Today’s key verse is the key verse of Mark’s gospel. Jesus teaches his disciples how to be the servant of all. Serving is not attractive to most of people but serving is dignified and practiced in Jesus. Jesus was self-sacrificing while his disciples were self-serving. May God help us to learn true greatness in God’s sight and serve our generation like Jesus. I pray that we all may follow Jesus’ example of serving all kind of people with compassion and love.

PART I. JESUS AGAIN PREDICTS HIS DEATH (32-34)

 In this passage Jesus again predicts his impending suffering, death, and resurrection. His final hour was drawing nearer and nearer. What did he do when he knew that he would be condemned to death in Jerusalem. Look at verse 32a. “They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid.” Jerusalem was regarded as the city of God in the Bible. Jesus knew that the final spiritual battle would be fought in Jerusalem. His enemies were waiting for him with an evil plot. But Jesus was not afraid of his enemies. Jesus was marching resolutely to liberate Jerusalem from the bondage of sin and death. Now Jesus led the way. How about his disciples? The disciples, who should have been an encouragement to him, were only astonished, for they saw Jesus’ courage leading the way. They did not understand Jesus’ agony. They made Jesus' footsteps heavier. When the fear in the hearts of the disciples spread to those who were following behind them, they also became afraid. (32a) When we see suffering coming in our way, we become afraid like the disciples. 

 Jesus knew that the disciples were very fearful not knowing the meaning of his death on the cross. So again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. (32b) He had already told them twice before. The first time was right after Peter's confession of faith. (8:29-32) The second time was right after he was transfigured into his original image as God on the transfiguration Mount. Jesus predicted his death. It was to fulfill God's will for world salvation. This time was the third time on the way to Jerusalem. Repetition signifies the importance of his death and resurrection. Look at verses 33 and 34. “We are going up to Jerusalem, he said, "and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise."  Here Jesus revealed more details about his death. He mentioned that he would be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law. Think about the way Jesus would die. Jesus would be condemned to death though he was innocent. He would be handed over to the Gentiles. They would treat Jesus like a worst criminal. They would mock Jesus as they wished. They would spit on Jesus. They would flog Jesus mercilessly. The crowd would shout, “Crucify him, crucify him.” They would whip Jesus and the blood would flow like a river from Jesus’ bruised body. Finally, they would nail him on the cross. The cross was stained with Jesus’ holy blood. Why did Jesus suffer endless and die shamefully? Jesus’ suffering and death are related to our sin problem. Jesus died to bear our shame and the burden of sin. Jesus died on the cross to pardon our sins and sanctify us to become children of God. Jesus’ death on the cross was the emblem of God’s love for all sinners. 1 Peter 2:24 says, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.” Jesus’ death was to heal our wounds inflicted by our sins. Jesus bore our sins through his death on the cross. But that is not the end. This is a better part. He would rise from the dead by the power of God. His resurrection would defeat the power of death. 1 Peter 1:3 says, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”  We are born again into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus. The disciples were frozen in their thinking when they heard about the suffering and death. They could not think about the glorious resurrection that will come after suffering and death. They have to accept the fact that glory comes after suffering. They wanted to skip the suffering part but only wanted to gain quick glory. The idea of suffering was foreign to the disciples. 

 Why did he repeat this teaching over and over though the disciples did not like to hear it? He said this beforehand so that when he was handed over to the Gentiles to be crucified, his disciples might not lose heart but believe what they had been told. He said this so that after his resurrection they might be witnesses of his resurrection. Jesus said this because his death and resurrection are the two major points of his teaching concerning the will of God for world salvation. As we know well, sheep like to hear what they love to hear. They don't like to hear what they should do. Sometimes we hesitate to teach our sheep the truth of God thinking that they might run away. Though the disciples were young in spirit, Jesus taught them the truth of cross and suffering repeatedly. Later, they became witnesses of Jesus’ death and resurrection who endured many suffering.  Peter denied Jesus three times when Jesus was tried before the Jewish Sanhedrin by saying, “I don’t know him.” But after he met the risen Christ, he became a bold witness of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Before the same Sanhedrin he said, “We must obey God rather than men!” (Acts 5:29) He was no longer a coward but a powerful witness of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Therefore, we must teach our sheep the truth of suffering in order to attain the power of resurrection. We must accept Jesus’ death to forgive our sins and his resurrection to give us eternal life.

PART II. EVEN THE SON OF MAN (35-45)

 How did the disciples respond to the prediction of his death?  Look at verse 35. "Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. 'Teacher,' they said, 'we want you to do for us whatever we ask.'" What a tremendous imposition! Let’s think about John and James for a moment. Contrary to Jesus’ teaching about humility and simple heart, the disciples revealed their human ambition. John and James, the top disciples exposed their political aspiration. They misunderstood Jesus’ favor and attention to them. Jesus wanted them to be suffering servants, not easy-going men. Anyway, their way of making this request reveals that there was a beautiful friendship between Jesus and them, though their request was not properly timed. Jesus did not rebuke them because they revealed their noble desire to be great. Jesus was ready to serve them patiently. Jesus was concerned about their spiritual condition. "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked. (36) "They replied, 'Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.'" Wow! They made a truly great request. They were asking for the two most important positions like the secretary of state, and secretary of defense in the Bush cabinet. They wanted to become Jesus' right-hand and left-hand men. They wanted to be rulers, sitting on the right and left side of his throne. At this moment, their long-hidden problem came up to the surface. In this case, they belong to the most ambitious category of people who ever willed to conquer the whole world. But there was a problem for them. It was Peter, who had already consolidated his position to be the top leader. So, James and John thought of how to get ahead of their rival, Peter. Every time they saw him, they became nervous because of his inborn leadership. They always thought about bypassing Peter and securing Number one spot. This may be the universal problem of mankind. To James and John, who would be the number one was a great question. We cannot blame them. During the 40-day post resurrection conference they asked in Acts 1:6, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” They had a burning desire for Jesus to restore the kingdom of Israel. They wanted to rule the world with Jesus. Human competition was fierce among themselves. They wanted to show their power to the world. In the same way, we all want to feed 12 sheep and raise up 5 disciples of Jesus. Then we can receive the Bible teacher of the year trophy. We want to receive glory and recognition from Jesus by feeding sheep. But we should not use sheep for human recognition. We have to serve them with pure hear as Jesus served us humbly. Because of this problem of seeking human greatness, they couldn't think of anything else. They even mobilized their mother to influence Jesus. Matthew 20:20 says, "Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him.” Matthew 20:21 says, “She said, 'Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your Kingdom.’" They campaigned their positions by using their mother. In Jesus we don’t need any campaign. This shows man's desire to be great. Nothing is wrong to be great because God created man to be rulers of this world. The problem is that we do not know how to be great. Jesus’ greatness is different from the worldly greatness. 

 What did Jesus say to them? In verse 38 Jesus asked them if they could pay the cost of being a ruler. "'You don't know what you are asking,' Jesus said. 'Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?'" Here, "the cup" meant the cup of sorrow and suffering (Mt. 26:39); and "the baptism," the baptism of his death on the cross. (Ro.6:4) But they said, "We can." To them the cup meant the cup of victory like the U.S. Open Cup. They were ready to do anything if they could secure the best position. Sometimes we don’t know what we are asking. One time I said to my shepherd, “I want to become a fellowship leader.” When I realized what it meant to become a fellowship leader, I regretted what I did and wanted to withdraw my request. But it was too late. Jesus said in verses 39b and 40, "You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, but to sit at my right and left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared." Jesus predicted that they would drink the cup of suffering as they said. Actually, James became the first apostle who was martyred for the gospel of Jesus (Acts 12:2) and John was in exile to the island of Patmos because of the word of God. (Rev. 1:9) As far as the position is concerned, Jesus kindly told them that the Father in heaven is the Giver of the right and left position of the throne of the eternal King. This means that our position is secured in the kingdom of God according to God’s plan. We don’t have to worry about where we will sit because God knows where we will sit. By saying this, Jesus implied that his throne is not a political one, but a heavenly one in the kingdom of heaven.

 Look at verse 41. "When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John." Until now, the other disciples were friendly with James and John because they appeared to be quiet and to have no interest in positions. But through this event they revealed that they were also very politically ambitious. How about the other ten disciples? They became furious about James and John because they took the first move to campaign for the best position. They protested in unison, "Hey, what about us? Peter was ready to punch Zebedee brothers with his big fist in anger. Even Batholomew was upset and said something, "I am the candidate." Matthew calculated his chance to be the number one. In this respect they were just like the Gentiles, who wielded their power over the weak and needy. They had a wrong concept of greatness. Jesus taught them a true greatness as the member of his kingdom.

 What did Jesus say to them? Look at verse 42. "Jesus called them together and said, 'You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.'" Jesus explained them the worldly greatness. The worldly greatness depends on the power of money and human authority. It is based on how many people we can command. It is based on how many servants they own. It is based on their possessions. The kings lorded over his people and the officials exercised their authority at will. They treated their slaves like their own property. The disciples thought about greatness in terms of exercising their authority. But this is the gentile concept of greatness. Lording over is not the way of greatness. God’s people must have a different concept of greatness. Apostle Peter was transformed from the worldly ambitious man to a humble shepherd. He said in 1 Peter 5:2-3, “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers-not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve, not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.” What should we not do to God’s flocks? We must not lord over them. We must exercise our authority over them. What should we do over God’s flocks? It is to serve them eagerly and willingly and to become examples to them. Look at verses 43,44. "Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all." Jesus showed them true greatness in God. Jesus urges them to become the servant of all and be slave of all. Jesus knew that they wanted to be attended to like Roman governors and to be served like kings. Spiritually they were very childish. They had no idea of how to be the servants of God. They had to learn the truth of God regarding spiritual leadership. So he said in verse 45, "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as ransom for many." In this verse we learn what kind of persons we ought to be as the servant of God. Let's learn how Jesus served us in two ways.

First, "For even the Son of Man..." Humanly speaking, Jesus belonged to the people of the bottom of society. Jesus was known as the son of a carpenter. He had no house of his own to stay in. (Mt. 8:20) He was despised and rejected. He was criticized and condemned by the Pharisees because he cared for the poor and needy and associated with outcasts of the times. Many religious people of his time treated him as a nobody. But in reality, he is God Almighty who created the heavens and the earth. (Jn.1:3) He is the King of kings, who destroyed the power of death through his death and resurrection. He is the Judge of the living and the dead. Therefore, Jesus must be attended and served like other kings and emperors. But he did not come to be served, but to serve. All men and women of the world want to be attended and served. Generally, serving others is thought humiliating. Many think they are miserable, not knowing why. They are miserable because they have uncontrollable desires to be served by others. When they are not served by others, they become paralytic with full of complains. Serving is a joy of life. When we are served by others, it is true we are happy. We are happier when we serve others because we experience the very life of God when we serve. We can serve others through our 1:1 Bible studies. Bible teachers experience the secret of joy the world cannot offer when they serve their Bible students. Their happiness is to see their students grow in Jesus. They forget all the worries of life when their sheep accept the word of God. Music servants are happy to make spiritual environments for the worship service. Cooking servants are happy to feed many hungry people. Cleaning servants are happy to see people use a clean bathroom. But Jesus, even though he was the Son of Man, served all kind of sinners who were sick because of their sins. Jesus, even though he is the Son of God, served a most selfish man, a tax collector Levi, until he was raised as a most outstanding servant of God. He came to him and understood his loneliness. He gave his life for him so that Matthew could have an eternal hope in God not in this rotten world. Jesus, the Son of Man, lowered himself to a position of servant and asked her a favor and served a most worldly and immoral Samaritan woman until her spiritual eyes opened to see the holy God. Jesus served innumerable sick people. Jesus preached the Kingdom of God to the poor in spirit. Jesus became eyes to the blind. He became comfort to the crying soul. He healed the wounds of all broken hearted. He even served me, the most selfish man in the world with a motto “maximize profit with least sacrifice.” I was blind in my thirst of human love and worldly power and wealth. I nailed Jesus on the cross again and again through my blind human ambition. But Jesus never left me alone and he wiped out my tears when I cried over my sins. He understood my pain and sorrow and healed my wounds. He served me unconditionally and made me become his servant. Praise Jesus who served us to the end. Because of his life of service he was despised and rejected and was branded as a friend of tax collectors and sinners.

 When Jesus was hanging on the cross, he was helpless to do anything, still he prayed for those who were crucifying him, saying, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." (Lk.23:34) Jesus served two robbers even though he was dying with extreme pain. It was all for winning their souls to God. Jesus said to his disciples, "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve..." In this way, Jesus taught them the principle of the heavenly kingdom that is to serve, not to be served. Jesus elevated the servantship as the highest form of life through his life on earth. Service is not humiliating but glorious. Many Christian men and women accepted Jesus' life as servant of all. Mother Barry spent her entire life for serving many young college students in Korea. She became spiritual mother to many missionaries and American shepherds. Dr. Albert Schweitzer spent his life in the African jungle to serve the sick people. Serving makes one's life truly great not the positions or worldly fame. Mothers are great because they serve their children sacrificially in any situation. They are willing to do anything for their children. Apostle Paul said that serving is one of the gifts of God (Romans 12:7). But Jesus teaches that serving is the way to be great. Jesus lowered himself from the glory of heaven and served us so that we might have eternal life and glorious hope in his kingdom. 

Second, "to give his life as a ransom for many." Look at verse 45. "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." What are the key words here? They are “serve” and “give.” Nobody likes to give anything to others free. But Jesus gave his life to serve sinners. Jesus' service did not stop by healing the sick and preaching the Kingdom of God. He served mankind by giving his life as a ransom sacrifice. Due to our sins, we were doomed to die. We became the objects of God’s wrath. We could not free ourselves because we were prisoners of sin. Someone outside the prison must liberate us from the bondage of sin and death. Jesus became our ransom sacrifice in our place. In order to save our life Jesus gave up his life. Many firefighters in New York rushed to the burning WTC to rescue people trapped inside the building. When the building collapsed, more than 300 firefighter died. They gave up their lives to rescue other people. They sacrificed their lives for the safety of fellow Americans. They are true American heroes. But Jesus’ sacrifice was great. Our sin demanded Jesus’ blood and Jesus gave his last drop of blood to save us from the condemnation of sin and death. Jesus only is our true leader to follow. It was us who should have been nailed on the cross. But Jesus shed his own blood to cleanse all our dirty sins. When we follow Jesus, we can serve our generation with Jesus’ shepherd  heart. The essence of true greatness is serving. I pray that God may bless us to learn Jesus’ servantship and experience God’s grace by serving others like Jesus. Let’s read the key verse 10:45.