“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.” — Mark 10:43-45 NIV
In the Bible there are images Jesus used depicting his view of his followers identifying either their relationship or role — brother, sister, believer, chosen, worker, friend, disciple, sheep, light, salt, etc. Of all the metaphors he utilized, I think there is one image that expresses most what he wanted then, and wants today, from all of his adherents. That image is servant. I suggest servant as the leading image because it epitomizes the ethos (character and culture) of the kingdom of God and is what Jesus himself exemplified.
Jesus’ statement in Mark 10:43-45 comes on the heel of a request from two of his followers, James and John. They approached Jesus wanting him to grant whatever they’d ask. They wanted the top positions, seated to the right and left of Jesus, in the anticipated kingdom expected of him to establish (Mark 10:35-37). James and John simply wanted to satisfy the all-too-human desire of power and prestige.
To their dismay, Jesus first informed them they didn’t know what it takes to occupy those seats, namely, sharing his intense struggle and suffering. Secondly, he didn’t have the authority to appoint those top spots. Those positions of honor would be granted by God the Father. Thirdly, Jesus made this a teachable moment for all 12 disciples who each assuredly were vying for special favors since Jesus had promised them all they’d sit with him on 12 thrones (Mark 10:38-41; Luke 22:28-30).
Jesus’ teaching in preparation for their future leadership roles is instructive for us — don’t take cues from the world on how to be great in the kingdom of God. If you want to be a leader with authority over others or positioned with the highest honor in God’s sight, follow Jesus’ example; don’t desire to be served, but seek out opportunities to serve (Mark 10:42-45).
The lesson is clear: Servanthood is the underpinning for leaders and laity because it caters to the greater good of the kingdom of God, eliminating turf wars and breaking down barriers.
As with James and John, we sometimes also get it backward on how to be elevated and honored from God’s perspective. With Jesus as our prime example, servanthood is a mindset that is undergirded by humility. In Philippians 2, we’re admonished to have the attitude of Christ, who didn’t demand and cling to his rights as God. He humbled himself by taking on the nature of a servant. He obediently died a criminal’s death on the cross, and God exalted him to the highest place.
In the kingdom of God, high honor goes to a humble servant. Yet the key is this: Humility is our part, not God’s, while exaltation is God’s part, not ours (James 4:10; 1 Peter 5:6).
I must admit there have been times I’ve had to check myself and examine whether my ambition was godly or selfish based on this understanding — godly ambition is not rooted in position. A sieve to test a questionable ambition is to ask, “Am I doing this or want this based on how God views me, or how people will view me?”
Rev. Johnson A. Beaven III is pastor of Citadel of Faith Church of God in Christ, 7676 E. 38th St., Indianapolis, IN 46226. Email him at jabeaven@gmail.com or visit johnsonbeaven.com.
