Mark 10-5.3.22

SCRIPTURE:

Mark 10:42-45

"Jesus called them over and said to them, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles dominate them, and their men of high position exercise power over them. But it must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be a slave to all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life - a ransom for many."

OBSERVATION:

The brothers, James and John, who God had named, "sons of thunder' approached Jesus and told Him that they wanted Him to allow them to sit at His right and left side in glory.

UNDERSTANDING:

James and John had been with Jesus about three years when they told Him what they wanted Him to do for them, and, according to the Book of Matthew, it was their mother, Salome who had first approached Jesus regarding this same concern for her sons.

Their father, Zebedee was a wealthy man who owned his own fishing business. The two brothers, like most of the Jews living in that day had the wrong idea about the Messiah's kingdom. They were under the impression that Jesus was going to establish an earthly kingdom, so they told Him that they wanted to be honored by being able to sit on His left and right side. Their desire was to have the highest position in Jesus' kingdom. Jesus responded by telling them that to be great in God's kingdom, they must be a servant of all.

LIFE APPLICATION:

Once we make Jesus our Lord and Savior, we must allow Him to be Lord of all! Jesus is our example, and His life on earth demonstrated how important it was for Him to please the Father by serving others. He did not come to be served, but to serve.

The next generation is watching us closely and they see what is important to us by our actions. Do they see us modeling servanthood? Are we including them when we serve others? The mark of a true Christ-follower is one who loves and serves the needs of others.

Salome and Zebedee seemed to have shown more concern over attaining worldly greatness than serving others, and unfortunately their worldly mindset was passed down to their sons. But, as time went on, the loving and merciful influence of Jesus' servant attitude had rubbed off on the brothers, and James and John went on to become two of the greatest servants in the New Testament!

I pray that my life will reflect servant-leadership, and that my children and grand-children will follow as we allow Jesus to rub off on us, and model His likeness.

-Robin Orefice