It is not to be great, it is to serve

FROM: AUGUST 27 – 1 SEPTEMBER, 2013 Topic: “It is not to be great, it is to serve” Mark 10:35-45 We can see in Mathew 20:20-22 that it was the mother of John and Jacob, who with an attitude of reverence prostrated before the Lord, wanted Jesus to grant her something. Perhaps, that woman came to Jesus with great ignorance regarding what she was asking for. She requested to have each one of her sons to sit in a close and special place next to the Lord in the Kingdom of Christ. Mathew does not register in the verse specifically the name of the two apostles, John and Jacob, but indeed it is known that it was them when she made reference to the feet that she was the mother of the children of Zebedee (Mathew 10:2). Mathew 20:22 says, “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” “We can,” they answered.” They answered the Lord: “Yes, we can drink from the cup and be baptized with your baptism.” John and Jacob were the ones to answer because Jesus referred to them directly and not to their mother who was the one to make the petition. In reality, the mother of these two was far from knowing exactly the reason for them arriving in this world. When Jesus was referring to the “cup” that represents His sufferings and to the “baptism” which represents His death, both of these things so difficult should have made them reason. These men had a great deal of impetus, they dared to aspire and request so quickly something so privileged; they thought it was so easy. They were already claiming for a special place, something so vain that if it was granted they could have moved around in Heaven appearing as Jesus’ heroes. It is a sad event in which the human nature is exposed. How we drown wanting to seem great when what pertains to us is to drink from “His cup” and experience “His baptism!” Jesus was talking about his death, about being whipped and spitted on. That’s what Jesus was talking about, there was no glory for Him in that moment, and it was merely a SERVICE FOR MEN. They were thinking more about their glory than in the sufferings of their Lord. They persistently closed their eyes to the warnings of Jesus regarding the tribulations which they would be exposed to and they opened their eyes only to pay attention to the promise of the glory in which they would participate. Both disciples acquired an erroneous perspective very materialistic of the kingdom. Concerning the mother of the children of Zebedee, she was seeking for her the credit of for becoming the mother of the two children who would be on each side of Jesus. She was far from acknowledging how the honors are given in the kingdom of God. Jesus could not comprehend that insinuation of such great petition. THEY WANTED A CROWN WITHOUT A CROSS, A THRONE WITHOUT THE ALTAR OF THE SACRIFICE, THE GLORY WITHOUT THE SUFFERING THAT LEADS TO IT! Jesus asks them a question that we and every disciple of the Lord should never stop asking ourselves: “Can you drink from the cup I’m about to drink?” Could we drink from His sufferings and go through the baptism of His death? They affirmed they could. He told them yes, that’s how it would be. But, they far from knew exactly what would come to them; Jesus was not far knowing and indeed knew that it would be like that. These two men were going to be loyal to the Lord, Jacob at least died as a martyr (Acts 12: 2) and John lived a life as a martyr, he was persecuted and exiled in solitude in the Island of Patmus. We all come to Jesus with many personal interests. Just think, how much personal interest you have for with the Lord and if you also want to be great in His kingdom. Jesus explained to them that. He could not assign a position of honor in the kingdom in a caprice way. God, the Father had established a special basis in which these positions would be assigned. They thought: “We are very close to the Lord, so this is for us.” Here there is no favoritism; we have to suffer for the name of Christ in order to obtain His blessing for reward. The positions to His right and left hand, WOULD BE GIVEN UPON THE BASIS OF SUFFERING FOR HIM. This means that the main honors in the kingdom is not limited to the Christians of the first century, whom we know they suffered a great deal in persecutions and ordeals, but rather some who live today will also be able to receive it through suffering. Mathew 20:24 “When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. Neither did the other disciples understand that they also wanted that position. Their anger, was probably due to the fact that they wanted to be the greatest ones and were resentful with John and Jacob for being the first to claim such priority. Jesus teaches them about the gentiles who have that desire of greatness in terms of government and dominion. IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD GREATNESS IS MANIFESTED IN SERVICE. All who aspire greatness is to become first a server and all who want to be first is to become a slave. Jesus

is the perfect example of humanity in service. He did not come to this world to be served but rather to serve and to give His life in ransom for mercy. Humiliation was His greatness. It will be like this for us. Amen.