Week 10 | Day 4 | Mark 10:32-45
Check out all the previous readings here.
Pray
Pause and breathe for a minute. Then ask God to open your eyes and your ears to his Word.
Bible Reading (read these verses three times slowly)
They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. “We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.”
Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”
“What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.
They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”
“You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”
“We can,” they answered.
Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”
When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Reflection & Questions
Ever timed a conversation wrong? Not only is James and John’s question incredibly presumptive, it’s also really badly timed! Jesus just predicted his suffering and death, and it’s then that James and John approach Jesus with their request (or should we say “demand”?).
James and John’s request is wrong in all sorts of ways, but underneath it is a fundamental misunderstanding of how the Kingdom works. As Jesus says, “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.”
That’s why Jesus is the greatest of all – no one can outserve Him. But if we claim to be His followers, we must adopt the same approach. So often we can expect greatness without suffering or comfort without courage. But with God that’s not how it works. We are servants. We stoop down. We suffer. And we trust God to lift us up.
- Are you looking for greatness without suffering or comfort without courage?
- How can you imitate Jesus and serve others today?
Pray
Thank God for sending Jesus to serve you and pray for opportunities to imitate Him today.
Worship Song
Praise Jesus for His service through this song today:
Bible Reading
They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. “We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.”
Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”
“What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.
They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”
“You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”
“We can,” they answered.
Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”
When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Reflection and Questions
Have you ever said something at the TOTAL wrong time? Not only is James and John’s question just a bad question in general, it’s also really badly timed! Jesus just predicted his suffering and death, and James and John decide that now is the time to approach Jesus with their request (or should we say “demand”?). Not very smart was it?
James and John’s request is wrong in all sorts of ways, but underneath it is a total wrong idea of how the Kingdom of God works. As Jesus says, “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.”
That’s why Jesus is the greatest of all – no one can outserve Him. But if we decide to be a follower of Jesus, we have to do the same thing – focus on serving everyone that we can!
- How can you follow Jesus’ lead and serve others today?
Prayer
Thank God for sending Jesus to serve you and pray for opportunities to serve others today for Jesus.
Bible Reading
They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. “We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.”
Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”
“What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.
They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”
“You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”
“We can,” they answered.
Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”
When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Devo Focus
“You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. Vs. 38a
Devo
Ever timed a conversation wrong? Maybe you decided to ask your parents for some spending money while they were working on paying the bills. Or you asked your friend about their crush just after they read a rude text from that person. Well, Jesus’ disciples did that and boy did it backfire! Not only is James and John’s question incredibly presumptive, it’s also really badly timed! Jesus just predicted his suffering and death, and it’s then that James and John approach Jesus with their request (or should we say “demand”?). James and John’s request is wrong in all sorts of ways, but underneath it is a fundamental misunderstanding of how the Kingdom works. As Jesus says, “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.” That’s why Jesus is the greatest of all – no one can outserve Him. But if we claim to be His followers, we must adopt the same approach. So often we can expect greatness without suffering or comfort without courage. But with God that’s not how it works. We are servants. We stoop down. We suffer. And we trust God to lift us up.
- Are you looking for greatness without suffering or comfort without courage?
- How can you imitate Jesus and serve others today?
