They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them; they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them what was to happen to him, saying, "See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death; then they will hand him over to the Gentiles; they will mock him, and spit upon him, and flog him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise again." James 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." And he said to them, "What is it 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." But 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?" They 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; 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." When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. So 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. But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many."
Jesus asks, “what is it you want me to do for you?” This is the phrase that stands out and is an excellent response to anyone when you desire more clear direction. I have personally used this phrase and it seems to stop people in their tracks, especially when they want something from you.
The scriptures have been building up to this. Through the last few chapters of Mark, Jesus has been on his way to Jerusalem and the fate that awaits him. Jesus knew what was ahead and so did his followers. He was walking ahead, and those following were afraid. Jesus shares with the disciples what they already know to be true. James and John are worried about who is to take over once Jesus is killed.
Nothing infuriates an organization worse than a power vacuum. Jesus sets it straight, saying that there is no use arguing over who “sits at the right hand” because it already belongs to who it is prepared for. However, Jesus doesn’t say who. Jesus then explains “servant leadership” and sacrifice. He says that the conventional leadership as they understand it (like a tyrant over gentiles) doesn’t work in the kingdom of God. Roles and expectations are not what we expect to see.
Jesus explains that a leader who “serves” others was not the norm in society (and it’s not the norm today). And sacrificial actions were considered a display of weakness. The call that I hear today is to model Jesus’ “servant leadership.” Be a servant leader and seek to serve other and be among those who serve. Lead from within and make sacrifices of yourself to behalf others.
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