2/3/10 Mark 10
Service
(Mk 10:45)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 beauty of reading through books of the bible is that you begin to recognize certain themes that are present. When you focus on random or isolated verses there is no way to discover these themes. In the last three chapters there is a theme of service that is noticeable. Actually the entire gospel of Mark has the theme of servant hood.
Going back to chapter 8:34-36 we find Jesus calling his disciples to deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Jesus. Verse 35 is the thrust of service. Losing your life in service for Jesus and the gospel is actually means of saving it. In Mark 9:33-37 the disciples were questioning one another about who was the greatest to which Jesus responds, “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” Then in Mark 10 we read of the rich young ruler who was unwilling to depart with his possessions. To which Jesus responds that those who are rich in this world have great difficulty in entering the kingdom of God. The disciples are all astonished at this statement, because their understanding is that people of wealth, power, influence, and importance indicated God’s blessing. Peter responds to the Lord with the statement that we have left everything to follow You. Jesus again addresses the whole role of servant hood in Mk 10:29-31. Verse 31 states “But many who are first will be last, and the last, first.” In Mark 10:35-41 James and John are seeking position to be granted to them in the kingdom verse 37. The other disciples hear of this and become upset in verse 41. Jesus then steps in and again reminds his disciples of what true greatness is; that of being a servant. It is not natural for us to desire service or servant hood. Individuals desire to rise to a position of significance and honor so that they may be served, but Jesus says that those who are his, it should not be this way. (Mk 10:43-44)43“But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; 44and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all.
So how do we become a servant that Jesus speaks of in these passages? We are to imitate Jesus. He is our example in regards to being a servant Mark 10:45. So I thought, what did Jesus do in these chapters to indicate that he was a servant? In Mark 8 he had compassion on the people and feed them. He had pity and helped the man whose son was demon possessed Mark 9:22. He received and blessed the children in Mk 9:33-37 and Mk 10:13-16. Jesus simply serves those who have needs. We must do the same and be attentive to those who have needs around us. They are there we just need to open our eyes.
Jesus encourages us that everything that goes unnoticed by the world will be noticed by Him. Anyone believer giving a cup of water will not lose his reward Mark 9:40. Any believers who leave houses, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, or farms will not go unnoticed Mark 10:29-30.
To sum up the idea of service a servant is a person who does the work for another who is either superior or inferior. God is certainly superior and we are to serve Him by allowing Him to work through us to server those around us either superior or inferior, according to our cultural designations.
Prayer: Father, Make me a servant that You can work through for your glory and my neighbor’s good. In Jesus Name Amen.