Have you ever met someone who thinks they deserve certain rights and privileges? Have you ever been one of those people?
I am sure we all have met someone and been “that” person at some point in our lives. Don’t get me wrong, it is great to have confidence. But when the confidence turns into arrogance, and you think you are better than other people and deserve more, you are slipping into dangerous territory that can lead you in all sorts of bad directions.
In the bible, James and John ask Jesus for a favor to sit in places of honor next to Jesus on his glorious throne.
Jesus Teaches about Serving Others
Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came over and spoke to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do us a favor.”
“What is your request?” he asked.
They replied, “When you sit on your glorious throne, we want to sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.”
But Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink? Are you able to be baptized with the baptism of suffering I must be baptized with?”
“Oh yes,” they replied, “we are able!”
Then Jesus told them, “You will indeed drink from my bitter cup and be baptized with my baptism of suffering. But I have no right to say who will sit on my right or my left. God has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen.”
When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant.So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them.But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant,and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else.For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
—Mark 10:35-45 (NLT)
Jesus knew he would have to suffer and die on the cross, so we can be forgiven. Jesus asked John and James if they knew what they were asking, and if they could go through suffering.
They said yes.
Cringe! Did they really say yes? The other disciples were angry. I feel angry reading James and John say yes. Who do they think they are?
Jesus uses this an opportunity to show grace and love.
Jesus called his disciples together and talked to them. He said that rulers flaunt their authority over others. Jesus tells his disciples it will be different among them. If they want to be leaders, they must first be servants.
“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” —Mark 10:45 (NLT)
Even when we are at our worst, God doesn’t leave us. He can turn our mistakes into something good. We have all sinned, so none of us here on earth have a right to judge others. Our Father loves us even when we make mistakes and still wants our hearts, so much so that God sent His only Son to save us.
Who do you think you are? You are a child of God, that is who you are.
Blessed, loved, forgiven.
Embrace This Beautiful Life 