The Request of James and John - Mark 10:35-45
The Request of James and John
35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” 36 “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. 37 They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.” 38 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” 39 “We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, 40 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.” 41 When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. 42 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Reflection:
James and John show us today that they are still missing the mark as to Jesus' mission, purpose, and how he will commission them to do the same. They are still caught in what Jesus can do for them. They are thinking Jesus will prop up their status as they are seeking to serve rather than be served. It is amazing that they missed Jesus' whole life and example, which was one of servitude and giving up his rights. They even were as bold (or should I say naive based on Jesus' response to their question) as to ask Jesus to grant them the places of honor and power in heaven. We know Jesus is at the right hand of the Father, but there is no teaching about us assuming those positions in heaven.
When Jesus reminds them of the cup of suffering he has just re-iterated to them about his suffering and the road to the cross, they presume that they are ready for it. Again Jesus tries to get them to see what they are actually saying, and what it will mean to them when he leaves. Meanwhile, the other disciples are furious that James and John assumed they would be the favorites, and get preferential treatment. At the end of this passage (10:43-45), we have the famous words of Jesus that would be good for any follower of Christ to memorize,
"Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
So the question today is one of attitude. Do you have the same mind as Christ? Do you seek to serve rather than be served? Is your mind more on what you can get or the freedom you will have in following Jesus wherever the Holy Spirit leads you? Are you realistic about what laying down your life for Jesus will bring in your life? The Good News today is that as we lay down our lives and serve the living Lord, we will experience the truth of letting our lives be an offering back to Jesus. In lieu of what Jesus did for us, we can offer our lives as a living sacrifice. Instead of being conformed to the world, we can be renewed in our minds with an attitude of serving rather than seeking to be served. And as we do so we know Jesus is with us and gives us His power and strength to do what we could not do ourselves. Amen.
Jesus, thank you for showing what true greatness is. We know greatness begins with a towel and serving the least of these. We know following you will be laying down our needs for the needs of others. And we know that when we do this we will experience joy and peace and freedom from self!
35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” 36 “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. 37 They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.” 38 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” 39 “We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, 40 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.” 41 When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. 42 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Reflection:
James and John show us today that they are still missing the mark as to Jesus' mission, purpose, and how he will commission them to do the same. They are still caught in what Jesus can do for them. They are thinking Jesus will prop up their status as they are seeking to serve rather than be served. It is amazing that they missed Jesus' whole life and example, which was one of servitude and giving up his rights. They even were as bold (or should I say naive based on Jesus' response to their question) as to ask Jesus to grant them the places of honor and power in heaven. We know Jesus is at the right hand of the Father, but there is no teaching about us assuming those positions in heaven.
When Jesus reminds them of the cup of suffering he has just re-iterated to them about his suffering and the road to the cross, they presume that they are ready for it. Again Jesus tries to get them to see what they are actually saying, and what it will mean to them when he leaves. Meanwhile, the other disciples are furious that James and John assumed they would be the favorites, and get preferential treatment. At the end of this passage (10:43-45), we have the famous words of Jesus that would be good for any follower of Christ to memorize,
"Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
So the question today is one of attitude. Do you have the same mind as Christ? Do you seek to serve rather than be served? Is your mind more on what you can get or the freedom you will have in following Jesus wherever the Holy Spirit leads you? Are you realistic about what laying down your life for Jesus will bring in your life? The Good News today is that as we lay down our lives and serve the living Lord, we will experience the truth of letting our lives be an offering back to Jesus. In lieu of what Jesus did for us, we can offer our lives as a living sacrifice. Instead of being conformed to the world, we can be renewed in our minds with an attitude of serving rather than seeking to be served. And as we do so we know Jesus is with us and gives us His power and strength to do what we could not do ourselves. Amen.
Jesus, thank you for showing what true greatness is. We know greatness begins with a towel and serving the least of these. We know following you will be laying down our needs for the needs of others. And we know that when we do this we will experience joy and peace and freedom from self!
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