Mark 10:41-45, Called to Serve

This morning I wanted to discuss a very familiar topic to all of us as pastors and leaders, which is Servant hood. I hope this will serve as a good reminder to me and you as well as to what we have been called to do and to be.

Sometimes we can find ourselves thinking does it even matter. First in last out, always picking up after others, always others first. I hopes this will help us all to remember why..

Our text is from Mark;

Mark 10:41–45 NASB95

41 Hearing this, the ten began to feel indignant with James and John. 42 Calling them to Himself, Jesus said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them. 43 “But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; 44 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. 45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

The setting of this passage is just after James and John have gone to Jesus and asked to sit at His right and left hand in the kingdom. No wonder the other 10 disciples were indignant.

The Greek word for indignant indicates great displeasure even to the point of pain.

Maybe you have experienced that feeling when someone who calls themselves a christian does something that brings shame to their witness and the cause of Christ. I have a particular sensitivity to rudeness and un-kindness. It causes me pain.

Jesus, instead of dealing directly with James and John, sees this as an important teaching opportunity.

Mark 10:42 NASB95

42 Calling them to Himself, Jesus said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them.

Here He begins by starting a comparison of the worldly system to the kingdom of God. He points out that the worldly way is for those in charge to “lord it over” their subjects. The big shots of the world love to let you know that they are in charge, and you are not.

In verses 43 and 44, Jesus gives the contrast;

Mark 10:43–44 NASB95

43 “But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; 44 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all.

The Greek could be translated, whoever might desire greatness in Gods kingdom shall continually be a servant to you. I can see Jesus looking at James and John here and the “your” is the other 10. The word for servant here is the Greek, διάκονος, where we get our word deacon.

Jesus then impresses the point, taking up another level, by say if someone might want to be number one, the head, the first, he must continually choose from within himself to be a bond slave to all.

A bondservant is a slave. In some Bibles the word bondservant is the translation of the Greek word doulos, which means “one who is subservient to, and entirely at the disposal of, his master; a slave.” Other translations use the word slave or servant. In Roman times, the term bondservant or slave could refer to someone who voluntarily served others. But it usually referred to one who was held in a permanent position of servitude. Under Roman law, a bondservant was considered the owner’s personal property. Slaves essentially had no rights and could even be killed with impunity by their owners. The Hebrew word for “bondservant,” ‘ebed, had a similar connotation. However, the Mosaic Law allowed an indentured servant to become a bondservant voluntarily: “If the servant declares, ‘I love my master and my wife and children and do not want to go free,’ then his master must take him before the judges. He shall take him to the door or the doorpost and pierce his ear with an awl. Then he will be his servant for life” (Exodus 21:5-6).

The great news for we fellow bond slaves is that our Lord and Master is full of grace and mercy and it is our honor to serve Him..