Dear Friends,
We hope this week's devotional will encourage you in your spiritual walk. We give thanks to Rev. Pam Reed, Registrar and Student Support Tutor, for writing this devotional.
You are welcome to share this and include it in your church newsletters if you wish; we just ask that you please give credit to NTC and the author. Thank you!
Mark 10:35-45 (NRSVUE)
The Request of James and John
35 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” 36 And he said to them, “What is it you want me to do for you?” 37 And they said to him, “Appoint us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” 38 But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” 39 They replied, “We are able.” Then 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 appoint, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”
41 When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. 42 So Jesus called them and said to them, “You know that among the gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. 43 But it is not so among you; instead, whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many.”
Devotional
Self-importance v Self-denial
They’ve been with Jesus for a long time. They’ve witnessed two miraculous feedings of multitudes, stilling of a storm, healings too numerous to remember, and Jesus walking on water. James and John (along with their fellow fisherman, Peter) also experienced the Transfiguration of Jesus. And yet…. they still don’t get it. They don’t understand that the kingdom of God is a kingdom of love, generosity, and servanthood, rather than of exclusion, accumulation, and privilege.
It's interesting to consider the location of this passage in Mark’s gospel. Prior to this, a rich young man turns away from following Jesus – he couldn’t let go of his riches and prestige (10:21-22). Our passage also comes after the disciples’ argument about who is the greatest (9:33-37) – perhaps our passage is a continuation of that discussion. Jesus ended the earlier argument by referring to the simplicity and importance of children; this is reiterated in 10:13-16.
After our passage is the healing the blind beggar, Bartimaeus, who seeks healing so he can follow Jesus (10:51-52). But here we have a section that shows Jesus’ disciples to be more like the rich young man than Bartimaeus.
Jesus’ response to James and John is to challenge their thinking. “Are you prepared to suffer like me?” They respond, “Of course we can.” But they don’t really understand, and the indignation of the other disciples shows that they don’t understand either. And despite Jesus’ explanation about servanthood being the mark of the kingdom, I wonder if the disciples had any real understanding of this until after Jesus’ death and resurrection.
So, what about us? Are we more like Bartimaeus or the children Jesus accepts, having a simple trust in Jesus to follow him without riches or prestige? Or are we at heart more like the disciples or the rich young man, wanting recognition and wealth and honour? Perhaps we oscillate between the two.
Our psalm reading for this week, 91:9-16, reminds us that those who dwell in the shadow of God do not need to seek personal glory – they are safe and secure in his love. Are we willing to trust our God to care for us, even if other people do not recognise and applaud us?
Prayer
Our God, thank you that you are a Servant God, the God who lowered yourself to become one of us. Help us to trust in you with a simple faith so we might become more and more like you. Amen.
Blessings,
Rev. Pam Reed (Registrar and Student Support Tutor)