Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus and knelt down to ask Him a favor.
Jesus asked her what it is that she wants.
She asked Jesus to grant that one of her sons would get to sit at His right hand and the other at His left hand in His kingdom.
Jesus’ response is to tell her that she doesn’t know what she is asking and then asks the two sons (James & John) if they can drink from the cup He will be drinking from.
The two sons said they can.
Jesus then said indeed you will drink from my cup, but to sit at my right and left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom my Father has prepared them for.
When the ten heard what the other two were asking, they were indignant against them.
Jesus called them all together and said that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. This won’t be so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave. The Son of Man didn’t come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.
This interchange hits home with many of us. No matter how much we say we aren’t bothered by this, we all have difficulty with the struggle of wanting to be the best…be first…be the one. Jesus teaches that the opposite should be present for those that follow Him. We should have a servant mindset, a slave mentality. Jesus said putting others first would elevate your status before God. Not that it will make us better than any other, but that we are true disciples and will get to spend eternity with Him. Where do you put yourself on your own totem pole? Practice servanthood today before others…as Jesus has done for each of us.
A Journey With Jesus 