Title: Greatness Is Serving

Scripture Reading: Mark:10:36-39
“And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?” They said to Him, “Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.” But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They said to Him, “We are able.”

Main idea: Whoever desires to be first should become a slave to everyone.

James and John seek rewards for their service
James and John came with a request that was at once noble. They exhibited faith that Jesus would set up His kingdom. It was noble that they wanted to be near Christ. The two brothers are seeking to secure for themselves the top positions in the Messiah’s future kingdom. To sit at a ruler’s right or left hand was a sign of power and prestige (1 Kings 2:19; 22:19; Psalms 110:1). James and John get one thing right but everything else wrong. They are correct that Jesus is going to setup His kingdom. But as for how the glory and kingdom would come, they don’t have a clue. They need a lesson on a cup and a baptism. Jesus does not rebuke them for their boldness. Instead he lays out what appears to be a condition. In the Old Testament, a cup is a metaphor for what God has in store for someone, whether a cup of blessing (Ps 16:5; Ps 23:5; Ps 116:13) or, the cup of his wrath (Ps 75:9; Isa 51:17-22; Jer 49:12; Ezek 23:31-34). Jesus has the latter in mind, since “drinking the cup” symbolizes his accepting  God’s judgment on sin (Mark 14:36). Psalm 110:1 says: “The LORD said to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand,’ ” and they are lobbying their Lord for that right-hand seat.

“Are you able to drink the cup that I drink”
Drinking a cup is a common picture of the wrath of God in judgment (Ps 75:8; Isa 51:17-23; Jer 25:15-17; Ezek 23:28-34). Jesus compares His approaching suffering and death to drinking a cup. The cup is a metaphor for suffering (Isa. 51:17, 22).

“the baptism that I am baptized with?”
Jesus’ passion and death were a baptism—His being overwhelmed and immersed in the destiny planned for Him by His Father (Ps 69:2,15). His cross was a divine appointment! Jesus said in Luke 12:50, I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished! baptism is a metaphor for being plunged into calamity (Ps 42:7; Ps 69:1). He will not be sprinkled with a bit of suffering; he will be submerged in it.

“They said to Him, “We are able.”
They answered “We are able” (Mark 10:39) makes plain that James and John did not understand. Jesus reveals that they are indeed ordained for a similar destiny (Mark 10:39). James would be the first of the apostles to be martyred (Acts 12:1-2). John would experience, alone, the great persecution of Rome and be exiled to Patmos (Rev 1:9). Jesus cannot promise them cochairs, but he can promise them that they will suffer (Acts 12:2).

“You do not know what you ask”
Jesus responds to their selfish request with grace: “You don’t know what you are asking.” He informs them that the Father has not placed him in charge of the seating arrangements in the kingdom. To choose who sits on His right or left is a decision reserved for His Father. And it is not the kind of question those who will sit in those chairs would ask! As to the request itself, Jesus points out that the positions of eminence in his kingdom have already been determined, that is, they were decreed in God’s eternal counsel “prepared by my Father” (Matt 20:23).

Gentile rulers
Jesus describes the way of the worldly people in (Mark 10:42). They spend all their energies to get to the top; and, once having reached that top position, they cause all others to feel the weight of their authority. Jesus didn’t ridicule James and John for asking this particular request, but he denied their request. We can feel free to ask God for anything, but our request may be denied. God wants to give us what is best for us, not merely what we want.

Application
The pathway to glory is the pathway of suffering. Before the crown there is a cross, the cup of suffering. Before the blessings that flow there is a baptism that overwhelms and drowns. Jesus reverses all ideas of greatness of the world. In the world, the more important you are, the more are the people who serve you. Jesus says, “it shall not be so among you” (Mark 10:43). You want to be great, do something great for God? Become a servant. Such a person will have the mind of Christ, esteeming others better than himself, not giving attention to their own interests, but to those around them (Phil 2:3-5). The disciples’ request highlighted the problem with most of our prayers. We also want Jesus to do whatever we ask. According to John 14:13-14, we offer true prayer when we pray in Jesus’ name; but these disciples wanted to pray in their own names. Jesus does promise to answer our prayers when we pray according to his will. He does not give us whatever we want if that want is not according to his will.

Let’s pray together
Heavenly Father, I thank you the opportunity you given to us to serve you. Help us Lord to have a servant mind to serve you.  In Jesus Name Amen.