Mark 10:32-52

Bringing the sermon home:

In countess ways between His incarnation and crucifixion, Jesus set aside His glory for the sake of serving others. Here, Jesus foretells of His coming death for the third time. As with the previous two instances, the disciples respond in an astounding way, showing that they are still like the partially-healed blind man from chapter 8, and that they have not yet been granted the spiritual sight to “see everything clearly” (8:25).

In response to Jesus’ ominous announcement, two of His closest disciples, James and John, privately ask Him to grant them the two positions of greatest prominence in His Messianic kingdom. Their example shows us that spiritually blind people seek their own glory rather than sacrificing for the good of others.

For the second time in as many chapters, Jesus teaches that greatness is not a matter of being served by others, but of serving others. The lower you place yourself on the social ladder, stooping to serve those whom the world says are beneath you, the greater you are in the kingdom of God. No act of service is beneath a disciple of Christ because no person is beneath the servant of the One who gave His life as a ransom for many.

Immediately following this instruction, the Savior of the world, on His way to be enthroned as the King of all, stops to ask a blind beggar “What can I do for you?” This is the question that should continually be on our lips as we interact with those around us. Those with spiritual sight follow the way of Jesus, and the way of Jesus is the way of self-denial for the sake of serving others.