Mark 10:32-45 - Don't look for the Seats of Honor.

At that time, Jesus taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him, saying, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and deliver him to the Gentiles; and they will mock him, and spit upon him, and scourge him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise." And 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 do 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 to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" And they said to him, "We are able." And 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." And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant of James and John. And Jesus called them to him and said to them, "You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Not the Seat to Seek
photo by Ahmad Alnusif, used under the creative commons license.
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After Jesus predicts His own death and resurrection, the two disciples, James and John, ask for places on honor in the Kingdom of God. Jesus asks them, "Can you go through what I am about to go through?" They say, "yes" and Jesus tells them that, indeed, they would suffer as He suffers but, as far as places of honor, that is something which is reserved for those whom it is reserved for already.  Jesus than says that followers of Him should not seek to be served but rather offer to be the servant since He, Himself, is the model of true service, giving His life for us.

In my life, I must avoid trying to get a place of honor or work for recognition for any good deeds I have done. Instead, I should seek to serve as Christ served. Is there a job no one else wants to do? I should volunteer. By doing lowly tasks and scoffing at recognition for doing those tasks, I do indeed avoid seeking the seats of honor and recognition among men.  Let others more worthy than me take those seats. I will content myself in a low place in the Kingdom.  

O Lord, I seek no seats of honor. I seek to serve as You have served.  The seats of honor are for those for whom You have prepared.  Allow me, O Lord, in Your Kingdom and help me to understand that occupying a low space there is greater than any high honor here. Help me to be a servant this day. For Your glory, Amen.