Mark 10:42–45
42 And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
(ESV)
The Savior Who Serves
How do you picture greatness? Towering skyscrapers lit up, icy Great Lakes, the MVP of your
favorite Chicago sports team? James and John, Jesus’ friends and followers, envisioned greatness
as sitting on thrones on either side of Him in glory. Our visions are often similar. To be “great” is
to be outstandingly superior, preeminent over others, to get the best seats at the table.
Yet in Mark 10, Jesus corrects His followers’ thinking and says, “Whoever would be
great among you must be your servant . . . for even the Son of Man came not to be served but to
serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Jesus sometimes referred to Himself as the Son of Man; in one way emphasizing His
humanity, but also looking back to Daniel’s astounding vision of greatness in Daniel 7:13.
“Behold with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man . . . and to him was given
dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations and languages should serve him.”
When Jesus claims the title of the Son of Man, He’s saying all peoples will serve Him.
Surprisingly, in Mark, we learn that He’s going to first serve them.
As He often does, Jesus turns our idea of greatness on its head. Jesus sets aside glory to
stoop down to the grime of our world. Jesus didn’t only tell James and John to serve, He lived it
from day one. We see in the incarnation how Jesus embodied the calling to service. In a humble
stable, Mary delivered the Son of Man so that He could sacrifice His life as a ransom to deliver
many—what a great Savior!
This Christmas, let’s wonder at Jesus, the Son of Man, and think rightly about what is
great and who is great. Let’s worship Him who has served us and given us salvation, and
embrace a life of then serving those around us.
Amy Dennis