TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL PASSAGE
And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” And they said to him, “We are able.” And 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, but 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.” And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.
Mark 10:35–42
DEVOTIONAL
by Elder Chris Beltran
Often, the world dictates that we should do just about anything to keep one step ahead of our neighbors. It is not wrong to work hard, invest, and grow our business or careers. But sometimes, in our pursuit, we would connive, scheme, and maneuver our way to the top using unethical and corrupted means.
In our passage today, Jesus’ two trusted disciples, brothers James and John, were trying to scheme their way into choice seats in heaven. In a similar incident in Matthew 20:21, it was their mother who approached Jesus with this request. She said, “Say that my two sons may sit, one at Your right side and one at Your left side when You are King.” We see in these verses that they did not understand yet that Christian life is not about having honor and a high position.
Jesus uses the moment to teach us what true greatness is. In verses 42–45, 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. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be the 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.”
For Jesus, the worldly values of rank, position, riches, fame, power, your residence address, your latest car model, and your achievements are of little consequence. These are the world’s values. In God’s kingdom, it is the opposite. Whoever wants to be great must be the servant of all. Jesus not only taught that principle but lived it out. “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” (Mark 10:45).
REFLECTION
Jesus takes what we conceive to be the most important values and flips them upside down. A true servant’s heart is a humble heart and is essential for ministry. A servant’s heart allows the person to put aside his or her own agenda in order to carry out Christ’s mission. The best leader in the church is the one who is willing to serve. Jesus is also calling us to do the same and calling our whole church to do the same. We are called to live a life of servanthood by following His example.
PRAYER
Lord, Your example of humility and servanthood is a difficult road to follow because the patterns of the world are the opposite of what You require of Your followers. Renew my mind, change my heart to be more and more like You, a person transformed by You to live a life of servanthood, and draw more people to You by this example. Bless us, Lord, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
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