MARKAN MEDITATIONS

Meditations in the Gospel of St.Mark

St. Mark 10:35-45

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THIS PASSAGE is where Jesus teaches us the nature of true greatness. The whole passage discusses the question of greatness by the contrast between the expectations of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, and the teaching and example of Jesus.

The passage commences with the conception of greatness understood and accepted by the world. This worldly greatness is expressed in the desire of the two disciples James and John to be second only to Jesus in heaven, and be above all the other disciples. They desired to sit either side of Jesus when he was on the throne of his glory. By this they were seeking to be above others and have authority over others. They were seeking that people would look up to them. This greatness is all about honour and position.

There is no doubt that this perception of greatness is that which is taught by the devil. This conception of greatness was the cause of Satan rebelling against God and being cast out of heaven. What little the Bible tells us is that Satan was an angelic being high in the ranks of such beings, but that he sought to gain precedence over God himself. This is the greatness with which Satan deceived Adam and Eve. He tempted them by saying that they would be as gods, and implied that God was holding back from them a high position which was their right.

The world's greatness is all about pride, about looking down on people, about wanting to be better than others, and having authority and control over others. This greatness craves for veneration and that people should give honour and praise. This arrogance was seen in James and John because by their request to Jesus to sit either side of him on his throne, they showed that they wanted to be above all the other disciples, and felt that they had that place as their deserving. Their arrogance is seen that they were quite ready to say that they could 'drink the same cup as Jesus drank'.

This conception of greatness is one we are all afflicted with, and it is seen in the way we seek to climb in importance in whatever society we find ourselves, and get upset when people don't give us the regard and place that we feel is our due. It is a source of much friction within the fellowship of the church, just as the aspirations of James and John here caused angry words amongst the rest of the disciples.

Jesus quietly in verse 43 defines true greatness - "whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant." True greatness is despised by the world and not perceived as greatness in any way whatsoever. The world despises true greatness, does not commend it, and denies that it is greatness in any way. True greatness which Jesus outlines here has nothing to do with authority and power, and so it gains no acceptance with the world. To be the slave of all, as Jesus tells us true greatness is, is thought by the world to be the way to be exploited and despised and relegated to the lowest position.

In the last verse, verse 45, Jesus tells us that he gives us the example of true greatness. Jesus glorifies true greatness by his wonderful example. True greatness is to give in sacrificial service. It is very costly, It often gains no recognition or kudos in the world, but it always brings blessing to others.

Jesus exemplifies this. He was God's suffering servant and as such was servant of us all. His service was the costliest of all for he gave his life a ransom to redeem us. Ours is the blessing and the joy of eternal life; his was the degrading service of eternal death to atone for our sin.

No doubt we long for this true greatness, but when the crunch comes the cost is often found too great, and so true greatness is found too hard to sustain. Nonetheless we must by God's grace strive for it.