Monday after Quinquagesima (Esto mihi) Sunday
Posted on February 20, 2023 by under
Scripture: St. Mark 10:35-45 (NKJV)
10:35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.”
36 And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?”
37 They said to Him, “Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.”
38 But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”
39 They said to Him, “We are able.”
So Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized; 40 but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared.”
41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be greatly displeased with James and John. 42 But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. 44 And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
Devotion
We see so much of ourselves in the request of James and John to sit on the right and left of Jesus when he comes into His glory. As apostles, those two could lay better claim to deserving that than any of us today could. And yet, Jesus’ response to them shows how far off-track they really are. We often talk about using Christ as an example of how we should think, talk, and live, and this passage is one of the best to show exactly what we mean by that.
If Jesus Christ Himself, who was and is true God in human flesh, not only says, but shows, how we should aspire to be servants, how can we not follow that example? We also see how gently he corrects James and John for their pride. We see also how Jesus not only said these words, he put them into practice: on the night in which He was betrayed, He washed His disciples’ feet, showing them, and us, that it is better to serve than to be served.
Lord, guard us from our own pride and desire to rule, and help us to pray rather for a spirit of humility and service, as You Yourself have shown us!
Prayer: O Lord, we beseech Thee mercifully hear our prayers, and, having set us free from the bonds of sin, defend us from all evil; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
