MARK 10: 35-45
‘Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all’ (v. 43-44).
No sooner had Jesus begun his final journey to Jerusalem than there is trouble among the disciples. James and John sensed that things were moving to a climax and thought they better make their move now, before anyone else would beat them to it. They wanted to secure for themselves places of honour in the Kingdom of God and understood now was the time to ask for it.
The other disciples became ‘indignant’ – maybe because they themselves found the thought of places of honour appealing and were not happy James and John were trying to edge in on Jesus to get special favours. Nevertheless, Jesus makes it clear in his kingdom priorities and values are not as in the world.
It is of course quite normal to want to be noticed and honoured. It is common to seek power and authority. It is not unusual to use others for one owns benefit – but it is not the way of the Kingdom. This is definitely an area where we should not ‘copy the behaviour and customs of this world’ but let God transform us by ‘changing the way we think’ (Rom. 12:2 NLT).
James and John had ambitions and there is as such nothing wrong with ambitions, it all depends what you have ambitions for. Kingdom ambitions, where we seek, dream, work for the expansion of God’s Kingdom is good and right, but any ambition that includes thinking or dreaming of advancement, promotion or power for ourselves must be questioned.
Our ambition should be that Christ is honoured and his kingdom expanded. For that we are called to be servants, serving Christ and his people with the gifts and talents he has given to us. And should no one ever notice what we are doing or even who we are, so be it.
It is not about us, it is all about Jesus.