Mark 10:35-45 – “Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. ‘Teacher,’ they said, ‘we want you to do for us whatever we ask.’ ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ he asked. They replied, ‘Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.’ ‘You don’t know what you are asking,’ Jesus said. ‘Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?’ ‘We can,’ they answered. Jesus said to them, ‘You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.’ When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. Jesus called them together and said, ‘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.'”

Sermon:

Brothers and sisters in Christ, today’s passage from Mark teaches us a profound lesson about the nature of greatness in God’s kingdom. James and John, with the boldness that often characterizes youth, ask for positions of honor in Christ’s glory, thinking perhaps of earthly thrones. But Jesus redirects their vision from earthly honors to divine service.

Jesus challenges their understanding of greatness. In His kingdom, the path to glory is not through commanding and controlling others but through serving them. This concept flips traditional human hierarchies on their head. It’s an upside-down kingdom, where the lowest become the highest, and the servant is the greatest.

Let’s reflect on Jesus’s question to James and John: “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” Here, Jesus isn’t just speaking of a literal cup or baptism but of a life of sacrifice and service, a willingness to suffer for the sake of others. This is the cup of self-denial, the baptism into a life that mirrors Christ’s own.

The indignation of the other disciples shows us another human trait: jealousy. But Jesus does not entertain their division; instead, He uses it as a teaching moment. He explains that true authority and greatness in His kingdom are found in service, not dominion. “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.”

This brings us to a crucial point in our walk with Christ. How often do we seek recognition or power? How frequently do we measure our worth by how much we control or how many serve us? Jesus calls us to a different standard. To be Christian leaders, whether in our homes, workplaces, or communities, means to lead by serving. It means putting the needs of others before our own, just as Christ did for us.

The world might offer a path of self-promotion, but as followers of Jesus, we are called to the path of humility and service. This isn’t about diminishing ourselves but about recognizing that in Christ, true greatness is measured by how much love we give, not by how much power we hold.

Let us then, with hearts open to the Holy Spirit, ask ourselves today: How can we serve more? How can we reflect Christ’s example in our daily lives? Let us drink from the cup of service, be baptized into a life of sacrificial love, and find in this, the true glory of God’s kingdom.

May we leave here today not aspiring to be served, but eager to serve, for in doing so, we follow in the footsteps of our Lord, whose greatness was in His service to all. Amen.