Power
A reading for Thursday, August 13, 2015: Mark 10:32-45.
Power is a word that scares us because of the number of times it has been misused. Those that crucified Jesus, under false accusations, certainly misused their power. Each day the news of our world is filled with all sorts of power by the wrong people for the wrong outcome. Such power is mostly about privilege and greed and control.
Jesus teaches a more excellent way. Each of us is given gifts from God for serving others. The one who uses their gifts to serve is using their power, but using it in the way God intends. That's what Jesus wanted the disciples to understand over against James and John's request for power. It's still power, but it is a very different understanding of leadership and what makes a person truly great in the kingdom of Heaven.
"Whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all."
Power is a word that scares us because of the number of times it has been misused. Those that crucified Jesus, under false accusations, certainly misused their power. Each day the news of our world is filled with all sorts of power by the wrong people for the wrong outcome. Such power is mostly about privilege and greed and control.
Jesus teaches a more excellent way. Each of us is given gifts from God for serving others. The one who uses their gifts to serve is using their power, but using it in the way God intends. That's what Jesus wanted the disciples to understand over against James and John's request for power. It's still power, but it is a very different understanding of leadership and what makes a person truly great in the kingdom of Heaven.
"Whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all."
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