The Jesus Model
Today I attended a Professional for Seniors meeting. This is a great group of about 100 people from care-givers, service providers and businesses that focus on serving seniors. One of the attendees in the announcement time made reference to an “Alzheimer certification training” that was taking place next week. I was reminded that, this was my idea when serving on the Colorado Alzheimer Coordinating Council in 2010. Many times in public service you never know if any of your recommendations or law passed actually make a difference.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY... “…whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:44,45 ESV
Status seeking and ladder climbing is not new to our day. We see it throughout history. One of the most notable incidents in the New Testament is when James and John ask Jesus for a special place of honor in His kingdom. This shows that they really did believe that Jesus was who He said He was and who He demonstrated that He was.
They may have been anticipating that His kingdom was coming sooner than later, so they put themselves forward to be a part of Jesus’ “senior leadership staff.”
This week we have the inauguration of a new President. There are some 4,000 politically appointed positions in our federal government. They are listed in what is called the, “Plum Book.” That title may be a fitting name for these jobs. As a result many have lined up “on line” (in early American history, people would line up outside of the President’s office) to be in various positions in government.
I have not admit that, while it has been more “tongue in cheek” I have found myself assessing up and coming political leaders when I was in the State House. To one of them I quipped, “remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
When the other disciples heard of the request of James and John they were, “indignant.” That is a nice word for “highly ticked off.” When I read that, knowing human nature, I suppose it was because they felt they were being “beat to the punch.” I know that is how I feel in similar situations.
But Jesus used this as a “teaching opportunity.” The kingdom of God operated on a different system than the world. He points that out when he reminded them about the authority that was exercised over others by gentile leaders, who like to “lord it over” people and were enamored with the “exercise of authority.” Jesus let the disciples know they were being infected with a “gentile” mindset.
There are some key words in Jesus’ response that we should take note of. These are the “pivot points” that are key to the change in direction, that Jesus wanted them to understand. “Not so with you….” “For even….” Their approach to life was not to be modeled after the gentiles, but after Jesus and the kingdom of God. If there was any one who could “lord it over” someone, it was….the Lord. But that is not the “Jesus model.” In the Jesus model, up is down, serving is leading, humility is of greater value than self-promotion and status seeking.
This concept is not isolated to this passage. In another passage we find Jesus saying, “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.” (Mark 8:35 NIV) I like the way my friend Dick Foth puts it. In God’s kingdom, “If you want to stand tall…kneel down. If you want to be rich…give it away. It you want to live….die.”
Prayer for today… Lord, there is a little of James and John in us all. We look for value and worth from others. We want affirmation from man, more the commendation from You. Remind us that when we focus on following Your model and not what the “world” does or say is the way to success, we can be assured of one hearing your words, “well done good and faithful servant.”