Lord, teach us to follow You

27Mar
They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them; they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them what was to happen to him, saying, ‘See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death; then they will hand him over to the Gentiles; they will mock him, and spit upon him, and flog him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise again.’ 

James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, ‘Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.’ And he said to them, ‘What is it you want me to do for you?’ And they said to him, ‘Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.’ But Jesus said to them, ‘You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?’ They replied, ‘We are able.’ Then Jesus said to them, ‘The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.’ 

When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. So Jesus called them and said to them, ‘You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.’ 
-Mark 10:32-45


Gosh, weren’t they acting just like children? But truth is, it’s not only children that want to be given special recognition, is it? It’s all of us. We want to get credit for that nice thing we do to help someone; we want to be recognized for coming up with that great idea, for getting the project done, for being above average. For being special. Our culture seems to be all about bragging rights and racking up public accomplishments. The first lesson today is that we must follow the example of Jesus to instead seek to become servant leaders instead of seeking recognition or a reward. Some of us have been working on that. And guess what, when we do what’s right, just because it is the right thing to do, and not because we want to get credit, it is absolutely amazing what can be accomplished, and especially by letting someone else take credit! I love the “Servant Song” that we sing that goes: “Brother, sister, let me serve you, let me be as Christ to you” but the line that always gets me is the one that follows: “pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant too.” I’m still working on that. How about you? 


Musical Reflection - Servant Song - Cape Town Youth Choir


Lord, teach us to follow You, not seeking recognition, but learning to serve. Give us the grace to do what is right quietly, without needing to be seen or praised. And give us even greater grace to receive from others—to let ourselves be cared for, to let ourselves be served. As we grow older, remind us that our worth does not fade with our abilities or our words. When memory falters, let love remain. When language is lost, let music, kindness, and presence still speak. Bless those among us who are walking this path, and those who walk beside them. Make us gentle with one another, patient, and full of compassion. And in all things, teach us to be servants—as You are.

Amen.

Grace

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