Jesus’ Followers Compete for Honor
Welcome to Day 281 of our journey with Jesus. Today, we see what happened when people met Jesus. The main truth for today is this: Jesus responds to his followers' desire for rank by teaching them to serve others. Let’s begin.
Current details of the journeyView the calendar, Episode and passage
Jesus in Action
Mark 10:35–45
Step 1 of 5
See what happened when people met Jesus.
Lẹ́yìn èyí, Jakọbu àti Johanu, àwọn ọmọ Sebede wá sọ́dọ̀ Jesu. Wọ́n sì bá a sọ̀rọ̀ kẹ́lẹ́kẹ́lẹ́, wọ́n wí pé, “Olùkọ́, inú wa yóò dùn bí ìwọ bá lè ṣe ohunkóhun tí a bá béèrè fún wa.” Jesu béèrè pé, “Kí ni Ẹ̀yin ń fẹ́ kí èmi ó ṣe fún un yín?” Wọ́n bẹ̀bẹ̀ pé, “Jẹ́ kí ọ̀kan nínú wa jókòó ní ọwọ́ ọ̀tún rẹ àti ẹnìkejì ní ọwọ́ òsì nínú ògo rẹ!” Ṣùgbọ́n Jesu dá wọn lóhùn pé, “Ẹ kò mọ ohun tí ẹ̀ ń béèrè! Ṣe ẹ lè mu nínú ago kíkorò tí èmi ó mú tàbí a lè bamitiisi yín pẹ̀lú irú ì bamitiisi ìjìyà tí a ó fi bamitiisi mi?” Àwọn méjèèjì dáhùn pé, “Àwa pẹ̀lú lè ṣe bẹ́ẹ̀.” Jesu wí fún wọn pé, “Lóòótọ́ ni ẹ̀yin ó mu ago ti èmi yóò mu, àti bamitiisi tí a sí bamitiisi mi ni a ó fi bamitiisi yín, ṣùgbọ́n láti jókòó ní ọwọ́ ọ̀tún mi àti ní ọwọ́ òsì mi kì ì ṣe ti èmi láti fi fún ni: bí kò ṣe fún àwọn ẹni tí a ti pèsè rẹ̀ sílẹ̀ fún.” Nígbà tí àwọn ọmọ-ẹ̀yìn mẹ́wàá ìyókù gbọ́ ohun tí Jakọbu àti Johanu béèrè, wọ́n bínú. Nítorí ìdí èyí, Jesu pè wọ́n sọ́dọ̀, ó sì wí fún wọn pé, “Gẹ́gẹ́ bí ẹ̀yin ti mọ̀ pé, àwọn ọba àti àwọn kèfèrí ń lo agbára lórí àwọn ènìyàn. Ṣùgbọ́n láàrín yín ko gbọdọ̀ ri bẹ. Ẹnikẹ́ni tí ó bá fẹ́ di olórí nínú yín gbọdọ̀ ṣe ìránṣẹ́. Ẹnikẹ́ni tí ó fẹ́ di aṣáájú nínú yín gbọdọ̀ ṣe ìránṣẹ́ gbogbo yín. Nítorí, Èmi, Ọmọ Ènìyàn kò wá sí ayé kí ẹ lè ṣe ìránṣẹ́ fún mi, ṣùgbọ́n láti lè ṣe ìránṣẹ́ fun àwọn ẹlòmíràn, àti láti fi ẹ̀mí rẹ̀ ṣe ìràpadà ọ̀pọ̀ ènìyàn.”
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Watch: Why Jesus Says Greatness Starts with Serving Others
Watch the companion video, then continue reading to examine the biblical testimony in its full context.
Yesterday we talked about divided loyalty — the struggle of trying to trust two different things at the same time. Today, a new story unfolds on the road as Jesus leads the way toward Jerusalem, Jesus challenges His followers to completely change the way they define success.
The Request on the Road
James and John step forward from the group to talk to Jesus privately. With Jerusalem in sight and His death drawing near, they ask for the highest positions of honor: the seats at His right and His left in His kingdom. Even after traveling with Him for so long, they still view success the way human rulers do—focusing on high social status, pride, and political power.
The Cup and the Baptism
Jesus stops and looks directly at them. He asks if they are able to go through the same severe suffering and hardships that He is about to face. Without hesitating, the two brothers declare, “We can.” Jesus confirms that they will indeed suffer as He will. However, He makes it clear that these honors are not given out through favoritism. He shows them how completely they have misunderstood the path they are walking.
Anger Among the Disciples
When the other ten disciples hear about this conversation, they become very angry. The group splits, not because the other ten understand humility, but because they are upset that two of them tried to get the best positions first. This competition for rank and importance threatens to divide the whole group.
Jesus Redefines Greatness
Jesus steps into the argument and calls all twelve disciples together. He points out how worldly rulers control people by force and show off their authority. Then, He gives them a completely opposite rule: “It must not be that way among you.” Whoever wants to be great must become a servant, and whoever wants to be first must be a helper to everyone.
The Ultimate Example
Jesus shows that He lives by this same standard: He did not come to be served, but to serve others, and to give His life to rescue many people. The disciples started the day competing for power; they leave realizing that the only way to be great in God’s kingdom is to follow their King in serving others.
Tomorrow, we will look closely at the exact words Jesus uses to redefine greatness and authority.
Consider this.
What does this encounter reveal about Jesus?
Notice the encounter
Read Mark 10:35–45 and notice how Jesus redefines greatness around service.
