The Power of Self-Giving Love (Mark 10:32-45)
The Power of Self-Giving Love
Read Mark 10:32-45
The disciples knew something was bothering Jesus. Usually he was carefree, walking beside them, chatting casually.
But today was different. As they made their way toward Jerusalem, he walked ahead of them as if they weren’t even there. Something was definitely on his mind, but he wasn’t talking about it.
The disciples didn’t like it. The scripture says they were “amazed, and … afraid.” Jesus must have sensed this, so he gathered them together in order to open his heart and remind them “what was to happen to him.”
It was the same as he’d told them before: when they get to Jerusalem, he will be arrested, tried, condemned to death, and rise after three days.
It seems clear enough to us. After all, this is the third time they've had this conversation. In each case, however, they completely missed the point.
In the first telling, Peter rebuked Jesus for the very idea that he would suffer and die. His was a false view of the Messiah and his mission (8:27-38).
In the second telling, the disciples responded by arguing about which of them was the greatest. Theirs was a false view of themselves and the servant nature of true greatness (9:30-37).
In this episode, Jesus opens his heavy heart to his disciples, only to have to deal with the brash request of James and John, as well as the indignant response of the others.
This required one last patient explanation by Jesus. In essence he said, “The way things are done in the world is not the way we will do things. In the world, great leaders seek power, position, and control. In my kingdom, great leaders seek to serve. I am a servant who will lay down my life; you must do the same.”
Our natural reaction is to be critical of the disciples. What was wrong with these guys? Clearly, they hadn’t been paying attention. Why did they still think that God needed the weapons of worldly power in order to establish his kingdom? And that jockeying for position was appropriate behavior for his disciples? Hadn’t Jesus already been clear about this?
Hmmm…. That criticism might hit a bit too close to home. After all, how often do we make the same mistakes they made?
At least they had an excuse; they did not know what was coming. But we do. On Easter Day, Jesus’ horrific execution resulted in his glorious resurrection. Just as had promised, his kingdom had come. It was not by means of worldly power, but through the glorious power of self-giving love.
Read Mark 10:32-45
The disciples knew something was bothering Jesus. Usually he was carefree, walking beside them, chatting casually.
But today was different. As they made their way toward Jerusalem, he walked ahead of them as if they weren’t even there. Something was definitely on his mind, but he wasn’t talking about it.
The disciples didn’t like it. The scripture says they were “amazed, and … afraid.” Jesus must have sensed this, so he gathered them together in order to open his heart and remind them “what was to happen to him.”
It was the same as he’d told them before: when they get to Jerusalem, he will be arrested, tried, condemned to death, and rise after three days.
It seems clear enough to us. After all, this is the third time they've had this conversation. In each case, however, they completely missed the point.
In the first telling, Peter rebuked Jesus for the very idea that he would suffer and die. His was a false view of the Messiah and his mission (8:27-38).
In the second telling, the disciples responded by arguing about which of them was the greatest. Theirs was a false view of themselves and the servant nature of true greatness (9:30-37).
In this episode, Jesus opens his heavy heart to his disciples, only to have to deal with the brash request of James and John, as well as the indignant response of the others.
This required one last patient explanation by Jesus. In essence he said, “The way things are done in the world is not the way we will do things. In the world, great leaders seek power, position, and control. In my kingdom, great leaders seek to serve. I am a servant who will lay down my life; you must do the same.”
Our natural reaction is to be critical of the disciples. What was wrong with these guys? Clearly, they hadn’t been paying attention. Why did they still think that God needed the weapons of worldly power in order to establish his kingdom? And that jockeying for position was appropriate behavior for his disciples? Hadn’t Jesus already been clear about this?
Hmmm…. That criticism might hit a bit too close to home. After all, how often do we make the same mistakes they made?
At least they had an excuse; they did not know what was coming. But we do. On Easter Day, Jesus’ horrific execution resulted in his glorious resurrection. Just as had promised, his kingdom had come. It was not by means of worldly power, but through the glorious power of self-giving love.