Scripture
42So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. 43But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 44and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. 45For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:42-45
Observation
The disciples had found out James and John were asking to be seated in the places of honor when Jesus took back rule from the Romans. They were still picturing an earthly throne and an earthly rule. James and John figured they had a right to ask this of Jesus because, along with Peter, they were a part of the inner circle of Jesus, His trusted confidants. Jesus made it clear that in the Kingdom of God you don’t get a beautiful throne to be seen but a bitter cup of suffering. Then, He contrasted the leaders in the kingdoms of this world with the leaders in the Kingdom of God. James and John wanted to be first in line, but Jesus brought a reality check. In the upside down kingdom we don’t graduate FROM serving we graduate TO serving.
Application
I’m writing this in a Starbucks at Life Group and it brings to mind the valuable lessons I learned as a Starbucks barista when I was planting New Hope Seattle back in 2004. Back then when you’d get hired by Starbucks they would hand you an apron and a handbook. A partner wouldn’t be allowed on the floor unless they were wearing an apron. The apron had the personal mission statement written just perfectly on the inside seam: “We create inspired moments in each customers day”. It didn’t qualify that statement with “customers we like, customers who tip, customers who have great attitudes.” No, our job was to serve everyone. The cup of coffee in it’s five million variations was just a vehicle for serving inspiration to the Mom with screaming kids in her van, the elderly man who just sits in the lobby for hours because he has nowhere else to go, or the teen who has been handed cash because he never sees his parents who both work all day. The manual trained me on both how to pull shots and froth milk, but also how to serve customers and their needs. Every morning when I’d show up at 4:30 to open the store I’d put on that apron and follow the manual and set my heart to serve every customer that came in. I didn’t always do it perfectly. There were some customers that no matter what I did I couldn’t make them happy. It didn’t matter though because that was my job. In a similar way Jesus is telling His disciples then and now to follow in His footsteps for He has come to serve and give His life. He’s handing us an apron and a manual and reminding us that in the kingdom of God the best leader is the best servant: “2It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. 4So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.(John 13:2-5)" Jesus grabbed an apron and washed the dirty feet of the one who would betray Him, the one who would deny Him three times, and the ones who would run when He needed them the most. We don’t serve those who deserve it, we serve the ones Jesus brings into our lives.
Prayer
Lord, every time I think I’m good with this idea of serving I get someone that I’ve poured into completely ghosting me, or someone that I’m trying to help misinterpreting my motives, or someone that I thought was with me leaving me. Then, my pride shows its ugly head, my ego gets bruised, and I want to take off my apron and serve myself instead. I learned from a mentor that the greatest test of servant is when we are treated like one. I’m picking up my training manual and being reminded that I don’t get to pick and choose who I will serve. I’m grabbing my apron and setting my heart to serve those You’ve brought across my path. Thank You for serving me with Your life and sacrifice even while my back was turned away from You. I bring You my hurt because hurt people hurt people but forgiven people serve people. You have forgiven me and forgiving others is often the place were the serving starts.
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