Mark 10:32-52

“They said to Him, ‘Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.’” (Mark 10:37, NKJV)

We all have a common enemy. It is nearer than we know. It deceives us into thinking that we are greater than we are. It places us in the center of the universe. It is the original sin by which Satan fell from heaven, and he still whispers it into the hearts of people.

William Shakespeare wrote in Henry VIII:

“Cromwell, I charge thee, fling away ambition. By that sin fell the angels; how can man then, the image of his Maker, hope to win by it?”

Jesus spoke of His suffering; James and John thought about their glory. They asked Jesus for the places of honor in His kingdom. This was not motivated by love but by selfish ambition. But they did not know what they were asking. They saw the crown but not the cross.

Jesus responded, “Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”

The cup was His suffering; the baptism was His death on the cross. The devil offers worldly exaltation, and many pursue that. But exaltation in the kingdom comes at a great price, and few are willing to pay it.

“But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, ‘You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all.’” (Mark 10:42–44, NKJV)

In the kingdom of God, the way up is down. The path of exaltation is through the valley of humble service. Whoever would be first must be slave of all.

Jesus never put down the desire to be great, but He did redefine and redirect it. It is not about how many are under us, obeying our orders, but about how many we are under, offering a helping hand and lightening their load.

So how can we improve our serve today?