, sacrificing life of service.
Action Steps
1. Are you living your life aligned with the words of Jesus as He is calling you to be less selfish and more of a sacrificing servant to others?
2. What needs to change in your attitude going forward to accomplish this?
Prayer
Father, it is sometimes hard to put myself at the end of the line instead of in the front where I can be the focus of attention. I often want to be served and not have a servant attitude like You do, Jesus. Help me to line myself up with Your ways and not mine. I want to be more like You, Lord. Thank You for helping me along the way. Amen.
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