Thursday Reflection – August 22, 2019

CALLED TO BE SERVANTS

But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant. Mark 10:43

Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem for what would be the fulfilment of his ministry here on earth. He was accompanied by his disciples who followed him until they were scattered after Jesus’s arrest in the garden of Gethsemane. On the way to Jerusalem James and John, the sons of Zebedee, asked to be placed on the right and left of Jesus when he enters his glory. Jesus indicated that he was unable to grant such a request for those places have already been reserved.

When the rest of disciples heard this they became angry with James and John for making such a request. Jesus then called his disciples to teach them. He said, “You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

At the heart of James and John’s request and the vexation of the disciples was self-centeredness, greed and a desire for power. James and John were only concerned about themselves and the disciples were upset that they were not part of this request. Jesus went on to explain that this is how the Gentiles or the world operate. They “lord” it over others and become tyrants in doing so.

In other words they crave power and want to be greater than others and in doing so ensure they subjugate others. They keep others down so that they can remain on top. They mistreat others so that they can be in control. They lie, scheme and plan so that they will always have subordinates. This is how the world thinks. They possess the mentality suggesting, “I am bigger, better, and have more power than you, while telling others you’re weak, insignificant and powerless.”

Humans generally have a desire to be better than others and this is evident in how leadership treat staff at times; how individuals in higher social strata treat those in lesser social strata; how the rich treat the poor and how the poor treat those who are poorer.

Jesus said to his disciples, “But it is not so among you.” As believers in Christ we are challenged to look differently at how we lead, look at power and greatness. Jesus continued by saying, “But whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all.
Greatness defined by Jesus is humbling ourselves and becoming a servant to others. Greatness is not the accolades that come with a “so-called” high position. Greatness is getting our hands dirty, doing the hard work and serving others. Not even Jesus, the son of God, came to be served. Jesus said he came to serve.

We are called to be servants. In all spheres of life we are called to serve others. Those who want to be first will be last. Those who put themselves above others will be placed below others. Jesus wants us to be servants and change our mentality from that of the world. I end with this question, do your actions depict that of a servant or that of a tyrant?

Until next week serve God and be a servant to others.

Shalom

Christopher Euphfa