Mark (p. 1786) “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. (Books*)
Jesus took the twelve aside again to remind them of His coming suffering and death at Jerusalem. James and John don’t get it and ask to become His right (and left) hand man! The twelve are then pissed off at the sons of thunder. Jesus then gives them all a lecture on rulership and authority pointing to Gentile hierarchy as the example of what not to do! “But it shall not be so among you” (Mk. 10:43, ESV)!
Then, just prior to being worshipped by the crowds at the Triumphal Entry, Jesus ignores the crowds in Jericho to minister to the needs of ‘the least of these’ – a blind man named Bartimaeus.
And so we build our hierarchical structures and place our “great ones” at the top of the org chart, lording it over us! Come follow me. Here’s my vision, get on board! And to lessen the blow of Jesus’ teaching here we tell ourselves that this means just exercise your leadership “with a servant’s heart” – But it shall not be so among you! “lording it over” and “exercising authority” – these are the things that Jesus tells us not to model ourselves after!
God help me. I have no other model to follow but the Son of Man who “did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” Teach me Lord Jesus to follow You. Come Holy Spirit and empower me to live this life of sacrifice and to serve “the least of these” as we journey toward Jerusalem. God thank You for Your example of a life of mission.
In Jesus’ name – Amen,
Son
*The Books of the Bible – a chapter and verse free, paragraph formatted printing of the NIV.