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Author: Stephen Weller
736 words, 4 minutes read time

Leadership is to be Service

Scripture: Mark 10:39-45

In the previous lesson we managed to identify Salone as the possible mother of the sons of Zebedee and the sister of Mary, the mother of Jesus, thus making James and John cousins of Jesus. She then brings a serious request from James and John to Jesus concerning positions of honor with him. In this lesson we will see how that plays out.

^{Mk 10:39} “And they said to him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, ⁴⁰ 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.””

These two disciples, James and John, say they are able to drink the cup that he drinks, or to be baptized with the baptism with which he will baptized, but what they understand that to mean is that they will need to fight alongside Jesus. Jesus then informs them that they will undergo a form of suffering. Jesus will suffer as he bears the diving judgment in a substitutionary way as he gives his life as a ransom for many (verse 45). The disciples will suffer for their own purification and for God’s glory. This is pointed out in 1 Peter 4:13 ESV: “But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.”

Who will sit at his right or left hand is not for Jesus to grant. Since Jesus is God, one might ask why he can’t. The reason is that there are differences of authority within the Trinity. This is suggested in John 3:35 ESV: “The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand.” The Father in giving to the Son implies that the Father has greater authority. It is he who will determine who sits at the right and left hand of Jesus in his kingdom.

^{Mk 10:41} “And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. ⁴² 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. ⁴³ But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, ⁴⁴ and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. ⁴⁵ For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”’

When the other disciples heard what James and John had requested, they apparently experienced some jealousy and became indignant at Janes and John. Jesus sees this and calls them all together and points out that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over those who serve them and exercise great authority over them. He then points out that it shall not be that way with you. Instead, “whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.” Among God’s people, leadership should be characterized by serving the people and acting in their best interest. This principle of leadership does not apply only to believers but to all who serve in some capacity of leadership.

Jesus then points to himself. As creator of all things, he came as the “Son of Man not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” God could have ruled over us with force but instead he sent Jesus to provide the means of serving through love meeting our needs. Jesus is an example to us of not looking out for our own interest, but also to the interest of others (Philippians 2:4).

Conclusion

In the world, ruling over others is the normal practice in leadership, but for the believer we are to follow the example of Jesus. He had the authority of God, yet he submitted himself to die in our place to provide for our salvation. That is upside down leadership according to the world’s standards.