The Way of Humility
What’s missing in James and John’s outlook? Why do they want Jesus to give them the two best seats in the Kingdom? They would not need to ask if they knew how much Jesus loved and valued them. Jesus uses this moment to teach them about his Kingdom. He uses an example they knew very well: the Romans who ruled their land. He says, “the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them.”
Jesus does promise them suffering, even perhaps to death, because they will be persecuted, they will share in his cup and in his baptism. Here, baptism means death. But, he says, he can’t promise them which places they will have in his Kingdom.
The other apostles are – naturally – upset. They resent James’ and John’s attitudes. What is Jesus teaching? In his Kingdom, the greatest must be the servants. The disciples have to unlearn what the world has taught them about greatness.
What comes to you mind when you think of people telling you what to do? Some people are used to doing whatever they’re told. Sometimes the people in charge lead us to build up a better world. But, sometimes we feel resentful or angry at being “bossed around”.
Jesus is trying to show us a new way of greatness. The great ones in his Kingdom serve others, and sacrifice themselves. Jesus isn’t just teaching though. Philippians 2 is Paul’s advice to a community divided because people are thinking only of themselves, and inattentive to others. Paul says that we are to have the mind of Jesus, who humbled himself by becoming human like us, even to dying for us on the cross.
Help us Jesus to be more like you, to find greatness in humility.
- Have you ever felt that someone lorded it over you?
- Have you ever been in authority? How did you treat others?
- Did you ever feel overlooked? How did you react?
- How can Jesus help you to be humble like himself?