Privilege Or Service?

I want to set the stage before we examine the scripture: Jesus had been traveling, preaching, and teaching for three years with these twelve disciples. Everything he had done was in preparation for them continuing his ministry – and time and time again, it was evident that they were “not getting” it. I am sure that he was frustrated and disappointed and very tired of their incomprehension. If the disciples were going to start practicing His teachings, it ought to be now. But it wasn’t happening.

Five days before Jesus’ crucifixion, four days before his betrayal and trial, one day before the clearing of the temple, and a few hours before his Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, the disciples were bickering and jockeying to be ‘the elite’ of the disciples.

It is significant to note that this is the THIRD time Jesus has foretold the coming events: his trial, crucifixion, and resurrection.

Moments before the most significant events in their lives, the disciples are a bickering, petty, bad-tempered quarrelsome lot. We just heard that James and John were asking Jesus to name them the ‘most important’ among the disciples. Interestingly, in a similar passage in Matthew 20, their mother was the one who asked Jesus to elevate her sons. What prompted them (or her) to think that they were any more special than any of the other disciples was not indicated in the scripture, but they felt special. You notice that they didn’t ask Jesus for a favor, or ask him to consider their request. What made their inflated egos believe that they could DEMAND anything of Jesus?

Brothers James and John ask Jesus for a big favor. In their minds, they thought they should hold a special place, having privileges that the other disciples didn’t have. They saw this request as elevating themselves into a position of power and control over the others. They wanted the ‘good’ seats, the ones right beside Jesus when he finally was king of the Kingdom of God. They wanted prestige and power. The other ten disciples were no better. They became angry at James and John because they also wished to sit at the ‘high’ seats. They also wanted prestige and power. And they didn’t want the other disciples to have any.

All twelve disciples miss the point about the kingship of Jesus. Although he had told them repeatedly of his impending execution and resurrection, they did not get it.

They were asking for three things. They wanted the glory and honor that came from being elevated to a throne. They wanted to be close to Jesus in the kingdom. They also wanted to have positions of great authority in the coming kingdom.

Humans tend to exercise pride and self-promotion. The attributes associated with pride are revealed at a very early age. Children don’t have to be taught to be selfish; this is their nature. Left unchecked, our pride and selfish desires continue to become more apparent as we mature, often in unhealthy ways. Many problems today and the majority of past conflicts result from pride and the desire to possess power, prominence, and prestige.

In the world, you are a leader if you have power, a title, some delegated authority, you can tell people what to do. From God’s point of view, leadership is something entirely different. Jesus clearly states:

“Whoever would be great, must become a servant. Whoever desires to be first, must become the slave of all.” (Matthew 20:26)

If you want to be a leader, be a servant. If you’re going to be Number 1, become a slave. At least three times, we have heard this warning in the Gospel of Mark. But did the disciples, and do we really “get it”?

God’s view of leadership is servanthood. The way to become a leader is first to become a servant.

In our current society, it is not what you know; it’s who you know, and if you know the right person at the right time, they lift you to an elevated position. But Jesus said that might be the way the world does it, but not in His kingdom.

Do you want to be a leader? Great!

Be a servant.

Do you want to be #1?

Become a slave.

In the church, we haven’t heard and heeded his words. We have popes and cardinals, we have archbishops, we have bishops, priests, deacons, Senior Wardens, and Junior Wardens - we have denominational muckety-muck. We have presidents, vice-presidents. We have celebrities, superstars, radio preachers, TV preachers, Christian celebrities, and Christian superstars. Everybody has a title, and everybody has a position; everybody has a place. And in the church, almost as much as in the world, there is a kind of pecking order. And you’d better know your place, and you’d better keep in your place.