ISSUES THAT MEN FACE-No.3

Tonight in our devotions we looked at the passage in Mark 10.35-45, where James and John ask Jesus if they can be seated at his left and right hand when He is in His glory. In other words, they wanted the best and most important position for themselves. If we are honest with ourselves, then who wouldn't want to seek out the best position- in fact, later on in the passage the indignance of the other disciples at James and John is probably due to the fact that they got their request in first!
James and John still didn't understand just how Jesus was going to become King, and Jesus proceeds to give them a lesson in the position of Kingdom people.

* v. 38.The way to privileged position in the messianic kingdom isn't by grasping for power but by relinquishing it through suffering and death.
* v.39-40 James and John failed to understand what was involved in Jesus’ sufferings, though they would indeed participate in them ( James would be the first Christian martyr and John would be exiled to the island of Patmos.) To grant them privileged positions in his kingdom was not within Jesus' authority. He refused to usurp the authority of his Father.
* v.41 The spirit of jealousy and ambition in the disciples was still alive and kicking, even though Jesus had rebuked them about it before.
*v.42-44 Jesus unpacks how to be truly great-the leader becomes the servant, and the person who wants to be first becomes a slave to all. Humility and servanthood are the positions of the kingdom that we should all aspire to.
And remember who ended up to the left and right of Jesus-the thieves either side of the cross.

Comments

[kennedy wakwaya]

Their is also the advice that Jesus gave about seeking for the best places in gatherings.most of hte things done by man are to seek for fame in order to appear better than the other guy or more deserving. Jesus reminds us not to worry about these things. huility is the freedom from worrying about what people think about you because you have given yourself to God completetly and are not worried even when you look bad. For Christ must increase and I must decrease. WHOEVER HUMBLES HIMSELF WILL BE GLORYFIED.