Matthew 20:25-28 You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not 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 – Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.

The mother of James and John (two of Jesus’ disciples) went with them to Jesus one day to ask on bended knees for her sons to be allowed to sit on his right and left hand in his kingdom. Jesus informed them: “You don’t know what you are asking.” “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” They responded: “We can.” Jesus said to them: “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or my left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.” (See Matthew 20:20-24).

Needless to say, when the other disciples heard about this, they were furious. So Jesus gathered them together to explain that those who follow him need a different perspective from what is “normal” in the world, namely, “whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant and whoever wants to be first must be your slave.” (See verses 26 – 27).

I would love to have been in that group to hear the gasps and see the facial expressions of those disciples. They must have wondered: “Is he for real?” Most of us have only a vague understanding of what a servant’s role is, let alone that of a slave. Both roles require submission and imply varying degrees of a loss of identity as the subjects’ identities are subsumed in that of their master or owner. In most cases a servant is addressed by a single name and a slave may not even be accorded that much respect. Jesus endured much more disrespect and ultimately demonstrated the servant role for us because he came not to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. John the Baptist understood Jesus’ teaching and summed it up very well when he said: “He must become greater; I must become less.” (John 3:30). Are you okay with humbling yourself in service so that the Lord receives the glory?