Serve, Not Be Served | Mark 10: 35-45
Tuesday | November 10, 2020 |
Mark 10Serve, Not Be Served | Mark 10: 35-45
Pastor Emlen Bailey
Mark 10: 35-45
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.” And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” 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?” And they said to him, “We are able” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink your will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, 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.” And when the tem heard of it, then began to be indignant at James and John. 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. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
For many years, I was a server at multiple restaurants. I made my living by bringing sweet teas, plates of pasta, and extra sides of dressing. For the most part, I enjoyed my job, but there were days that it was a struggle to put on a smiling face and serve people. I wanted to change careers to something that I earning my income by serving people. And then I met Jesus. Jesus taught me something about the position that I was in.
It is amazing that James and John had been with Jesus all this time and did not realize that Jesus was not on Earth seeking an Earthly Crown. Jesus went to the sick, the unclean, the unworthy and did all He could to help those. He elevated them and served them! However, James and John only had their eyes on earthly Glory, not the true purpose of Jesus coming.
Jesus came to lay his life down in death for all of us who would accept Him. He did not come to win awards, or make a lot of money, or to beat back the unrighteous. His heart is for everyone to have an encounter and be ushered in to a relationship with God. Moreover, this is what he expected out of His disciples, that same selflessness.
He asks them if they are going to be up to challenge of what He was about to face. Of course, they are going to say yes, they don’t want to disappoint Jesus. But, they had no clue what they were saying yes to. They said yes to going to difficult places in order to see the Gospel spread. They said yes to laying down their OWN lives because of opposition to the message. They were saying yes to serving the least of people. I believe that Jesus replied with a chuckle, “You sure will, but you have no idea.”
So what did Jesus teach me as I was waiting tables and getting frustrated at the requests of some of my customers? He taught me that beyond my occupation, it is my calling as a Son of God to serve people. I am called to lay my life down for the least of these. Sometimes that looks like helping someone move on my one day off. Sometimes that looks like having a conversation with someone I don’t know. Sometimes that looks like giving money. I am called to do whatever I can do to serve. Because just like Jesus, we are here not to be served, but to serve!
I am called to lay my life down for the least of these.
AuthorPastor Emlen Bailey
