Read Mark 9 – 10
For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. Mark 10:45 KJV
This statement was prompted by a request of James and John to sit to the right and left of the Lord in glory. They were ambitious! When the other disciples learned of this request they were upset with James and John, apparently they equally desired position and power. On more than one occasion they argued about which of them was the greatest. This gave Jesus an opportunity to contrast leadership in the world and among the people of God. In the world we seek to be promoted over others. For many, success in life is about getting ahead of others. Such is not to be the case among Christians. According to Jesus, the best fitted Christian leader is a servant. He does not take his model from the world but from the Lord. Jesus could have exercised power over men, He could have demanded service from others, but He came as a servant to minister and to give His life a ransom for many.
Lord, this seems to be a much needed lesson among Christians even today. Instead of thinking first about others we often think first about our own needs, wants, and desires. Help us escape the attitude of the world and follow Your example of servant leadership.
A question to ponder: What can I do today to demonstrate my understanding of the servant leadership role taught by Jesus?
