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
Reading about Jesus' disciples can be an act of great humility because, as is oftentimes the case, we see ourselves in them. They seem to do and say many of the same things that we would do and say. This is the case when it comes to James and John. They wanted to share in the glory of Jesus without sharing in the suffering of Jesus. How many of us, too, wouldn't prefer to share in the glory of Jesus without sharing in his suffering and death?
As Christians, we know this is not possible. We are not able to enjoy the resurrection of Jesus without also going through the suffering and death of Jesus. We know that when we were baptized, we were united both to Jesus' death and to his resurrection. We also know that this baptism empowers us to enjoy the new relationship that God desires to have with every one of God's children.
Prayer
Lord God of resurrection, thank you for bringing us from death to life in the waters of baptism. Help us to live in this new life each and every day. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.