In the Life of Christ
James and John approached Jesus with a request many of us might have wished we were bold enough to make: when His kingdom came, could they sit at His right and left? They wanted to be close to Him, but they also wanted the places of highest honor (Mark 10:35–37). I recognize something of myself in that request. I want to serve the Lord, yet I can still hope my service will be noticed, valued, and perhaps rewarded with a position that feels secure.
The timing makes their request especially revealing. Jesus had just told the disciples that He was going to Jerusalem, where He would be condemned, mocked, flogged, killed, and raised again (Mark 10:32–34). He was speaking about suffering; they were imagining seats of honor. Jesus did not dismiss them. Instead, He asked whether they could drink the cup He would drink and undergo the baptism He would undergo. They answered confidently, though they could not yet understand all that following Him would cost.
When the other ten disciples heard about the request, they became indignant. Mark does not tell us what each one was thinking. Jesus treated the moment as a lesson for all twelve. He called them together and described the way rulers often use authority over others. Then He gave them a different pattern: “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant” (Mark 10:42–43, NIV). They were still free to desire a life that mattered. Jesus was teaching them where its worth would be found.
Matthew Henry, reflecting on this passage, wrote that the person who would be truly great “must lay out himself to do good to all.” (biblehub.com) That is a useful way to examine my own hopes. If I lead a class, care for a family, guide a congregation, or help at work, am I attending to the people entrusted to me? Do I notice what would help them grow? Do I listen when they speak? Authority gives a person many opportunities to serve, including opportunities no one else will see.
Jesus’ words also reach beyond those who hold a title. A disciple can serve by carrying out a task that has been overlooked, staying with someone who is grieving, or making room for another person’s contribution. Sometimes service means giving practical help. Sometimes it means refusing to use another person’s need as a way to feel important. Jesus asks us to see people as people, never as steps toward our own recognition. His example invites both humility and care: we ask what is needed, offer what we can, and honor the person receiving it.
Steve Wilmhurst sums up Jesus’ picture of leadership with a memorable phrase: “Not a tiara, but a tea towel!” (Bible Gateway) It brings to mind the evening when Jesus washed His disciples’ feet (John 13:3–15). John tells us that Jesus knew who He was and where He was going. With that knowledge, He rose from the table and took the place of one who served. He could attend to their need without any fear that doing so diminished Him.
Mark brings us to an even greater act of service. Jesus says that the Son of Man came “to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45, NIV). The Greek word lytron, translated “ransom,” refers to a price paid for release. Jesus’ death is the heart of His mission, far beyond anything His disciples could accomplish through kindness or sacrifice of their own. His service sets people free and gives those who follow Him a new way to live. (Bible Gateway)
I can imagine James and John remembering this conversation differently after the cross. The places they had requested belonged to a kingdom they were still learning to understand. We are learning too. Today, rather than wondering who will recognize our faithfulness, we can ask whom Jesus has placed before us. A task may be waiting, or a person may need our attention. When we serve with love, we follow the One who gave Himself for us.
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