Read and meditate on Mark 10:35-45 today…
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mark%2010&version=31
35Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”
Then. Right after Jesus reminded His disciples that He was going to be betrayed, condemned, mocked, spit upon, flogged, killed, and then rise again, James and John approach Him with this request. Seems like a disconnect, doesn’t it? They heard Jesus. Jesus spoke plainly about what was going to happen. Betrayal. Intense suffering. Death. It certainly doesn’t seem like the opportune time to start asking personal requests. But James and John do…
Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask. If nothing else, you have to admire their boldness. They apparently pull Jesus aside and whisper this to Him. They don’t want the other disciples to know what is going on. “Jesus, we want something from You.”
In this context, the request seems out of place, inappropriate. How could they ask this at this time? But then I wonder…how often do I ask God the same thing? “God, I want You to do for me whatever I ask.” That pretty much sums up my prayer life! I can read God’s Word. I can hear His reminder that I will face trouble in this world. I can embrace His promise that everything in my life will ultimately work together for my good and for His glory. And after knowing all that, I can still basically pray, “Lord, I want this for myself.”
What is James and John’s request? For greatness.
“Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”
We want the places of honor in Your kingdom, Jesus.
James and John really don’t understand Jesus’ talk about suffering and death. Perhaps they see it as symbolic of some great struggle that Jesus will have with the religious leaders and the Roman government. But when they hear that He will rise again, they must assume that this is Jesus’ ascension to rulership, to authority, to greatness. They want a piece of that. They want to be great.
How much of what I do is driven by a desire to be great? It is a hard question to ask myself. Yet the desire obviously abides in the heart of man, even in the heart of Christ’s most loyal followers. The disciples got into arguments about greatness. James and John bluntly asked for it. The other disciples were mad they didn’t have the audacity to ask first.
I think the desire dwells in men more than in women. Men value strength. Greatness is strength exemplified. But interestingly, in Matthew’s account (20:20), it is James and John’s mom who initially approaches Jesus with the request for her sons. She apparently has been following along in the background, proud of her sons, waiting for the day when their radical decision to follow Jesus begins to pay off. What would she stand to gain if her sons became great? Social standing. Personal accolades. Vicarious pride and joy in the success of her sons. Women may not be as driven for personal greatness as men. But they still long to have their needs met, to be seen as successful in life and in relationships, to have great husbands, homes, and children. (Women, feel free to share your thoughts here!)
Can I use Jesus for my own greatness? Can I follow Him simply for my own benefit, for what I can get? Can I actually use His name to try to make my own name great? The blunt answer is “yes.” Lord, forgive me. Deliver me.
What is the antidote? Servanthood.
24When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. 25Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Jesus has to assemble the disciples together. A rift is already starting to develop. Pride only breeds quarrels… (Proverbs 13:10). Is it possible that most, if not all, of our quarrels, divisions, arguments, conflicts are rooted in our desire for personal greatness? Jesus has to correct this.
“You want to be great in God’s eyes? Then be a servant. Serve others. Lower yourself and love others.”
God’s path to greatness has nothing to do with authority, with position, with titles, with accolades, with popularity, with attention or with fame. It has everything to do with loving and serving others.
Jesus did not come to gain attention or adoring crowds. Indeed, reading Mark’s gospel, I am struck by how many times Jesus tried to lessen His fame, put a cork on His popularity, keep His miracles in the background. Jesus came to serve and to give His life a ransom for many. To serve and to sacrifice. To care for individuals and to love them.
If no one ever knows your name. If you die quietly in the background. Yet you loved others with the love of Christ. You washed feet. You served faithfully. In God’s kingdom, you are great.
Lord, I am so enamored with the world’s idea of greatness. I find a pull inside of me toward titles, position, influence, accolades, attention, success. Forgive me. Teach me to serve others even if my name is never recognized. May the greatness of Your name, not my own, be my goal.