Warmed by the Light

Sometimes we think we can fight for a better position in life.  We may be wrong.

James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." And he said to them, "What is it you want me to do for you?" And they said to him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory." But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" They replied, "We are able." Then Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared." When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. So Jesus called them and said to them, "You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many." - Mark 10:35-45

Today's Gospel reading is one that takes all the disciples by surprise. 

First, they didn't expect to hear that Jesus was going to face death at the hands of the Gentiles, the Romans.  While they may have expected the Sons of Thunder, James and John, to offer to fight for Jesus, they were angry when the brothers sought positions of glory at Jesus' side.

But then Jesus turns the whole thing on its head, telling them their goal should not be to rise up and rule, but to serve.  Those who are servants of all are the true leaders.

To be a leader in the traditional sense, is to make the decisions and have people follow one's lead.  Who doesn't want to be that person who calls the shots, commands the troops, takes the glory?

But in serving others, one gains a different sense of glory, one that grows from within.  And it does get noticed.  Jesus came to serve and He was noticed, so to be a servant leader does not mean one avoids the spotlight.  On the contrary, people will shine the light on those who choose to serve rather than rule.

The key to living in that light is humility.  If we truly seek to avoid it, letting others shine, we will find ourselves glowing with the light of God.

So, today's lesson is to stop thinking about glory for ourselves, and to seek glory for God.

And we will be warmed by the light.

More to come...