32 Jesus and his disciples were on the road, going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus was going in front of them, and they were amazed; and those who followed were afraid. He again took the twelve, and began to tell them the things that were going to happen to him. 33 “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes. They will condemn him to death, and will deliver him to the Gentiles. 34 They will mock him, spit on him, scourge him, and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.”

35 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came near to him, saying, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we will ask.”

36 He said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?”

37 They said to him, “Grant to us that we may sit, one at your right hand, and one at your left hand, in your glory.”

38 But Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”

39 They said to him, “We are able.”

Jesus said to them, “You shall indeed drink the cup that I drink, and you shall be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; 40 but to sit at my right hand and at my left hand is not mine to give, but for whom it has been prepared.”

41 When the ten heard it, they began to be indignant towards James and John.

42 Jesus summoned them, and said to them, “You know that they who are recognized as rulers over the nations lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 But it shall not be so among you, but whoever wants to become great among you shall be your servant. 44 Whoever of you wants to become first among you, shall be bondservant of all. 45 For the Son of Man also came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Mark 10:32-45 - World English Bible

Have you ever heard someone say something, but didn't really understand the full impact of what they said? If you have, then pity the poor sons of Zebedee. Jesus clearly described his fate in Jerusalem, but they didn't comprehend the import of his message. No, all they considered was their own self interest. "Teacher," the brothers seemed to say, "Can we be the two most important members of your Kingdom, right after you?"

The Lord kept his eye on the subject at hand, his suffering and the participation of his disciples in that suffering. Notice he described that suffering in sacramental terms; "Can you drink from my cup...can you be baptized in my baptism?" While James and John insisted they could, Jesus applied the prophecy of his own Passion to his followers. But, since the Kingdom belonged to the Father, only he had the prerogative to name the "officials" of his realm.

Jesus connected his suffering with that of his followers to make a point about leadership. At its core, Christianity was leadership based upon service and such service meant pain at times. When we were baptized, when we receive communion, we affirmed our place as servants, for the Lord himself served us all, even to the point of death.

Do we clearly hear that message?

How have you served others this week?