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
‘For the son of man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many’
In the movie The Lion King, Simba, the young lion, discovers that one day he will be king. He can’t wait! He understands being king as doing whatever he wants to do; and nobody can tell him otherwise. But his father, Mufasa, explains to Simba that "being King doesn’t mean having your way all the time."
Simba’s understanding of the world and power reflects our own: ‘He who has the gold makes the rule.’ In our Gospel reading, Jesus’ words turn our world upside down. We respond like Peter, “A servant king? What next!”
Yet Jesus not only spells out to us that things are going to be different with Him; Jesus showed us what that would mean through example. He gave his life for all.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, by your self-sacrifice you have rescued us from sin, death and the power of the devil. Empower us to use our power and skill to serve as you served. In your strong name, Amen.