Mark 10: 43-45
”Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Jesus came to us on earth to reconcile us to Him. There was no evidence at any time of Jesus trying to make a name for himself or to be seen as great. Yet we continue to act as if being successful or well-liked or “busy” is in some way our purpose here on earth. Jesus was clear when instructing us to serve others. We are to put ourselves below others and think of their needs first. We are not to measure ourselves against others. Simple, clear instructions- why so hard to live by? My selfishness is powerful. Satan must be busy stoking that fire.
Holy Father, help me to keep Satan out of my life. Help me to think of others before myself and to be kind when being snappish or selfish comes more readily. I need you, Lord. Amen
Becky, transforming
Mark 10: 43-45
“Don’t you know who I am?” How many times have we heard this or its equivalent of privileged people when they find themselves in a jam. Hubris is never a good look because it is so unscriptural. If discipleship is a life-long process of being being transformed into the image of Jesus for the sake of others, it would seem we are obliged to jettison our narcissistic love of self and put others first. I look forward to what service the emerging Transformers will come up with first.
Prayer - Gracious God, help me move toward your image to be broken bread and poured out wine for others So that they may sense the brilliance of Your…
In this reading from Mark’s Gospel, Jesus is telling His disciples that if they want to be leaders ( those who wish to become great) , they will need to be servants, and handle the needs of others. This statement comes after James and John ask Jesus for positions of power in His kingdom , and also after they learn that people of great wealth and power have a difficult time giving up that wealth to follow God – their material things mean too much to them. As we know, Jesus led a life on earth as a servant – serving others, not wanting to be served Himself.
Let us pray together please – Loving God, help us to understand…
Mark 10:43-45
Jesus, the Son of God never placed himself in a position above others. He led by serving, and He loved by serving. He washed feet. He fed thousands. He walked to visit and heal the sick and dead. He stopped to touch and heal a sick woman. He spent time with those no one else cared to spend time with. Serving others is more than keeping up with a to-do list. To be a servant means I genuinely need to care about people. It’s keeping my eyes, heart and days open to recognize these very needs. Jesus was not stressed by time, what others thought of Him, or a list of tasks to accomplish each day. Jesus was led…
Mark 10: 43-45
45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for man.”
Jesus was the ransom paid for us to have eternal life. Only Jesus could serve as the price paid to free us from our sins. When you think of what torment he must have gone through knowing that he would die for us, and seeing time after time his people not listening to his word. Jesus served us while on earth and we will serve him as best we can while we are here.
Dearest Jesus, you served as a ransom so that I might have eternal life. Help me to…