Mk 10:32-45
Jesus Predicts His Death a Third Time
32 They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. 33 “We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, 34 who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.”
The Request of James and John
35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”
36 “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.
37 They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”
38 “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?”
39 “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, 40 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.”
41 When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. 42 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. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 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.”
(Note: It's very good to be back after almost two weeks because of a scam that locked me out of my laptop. Thanks to a friend,, we're back in business. Praise the Lord!)
Ambition can creep into our lives as it did with the sons of Zebedee. They meant well, and so do we, but our desires and ambitions do not always mesh with the plan God has for us. Jesus clearly predicted a path of suffering and rejection, but James and John evidently missed the point, and so can we. That's why daily reflection on God's Word is so important; it keeps HIS plan before us and constantly demands that we let go of ours, which is usually not what God has in mind for us. The pattern of service and of death to self is what Jesus asks us to follow. He showed us the way of total self-giving and wants us to follow in his footsteps. May we listen to him and do whatever he tells us.
Bro. Rene
Dear Jesus, help me to follow the path of service to others rather than service to my ambitions. Amen.
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