Mark 10:45 – “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
Today’s New Testament One Year Bible reading opens up with Jesus and His disciples heading toward Jerusalem. Jesus paints a really clear picture of what is getting ready to happen to Him. He just finishes telling them He’s going to be scourged, spit upon, and killed when James and John, being sensitive to the moment (NOT!), ask Him to do for them whatever they desire. Jesus hears their request about wanting a prominent seat in the coming kingdom. Jesus kindly lets them know that such position is not His to give. The rest of the disciples overhear the conversation and are fuming with these two brothers. Jesus has to intervene and give them a lesson about humility.
There are two lessons here and the first one is for leaders: 1) When you’re dying and those around you are patting you on the back saying, “That’s too bad,” don’t be surprised if their lips are with you but their heart is far from you (Mark 7:6). What they really might be thinking about is their next position. 2) Jesus winds up His lesson with today’s verse. The reason why we’re still here is because of this verse. We’re not here to be served, but we are here to serve. Which side of that statement are you on? If you’re not serving you’re missing your purpose. Live to serve…down to the very last part of your journey.