It's All About Me

Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him.

“Teacher,” they said, “We want you to do for us whatever we ask.”

Mark 10:35

James and John had been with Christ from the beginning, and with Peter, were part of Jesus’ inner circle.  They had seen first hand the healings and the miracles, and decided that between the two of them that they needed to secure their positions in the coming kingdom.  The fact that they had the guts to ask Jesus to give them whatever the wanted lights another window into the character of the Sons of Thunder.  What did these two want?  Positions of power on His right and His left.

Jesus must have shocked them when He said, “I’m sorry, but I don’t have the power to do that.”  The right and the left were for the ones whom God had prepared for those places.  I have always wondered if Jesus here referred to the criminals who would be on the crosses on the right and the left of Him.

Then Jesus called them all together – the ambitious two and the indignant ten – and told them, “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.  For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.  

Brother, let me be your servant,

Let me be as Christ to you.

Pray that I will have the grace

To let you be my servant, too.