Mark 10:35-45
The Request of James and John
35Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. "Teacher," they said, "we want you to do for us whatever we ask."
36"What do you want me to do for you?" he asked.
37They replied, "Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory."
38"You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said. "Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?"
39"We can," they answered. Jesus said to them, "You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, 40but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared."
41When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. 42Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45For 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 tells us He came to serve us, to help us, to give His life for us...He did not come for power, fame, and riches...We do not even know of the material things He had...Material things are not important to Him...
John and James, two of His disciples, ask to sit at Jesus right and left, when He is in His glory...Earthly power and fame are not what the Kingdom of God is about...Jesus tells them not to seek fame as other people, but whoever wants to be become great among you must be your servant...If you want to be great, you must serve others...Jesus was explaining what "great" was and what "to become great" actually is, by His definition...They had a different idea on greatness...For us to be great, Jesus tells us we must serve and help others...That is what makes one great...
Jesus wants John and James not to think about themselves and getting served by someone...Jesus' day to day living and teaching was/is about helping others and not about Himself...We are first to love God...Then we are to love and help others...
Jesus wants us our lives to be led by God...He wants us to always help others...True contentment and peace does not come from this world, but comes from God...When we follow God we will forgive others, just as God forgives us...
Let us always remember that what Jesus did everyday was to help others and to teach others...He helped people through His miracle healings...He helped people through His miracle rising of the dead, such as Lazarus in John chapter 11:44...His miracles of calming the storm, helped calm His disciples who were frightened...His miracle feeding of four thousand and five thousand, helped feed His hungry followers...
Jesus' life on earth was all about teaching people to be close to God and to help others...That is what He did, help others...His death on the cross was His final act on earth to help us...His death saves us from the sins we do everyday...
Jesus wants us everyday to help others like He did...By putting others first, the world becomes better, and we become more like Him...
Jesus came to serve us, not to be served...He gave His life as a ransom for many...Jesus in sacrificing His life, would pay our ransom for our lives of sin...He save our lives by dying on the cross...He helped us to His end, making Him great...