‘What do you want me to do for you?’ said Jesus when James and John approached Him with what the NIV heading calls a ‘request’. (Mark 10: 35-45). That makes their approach sound almost gentile, ‘Would you mind doing this for us?’ But the ‘request’ comes from a deeper and darker place. This is what they want. This is their great desire. This impulse if dominating their inner being. ‘Let one us us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.’
Jesus response is: ‘You don’t know what you are asking.’ Before the glory the cup of suffering will be drunk and the baptism of persecution will be endured. All of this will take place according to the pattern of Jesus’ life and in the providence of God.
What James and John need to learn is that followers of Jesus cannot live by the prevailing standards of the world. A world that creates places of honour and celebrity to which people are encouraged to aspire. The vision for followers of Jesus is that they are motivated by the values of the coming Kingdom, chief among them service.
This does not come naturally. We may have characteristics that predispose us towards others: curiosity, sensitivity, empathy. But the urge to place ourselves at the centre is the default position of humankind. We need to be taught to serve others. We need opportunities to serve others.
The other disciples were ‘indignant’ with James and John. Why? Were they disturbed by their pride, their opportunism, their naked ambition? That may have been part of it but Jesus called all his disciples with James and John to hear His teaching on the imperative of service. Listen to this:
You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (vv. 42-45)
They all needed to hear this. And in days to come they would reflect on this and how the teaching received its ultimate expression in the sacrifice of Jesus.
I have a colleague who when at a meeting and is asked if he is happy with a decision will reply: ‘I’m not here to be happy. I am here to serve.’ I’ve quoted this many times and it is interesting how people respond. ‘What’s wrong with being happy?’ ‘Is it not possible to serve and be happy.’ The point is, to make happiness your great goal in life is to be on less than solid ground. Happiness comes and goes. I can be happy at your expense. Some people can be happy with beliefs and circumstances that devalue, undermine and even destroy others. In the life of a follower of Jesus the call to serve according to the pattern of Jesus’ life must dominate any other priority. Even that of being happy. With grace to respond to that call we will bring the Kingdom closer to the here and now.
