Beloved, I am glad to share with you today the above theme from Mark 10.39-40. Indeed, let’s not fail to notice the faith of James and John. They knew that their master was the Messiah, the heir to the kingdom, and that they would share in it with him. But their request betrays the ignorance and vanity of their natural hearts. Nonetheless, full of grace, the Lord gathered his disciples around him and made this unfortunate intervention of the two brothers serve their instruction(as well as ours).
In fact, don’t they understand that they have before them the Model par excellence of humility, the one who, having all the rights to be served, wanted to make himself a slave in order to deliver his creature and pay with his own life ransom demanded by the Sovereign Judge? This is why verse 45 “For the Son of man came not to be served, but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many” could be called the key verse of the gospel, and it sums it up.
For if the disciples had understood what Jesus had told them, they would not have claimed the first place, for they could not understand if others had not deserved it. But, thanks be to God, we know that James and John will have a good place near the Lord; and will not be among the last. For James was the first of the twelve who suffered death for his Master.
And John had the longest career in the service of him on whom his head rested, the day before the crucifixion. On another occasion, Jesus told the twelve that they would be seated on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel(Luke 22:30). But the other ten disciples were indignant at James and John because of what the Lord had just told them.
This is why the Lord still teaches them the difference between greatness according to man and greatness according to God. For those who rule the nations have an authority to assert; and by their greatness some men dominate others. This is the way it is. “But it is not so among you,” says the Lord, for: whoever wishes to become great among you, will be your servant, and whoever among you wishes to become first, will be the slave of all. ” In the end, we will not repeat it enough: “The Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. It’s the summary of the whole gospel.
This is why Psalm 8 begins by establishing the smallness of man in relation to creation, an impression that each of us may have felt while contemplating the stupendous immensity of a starry sky. “What is man”? The sons of Zebedee do not seem to have been aware of this. For, brought back to our humble dimension as human beings, we learn that yet the Eternal God had in view magnificent and glorious things for man and by man.
But how to achieve them with a sinful and mortal being? For it’s impossible to crown a creature plunged in misery and corruption with glory and honor. Yes, the Creator took on the body he created. “He was made a little less than the angels”. And crowned with glory and honor, Christ Jesus, resurrected man, will introduce other men with him into heaven and share his glory with them.
The following verses have been compiled for your edification and put together to facilitate your better understanding:
- Madness of self-exaltation:
Pr 25.6 Do not exalt yourself in the king’s presence, and do not claim a place among his great men; Pr 25.27 It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable to search out matters that are too deep; Mt 23.12 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted; Mk 10.37 They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”
- Spiritual ignorance:
Mi 4.12 But they do not know the thoughts of the LORD; they do not understand his plan, that he has gathered them like sheaves to the threshing floor; Rm 10.3 Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness; Ep 4.18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.
- Sins of ignorance:
Luke 12.48 But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked; 1 Tim 1.13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.
- Conviction condemned:
Lk 12.15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” Col 3.5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.
From all of the above, we note that the request of Zebedee’s sons betrays the ignorance and vanity of their natural heart. They knew that their master was the Messiah, the heir to the kingdom, and that they would share in it with him. Then, full of grace, the Lord Jesus gathers his disciples around him and makes this unfortunate intervention of the two brothers for their instruction to show clearly that he does only what the Father commands him. He then teaches them greatness according to God, because the two seemed to ignore the smallness of man compared to creation. For if the disciples had understood what Jesus had told them, they wouldn’t have claimed the first place, could not understand if others had not deserved it. This is why by the grace of the Lord God, we know that James and John will have a good place near the Lord and they will not be among the last, having for having been somehow like him, “the slave of all”. Our prayers support you all in your efforts to lower oneself by walking in humility and obedience to the Word.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite anyone who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me as follows:
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I acknowledge that I have sinned against you and ask forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as my Lord and personal Savior. I acknowledge that you died on the cross of Calvary and that you rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me each day to eternal life you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal to me and strengthen my heart and my faith so that your light may shine in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for accepting me in your divine family so that I too can contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby waterpoint to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
To you all worship, power, and glory, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be glad to respond to your queries and comments if necessary, before sharing with you next week Jesus’ royal entry to Jerusalem.
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you profusely.
David Feze, Servant of the Almighty God.