April 17, Reading 3 – Mark 10:32-52

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Twice on the way up to Jerusalem this final time, Jesus takes The Twelve aside and speaks to them about His approaching death and resurrection. They found it all hard to take in. Don’t be dismayed when you too find things hard to take in! Verse 45 is a good one to memorize.

SJA Notes

* Holy God, please help us to humbly submit before Your word to us today.

“Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.”

With these words James and John show just how little of Jesus’ teaching about humility they had taken on board.

Back a little in chapter nine of Mark we read that all the disciples were arguing about who was the greatest.

Jesus, who knew that the conversation in today’s passage would happen, told them,

“If anyone would be first, he must be last and servant of all.”

Today we read Jesus lovingly (because James and John are just like us, we like them, needing to hear God’s word every day),

Jesus lovingly and gently but firmly leads them,

“But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.”

Jesus came to serve. He came to give His life as a ransom for many.

He patterned the upside-down nature of His kingdom (which is the right way up).

Are we humbled before Him or clinging to our pride?

* Father God,

Thank You that Jesus came to serve, to save us.

Please help us to be other-centered servant-hearted people as we go about our lives in this world.

Amen.

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