The Greatness of Sacrifice and Service (Mark 10:32-45)

They were on the way, going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus was going in front of them, and they were amazed; and those who followed were afraid. He again took the twelve, and began to tell them the things that were going to happen to him. (10:32)

My disciples were impressed by the statement that they would not lack anything, that they would have houses, land, brothers, sisters, mothers and children, and that they would indeed receive eternal life. This gave them hope and rejoiced them. 

If my disciples were amazed, the crowd that followed them were afraid because I mentioned persecutions. It is striking to me that I shared about many positive things like the houses, land, and spiritual family that God would provide for them, and even eternal life; yet some people just noticed the negative, that there would be persecutions, and were afraid. So many people live their life with the sole goal or hope of not suffering, of avoiding anything that is difficult. When you do so, you will not be able to learn to love, because love has always a price and involves efforts in the learning. When your life is ruled by the desire not to suffer, you will need to stop loving people and God, and to isolate yourself. In fact, when you let this desire to not suffer rule in your heart, you take the path of a slow and sad death. The path I lived, the way I opened, is a way of love and grace, of joy and peace, of eternal life, yet this path involves difficulties and suffering on this earth. Don’t fear death, I have overcome its power. You should never focus on suffering or difficulties, focus on the Father and me, and we will lead you and help you even through the valley of the shadow of death. That is what I was preparing my disciples for. 

“Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes. They will condemn him to death, and will deliver him to the Gentiles. They will mock him, spit on him, scourge him, and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.” (10:33-34)

I knew that the ideas of going through suffering and death, and then being victorious and resurrecting was very hard for them to grasp. I needed to show the way, to show them that the power of the gospel did not limit itself to this life, but would bring them into eternal life. Repetition is a key part of teaching, and for this important lesson I saw my disciples understand each time a little bit more. Yet, they would understand fully only after the resurrection. 

James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came near to him, saying, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we will ask.” 

He said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?”

They said to him, “Grant to us that we may sit, one at your right hand, and one at your left hand, in your glory.” (10:35-37)

The first time I mentioned my death and resurrection, Peter rebuked me before the others, telling that it would not happen, and I needed to correct him publicly. 

Then, the next time I mentioned this subject, the disciples discussed about who would replace me on earth, to be the leader, which shows that at least they began to believe that I would indeed die, although their focus was still selfish and concerned about power. 

This time, James and John were beginning to realize that the life on earth was only a small part of God’s plan, and that after death there would indeed be eternal life for my disciples. They were beginning to realize that resurrection was real, they remembered the young girl who came back to life, and they tried to see the implications of the resurrection. 

I taught my disciples to ask, and that they would receive, so I was happy of their request. Yet, I did not teach them that they would always receive exactly what they wanted. That is why I emphasized the importance of asking first of all for the Holy Spirit (see Luke 11:9-13), so that the Holy Spirit guides your requests to become always more in harmony with the will of God, so that you enter fully in the plans of the Father’s love, so that you always more receive exactly what you ask for. 

As they were beginning to consider the possibility of resurrection for me and for them, they projected their selfish goals in this new life. James and John asked if they could be my first two ‘ministers’ in eternal life, in my glory. They wanted the places of honor, sitting at my left and at my right hand. They were following me, knowing that I was the Messiah, and they had a hard time to accept that I would not be king during my life on earth. They wanted places of importance in my kingdom to come, which would justify their pains and efforts. This would help to explain to their parents why they left the family business and accepted the fragile life of disciple. 

People always want to find security, yet they are often mistaken in seeking a security grounded in a position or in belongings. I tried to help my disciples to focus on God and heaven first, the only security, on seeking the kingdom of God. I even used the idea of ‘treasures in heaven’ in order to help them grasp this, although heaven is not really a place where you store physical treasures - it was an image that was helpful then and that is still helpful for many today. 

But Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”

They said to him, “We are able.”

Jesus said to them, “You shall indeed drink the cup that I drink, and you shall be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit at my right hand and at my left hand is not mine to give, but for whom it has been prepared.” (10:38-40)

If James and John were now beginning to consider the resurrection, they did not understand the suffering and death that I would have to go through, that they would have to go through. In this process of dying, they would learn to disregard the human focus on social importance and titles, and prepare for eternal life with me. They would learn to focus on the more eternal treasure that love is. 

I spoke to them of the cup of suffering that I would drink, of the baptism of persecution and death that I would go through. They did not understand clearly what I told them, and I was not trying to speak to them too clearly, because they were not ready to accept it. In fact, they would flee when I was arrested, trying to escape death and suffering. Yet, they could later meditate about my words, and speak with me after my resurrection, and then they became ready to carry my love up to death, and to shine of my tenderness up to the last day of their lives. John would become the one who would write much about love, in his ‘gospel,’ in the letters he sent, and in the visions and revelations I gave him about my return. He died full of our love, fully prepared for eternal life. 

I did not speak to them about who would be at my right hand and at my left hand, because I was not concerned about it. It is the Father who elevated me, and who would elevate those who would be at my right hand and at my left hand. They still needed to understand the path of being the loving servant that I was opening to them. 

When the ten heard it, they began to be indignant towards James and John. (10:41)

If James and John were thinking about who would be great in my glory, the ten also were thinking about that, and were jealous that these two had spoken to me about it. After the ‘battle of succession’ on the earth that my disciples had when the spoke about who was the greatest, they were now beginning their inner battle for succession in heaven. I really needed to help them focus on what was truly important. 

Jesus summoned them, and said to them, “You know that they who are recognized as rulers over the nations lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you, but whoever wants to become great among you shall be your servant. Whoever of you wants to become first among you, shall be bondservant of all. For the Son of Man also came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (10:42-45)

I did not rebuke my disciples, I just tried to help them refocus on what was really important, on what was real greatness in the eyes of the Father. It was not about ruling over others, but serving others. In heaven, the proud will have no place, and the Father will give authority to those who know how to serve. This is the root of any harmonious community, on earth as it is in heaven. This lesson is very important. As you are on earth, prepare well for eternal life. For this preparation, learn to love and to serve. Love and service are two facets of a same reality. The one who really love me will listen and obey to my word. The one who has learned to serve well is the one who has learned to love well. Love and service are the two key facets in your growth as a child of God. 

As you learn to listen to me, to my words and to my directions during your days, I am teaching you to love your neighbor. As you learn to listen and obey my words, I am teaching you to be a servant, a servant of God and a servant of your neighbor. As you learn to serve, as you learn to love, remember that there is no greater love than to give your life for those you love. You cannot keep your life, because you don’t have eternal life in yourself. But you can give your life to God and to your neighbor, in learning to love and to serve with all that you are, with all that you have. You will then receive eternal life, this eternal communion with the Father of life, this eternal communion with me as His Son. 

Follow me on this path of love and service, I have paid the price for so many, I have opened the way, I am the way and the truth and the life.