The Gospel Of MarkSample

"Jesus came to serve" – We should model His humility and fight the world’s pull for fame and glory. Despite Jesus’ creative teaching methods, the disciples Still. Don’t. Get. It. The disciples are preoccupied with who’s right. One of the surest ways to discern someone’s spiritual maturity is to listen to what they have to say about other believers who don’t subscribe to every single jot and tittle of their theological doctrine. Any Christ-follower who spends much time and energy castigating other Christ-followers is not spending enough time with Christ Himself. Do you find it easy or awkward to cheer for Christians who are running toward Jesus in lanes that are adjacent to yours—in other words, do you celebrate, support, and encourage Christ followers who subscribe to different biblical doctrines or do you tend to only mingle and tingle with your own “kind”? A second incident proves how deep-rooted the disciples’ me-addiction was. It revolves around James and John—”the thunder brothers”—who, along with Peter, were the three men closest to Jesus. Here they are, years into an itinerant world mission project with Jesus. Yet they’re still so infected with a “What’s in it for me?” mentality they can’t stop fussing about who gets to ride shotgun. These two prideful siblings foolishly laid an earthly template over Jesus’ divine promise, jockeying for the best position in Glory. Once again, Jesus took a different route than I would’ve. Instead of exclaiming, “REALLY, y’all,” He exuded calm forbearance with those two knuckleheads. The world says, “Push to the front of the line!” Jesus says, “Go to the back of the line.” The world says, “Brand yourself and blast your accomplishments all over social media!” Jesus says, “If you want to be great, you have to learn to serve.” The King of all kings laid down His scepter in Glory and came down to become man. Not a man from an impressive lineage, background, or position either. He chose to be born in a barn to an unwed teenaged girl, who soon married His stepdad, Joseph, who was a total blue-collar guy. He became like the least of us so as to save all of us. He is not an archetypal king. Instead of overseeing His kingdom from a throne of gold with precious jewels, He chose to look out over mankind from a throne crafted from rough-hewn wooden crossbars. Where does God want you to humbly serve? What pride do you need to repent of today?