Jesus called them together and said, “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. 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.”
Dean Honnette, Senior Pastor
Hope Center Covenant Church (Pleasant Hill)
Jesus had just told His disciples He was going to suffer and die. Evidently, James and John couldn’t process that idea because the next thing they do is ask to be the ones to sit on His right and His left in His glory. They wanted the place of power. They were looking for more power.
Whether we admit it or not, we all love to have power. We dream of having more power. It makes us feel important and in control, we think. With power, we can usually get what we want. The truth is all of us have some power. It may be political, social, mental or relational power. Our power might be greatest at work, at home, at church, at school, on the sport’s field or court. But we all have power.
In today’s text Jesus reveals that the kingdom challenge is to consistently use our power not for our own benefit but for the benefit of those around us. He ends by reminding us, that this is what He did and, in fact, still does with His well-earned power. Our challenge is to use our power daily for the benefit of others.
Jesus, please guide my application of personal power today so I may help others in Your name. Amen