Daily Devotion With Pastor Dan Nickerson – November 18th, 2020
(Mark 10:35-45)…..35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.” 36 And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?” 37 They said to Him, “Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.” 38 But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” 39 They said to Him, “We are able.” So Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized; 40 but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared.” 41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be greatly displeased with James and John. 42 But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. 44 And whoever of you desires to be first shall 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 a ransom for many.”
“Me Last!” Have you ever been the last person to be chosen for a team? Do you go to the end of the line because your last name starts with Z? Do you run to get “first dibs” on the front seat of the car when piling in for carpool? Do you run to the front of the line when a meal is served? Do you have to be the first in line for everything? Jesus had some curious things to say about first and last.
In the Bible, two brothers asked Jesus for a big favor. They wanted special seats, one on the right and one on the left of Jesus’ throne after He was anointed King! They said, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory” (Mark 10:37). The other disciples heard about it, and they were mad. Maybe they wanted the best seats, too! Jesus decided to gather them all together to talk about it. How did He answer them? We can see His answer in our passage today! (Mark 10:45)….. says, “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.”
How did Jesus show His disciples to serve others? By giving His life as a ransom for many! Wow! How does Jesus want you and I to serve others? The same way! Now that may not be to the extent that Jesus did it at the cross, but the issue of the heart is the same. Giving our life for another.
In God’s kingdom, the servant is the greatest. Let’ s act on it! But how? Look for opportunities to serve one another, then simply act on those opportunities. So start this day with your eyes open to serve.