The disciples are following Jesus on the road to Jerusalem and they are awed by his presence, the people are following, but are overwhelmed with fear. Jesus was going into Jerusalem, and there was something big that was going to happen and everyone knew it. On the one side we have the disciples that have been following him for ages, and they are so filled with awe when they see Christ. They know that things have been leading up to this point, Jesus entering the holy city of Jerusalem. They look at Jesus with a unique insight.
People just following they see Jesus, and they are scared of what he might represent, and the power that this strange Nazarene has. For the disciples he is hope.
Jesus takes the disciples aside, and once more goes over the plan, telling the disciples what's going to happen to him.
Then the brothers Zebedee (James and John) talk to Jesus and ask to be seated beside Jesus on the throne, Jesus replies "You will indeed drink from my bitter cup and be baptized with my baptism of suffering. But I have no right to say who will sit on my right or my left. God has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen."
The disciples were indignant of James and John asking this of Jesus, and once more Jesus explains that to be great, you must be a servant ..vs 43-44. .... "and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else.
One of my favorite verses in the gospel is vs. 45 "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many." Jesus leading the ultimate example of servant-hood. To have the heart of Christ, to have the servant attitude that's the attitude that I would like to strive for. We have so much junk that we clutter our lives with, that try to get in the way of having the right attitude.
But for Jesus it wasn't just having the right mindset, it was putting his attitude into action. Not pitying people, but having an active role in their lives, and in the end, he gave his life so that I, a wretched sinner, could know true life with the Father. How awesome is that!!
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