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 time to return to school, boys. Let’s give James and John a little slack. They were apprentices, just learning how to become journeymen disciples of Jesus. That training takes a lifetime. Very few ever master the assignment. Two obstacles make the task exceedingly difficult. Discipleship, under the master teacher, Jesus, is counter-cultural and counter-human nature. “It is not so among you,” said Jesus. The last, first, and the first, last. Discipleship is a totally new and inverted lifestyle which makes no sense to the surrounding culture, and is repulsive to human nature. The Master Himself is the great Exemplar. “The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.” The return to school was apparently successful. Ten of the students died as martyrs, one committed suicide, only John lived to old age.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, call us back to school every day with Jesus, to learn from your revelation. Subdue our human natures to adopt the inverted life of your kingdom. Amen.
Interested in digging deeper into today’s text?
Read more here.