Mark 10:41-44

‘And when the ten heard it they began to be moved with indignation at James and John, and Jesus called them to him and says to them, “You know that those who are deemed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it is not so among you. But whoever would become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever would be first among you shall be bondservant of all.” ’

It takes a long time to develop true humility and with all Jesus’ teaching it had not yet become obvious among the Twelve. Thus when the others heard what James and John had done they were indignant. What right had they to pre-empt the issue, they thought. They little realised that thereby they were showing that they too were unfit for the position.

How hard a lesson it is to learn, that the Christian leader should desire only one thing, and that not to be admired or exalted, but to be allowed to humbly serve. He must not want position or fame or to be treated as someone important. He must want to act as a bondservant to everyone, and really mean it. The Apostles had not learned it yet and they had been with Him for years. Show me someone who basks in praise, and I will show you someone who is a beginner in Christ.

Jesus illustrated His point from Gentile rulers. The Jews had experienced a number of them. And one thing was common to all, they lorded it over their people. They were proud of their authority and very conscious of it, and they exerted it to the full. They were the masters and they wanted everyone to know it. Furthermore the dreams of the Jews for the future rested on similar hopes for their own exaltation. And it was these very attributes that would cause them to reject and crucify Jesus.

‘But it is not so among you.’ Those who were seeking position so as to be masters and lords in that way were not true disciples, nor were they following their Master. If they thought like that they were totally in the wrong. For disciples the opposite was to be true.

‘Whoever would become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever would be first among you shall be bondservant of all.’ Compare Mark 9:35. The true disciple’s prime concern, said Jesus, is to serve, yes even to be a bondservant. That is the test of greatness among Christians. Such a man does not look for praise, he does not seek honour, he does not desire position. He gladly takes the lowest task if it will help someone. He just wants to be useful in God’s service, and as long as God is satisfied he is satisfied. That is true greatness. And that will apply in heaven as well as on earth.

‘Be your servant.’ The idea is of personal service rendered to others. And note the ‘your’. In that small band his aim would be the good of all and to serve all. He would not even want to be ‘first’. He would not think of it. The word for servant is diakononos. This verse incidentally describes the duties and responsibilities of a deacon, humble service to others. But that is not strictly in mind here. What is in mind here is the whole attitude of wanting to serve rather than to master it over others.

‘Bondservant of all.’ Here the idea is of commitment and responsibility. He is ‘bound’ to those he serves, he is their debtor. They owe him nothing. He owes them everything.