Mark 10:35-45 (NRSV)
Read Mark 10:35-45 on biblegateway.com
Verse 35James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." Verse 36And he said to them, "What is it you want me to do for you?" Verse 37And they said to him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory." Verse 38But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" Verse 39They replied, "We are able." Then Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; Verse 40but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared."
Verse 41When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. Verse 42So Jesus called them and said to them, "You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. Verse 43But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, Verse 44and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. Verse 45For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many."
Devotion
It’s play-off time in Minnesota! Soon, over the next several weeks, high school teams all over the state will be competing to find out who is number one. It’s easy to get caught up into the competition. In fact, many people are thinking about who will win between Minnesota and Denver this weekend. And although it is generally harmless, there is a subtle or not so subtle way in which competition creeps in to our faith.
‘Not so among you,’ Jesus says. With these words, Jesus reminds us that in the ranking of things, he wants his disciples to be number one in servant-hood. The fact that Jesus became one of us and emptied himself compels us to look at our ways of ranking with a grain of salt. Rather, our glory, our power and our position are measured in the love and service that we give away.
Prayer
Oh God, in Jesus you have showed us the way to be number one. Help us to focus and conform our lives to your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.