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Numbers 32; Numbers 33; Mark 10
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Scripture

Jesus Teaches about Serving Others

Mark 10

35 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.”
36 “What is your request?” he asked.
37 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.”
38 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?”
39 “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. 40 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.”
41 When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant. 42 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. 43 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. 45 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.”

Observation

At least they didn’t ask Jesus to make them rich or help them win the Roman Lottery but what they were asking for was something totally out of this world. Don’t we all have a tendency to be just worried about ourselves – numero 1! James and John were not asking that all the disciples receive places of honor no they were just asking for these positions for themselves. They were asking for positions of power in the heavenly kingdom. He used this request to talk to all of the disciples about “true greatness”. We still find ourselves today worried about #1 more than anyone else. A non-believer thinks only of “me”. A cultural Christian thinks of “me” first and then God. A Biblical Christian thinks about God then “me”. A devoted Christ-follower thinks of God and “others”. Which one of the four describes you? Which one of the four describes “me”?

Application

I will focus my attention on God and on the needs of others this week. It is not about “me”.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, you have given me eternal life. You have given me all spiritual blessings in the heavenly realms. So now help me keep my eyes on you and on the needs of the people around me. I want to be a servant leader to the people that I serve. Help them see Jesus in me. Thank you for the great people that surround me. Thank you for the great friends that you have given Kathy and me. In Jesus Name…Amen.

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