Mark 10: 35-45 (NRSV)
Read Mark 10: 35-45 on biblegateway.com
Verse 35James 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." Verse 36And he said to them, "What is it you want me to do for you?" Verse 37And they said to him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory." Verse 38But 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?" Verse 39They 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; Verse 40but 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."
Verse 41When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. Verse 42So 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. Verse 43But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, Verse 44and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. Verse 45For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many."
Devotion
We shake our heads at the audacity of James and John—and yet we recognize them so clearly. We know them from the inside out. Look at how we have followed you Jesus, so, certainly you will not object to giving us places of honor. Look at the sacrifices we have made; there should be just a little something in it for us, don’t you think? They seem ridiculous and, at the same time, we see them when we look in the mirror. We sometimes have the idea that following Jesus is some sort of guarantee of a reward. Do we forget that Jesus' entire ministry had to do with serving, with giving himself away for the sake of others? Do we forget that he stopped at nothing to love this world? Being called by God is not an invitation to a life of ease and special treatment, and yet, strangely enough, it is an invitation to abundant life.
Prayer
God, you have called us and we are yours. Send us out again and again knowing that the place of honor is at the foot of the cross. Show us the joy that is found in serving your beloved people. Amen.