Serving others

We looked at Mark 10 v 35 - 45 where James and John were asking Jesus if they could have places of honour sitting on Jesus left and right, when he is on his throne of glory.

Jesus then says that those who are leaders must be servants, those who want to be first must serve everyone else.

We then looked at the following questions:

1. What are James and John's motives for their question?
2. Do we have similar motives?
3. What does Jesus mean by 'drink from my bitter cup and be baptized with my baptism of suffering'?
4. How will James and John share in it?
5. If you were one of the other disciples how would you feel?
6. What does it mean to be the slave of all?

Results from discussion:

1. Some thought that the brothers were being egotistical and wanted the most reward. Others thought maybe they wanted to be close to Jesus.
2. Sometimes we can try to do good things because we want to be rewarded.
3. Jesus knows he will be killed and that those who follow will also suffer. He was telling them what lay in store for them which they did not really understand. When they talked about wanting to be on his left and right, those that actually were with him when he was dying where those being crucified either side of him.
4. They would have suffered persecution and would probably have been killed, certainly many of the disciples were martyred.
5. Annoyed because they were trying to put themselves before you and say they were more important. Maybe worried that there was going to be suffering in my future as well.
6. Difficult to serve so many people when there is just one of you who is serving for everybody else. Would be a humbling experience. Would mean you had to be leading with everyone elses benfit in mind.