Key Thought

Lest we think that James and John were selfish in their requests, we need to realize they were not alone. Envy and greed, the need for attention and honor, are beastly stumbling blocks to our humility and courage as followers of Jesus. Yes, we can be sickened and disheartened by self-avowed followers of Jesus who are jockeying for attention, prominence, and importance, but we also should see in them our own warning -- we will all find ourselves there but for the grace of God.

Today's Prayer

Today's Verses in Context

Then James and John, sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus. They said, "Teacher, we want to ask you to do something for us." Jesus asked, "What do you want me to do for you?" The sons answered, "You will have glory {in your kingdom}. Let one of us sit at your right, and let one of us sit at your left." Jesus said, "You don't understand what you are asking. Can you accept the kind of suffering that I must have ? Can you be baptized with the same kind of baptism that I must have?" The sons answered, "Yes, we can!" Jesus said to the sons, "You will suffer the same things that I will suffer. And you will be baptized with the same baptism that I must have. But I cannot choose the person that will sit at my right or my left. There are some people that will have those places. Those places are prepared for them." The other ten followers heard this. They became angry with James and John. Jesus called all the followers together. Jesus said, "The non-Jewish people have men they call rulers. You know that those rulers love to show their power over the people. And their important leaders love to use all their authority over the people. But it should not be that way with you. If one of you wants to become great, then he must serve you like a servant. If one of you wants to become the most important, then he must serve all of you like a slave. In the same way, the Son of Man did not come for other people to serve him. But the Son of Man came to serve other people. The Son of Man came to give his life to save many people."

— Mark 10:35-45 (ERV)

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