Rated "M" for Mature - 6/22/25

Mark 10:35-45 ESV 35 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” 36 And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” 37 And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” 38 Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” 39 And they said to him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, 40 but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” 41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. 42 And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” 

Philippians 2:1–8 ESV 1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

James' and John’s mother wanted Jesus to promise her sons would have a position that would benefit them. This is not a bad desire. We should strive to better ourselves and achieve, but Jesus uses the opportunity to teach about motives. It is not the position that is bad but rather when the desire for the promotion keeps us from serving. 

We want a God who will do what we ask. “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.”  God knows what we need before we ask, yet He allows us to utter our petitions nonetheless.

This mother’s request had revealed the disciples wrong motives. 
“And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John.” 

The Kingdom Values are Different

Mark 10:43 “43 But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,” 

Jesus addresses the motives, not the presumptuous request.  Their question revealed their motives.

Jesus was setting up a kingdom with a different set of rules / values.
The kingdom of God operates on different principles than the world's systems. In this kingdom, values are reversed: the last are first, the least are greatest, and service is the path to leadership. This idea is rooted in Jesus’ teachings - Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7)
  • Love for your enemies
  • Last will be first
  • Weakness as strength
  • Turn the other cheek

Thinking differently is one of the keys to the kingdom.  The desire should be for service, not for position.

Position is Not an Excuse to Serve Less
The mother’s request revealed that the disciples were deeply motivated by position.

Mark 10:42–43 “42 And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,” 

Philippians 2:5–7 “5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.” 

We tend to overestimate the power of earthly positions. In the kingdom, positions are not to be grasped. 

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
  
The religious leaders of that day lorded their position over people.
 
They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger (Matthew 23:4)

Jesus taught that position is never a reason not to serve. It is actually a catalyst to serve more.  Jesus would go on to model what it looks like to take the form of a servant.  In the position of Rabbi, Jesus took the form of a servant to wash their feet

Luke 22:27 For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves. 

Serve Your Way Into Your Life’s Purpose

Mark 10:45 “45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Philippians 2:8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” 

Jesus served his way to the fulfillment of his purpose on the cross. We are called to follow Christ and serve first. It is in serving that we accomplish and achieve the God-given purpose for our lives.

Don’t seek the path of the position, seek the path of servanthood.

Philippians 2:3–4 “3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

Why did Jesus (a King) ride in on a donkey? He was on the servant’s path.

Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

The servant's path led him to His ultimate position enthroned in heaven.

Committing to the servant’s path will take you to the positions God has for you.  This path takes you into all God has for you.  See where serving takes you - the sky is the limit.