Mark 10:42, commentary and pictures

Jesus called His disciples to contrast their ambition with the way Gentile rulers dominate those under them and exercise authority over them. He did so to reprove their pride and rivalry after James and John sought the highest places of honor in His kingdom while the others resented them. That worldly model of greatness must have no place among His followers, for whoever would be great must be a minister, and whoever would be chief must be servant of all. The standard is the Son of man Himself, who came not to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many. In His kingdom there is no self-seeking for rank and rule, but all are equal and the highest honor belongs to those who most unselfishly serve others in self-sacrifice and self-denial.

Words and Setting

Those counted as rulers over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and their great ones exercise authority upon them, holding dominion over those beneath them. That Gentile pattern is one in which lordship and authority are exercised over the governed in contrast to the order required among Christ's followers. In that worldly order lordship and authority are used to serve the interests of the ruling classes, while ordinary people are expected to obey and to serve. There influence, wealth, and education become means of controlling the masses, people are denied the right to think and act for themselves, and even religion is governed by the directions of superiors.

The saying belongs to the time when Jesus told the Twelve that the prophets' words about His betrayal, suffering, death, and resurrection would be fulfilled. The disciples did not understand that prediction and still expected the kingdom to be established soon with places of honor for themselves. Jesus called the disciples to Himself to reprove pride, ambition, and rivalry after James and John asked through their mother to hold the highest places of honor in His kingdom. The request was made while the disciples still hoped He would rule as a temporal prince in Jerusalem, and the others resented it as seeking the highest places for themselves.

He told them they did not know what they were asking, because that glory could be purchased only by His infinite sacrifice, humiliation, agony, shedding of blood, and cross. That suffering was endured for the joy of seeing souls saved. When He asked if they could drink His cup and share His baptism they answered that they could, without understanding what that suffering meant, though He said they would indeed share it. Places at His right and left are given only to those for whom they are prepared.

Service Instead of Dominion

Jesus held up the way Gentile rulers dominate those under them and use authority over them as the worldly model of greatness that must not exist among his followers; instead whoever wants to be great must be a minister, and whoever wants to be chief must be servant of all. He gave this contrast to rebuke the pride and ambition of James and John after they asked through their mother to hold the highest places of honor in his kingdom, while the disciples still hoped he would rule as a temporal prince in Jerusalem and the others resented the request. He told them they did not know what they were asking, because that glory could only be purchased by his infinite sacrifice, humiliation, agony, shedding of blood and cross, endured for the joy of seeing souls saved. When he asked if they could drink his cup and share his baptism they answered they could without understanding that suffering, though he said they would indeed share it, while places at his right and left are given only to those for whom they are prepared.

The standard for this service is the Son of man himself, who came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. In Christ's kingdom self-seeking has no place and all his servants are equal, with the greatest honor belonging to those who serve others most unselfishly, do the greatest good, and show self-sacrifice and self-denial. Jesus himself descended into human suffering and became the servant of all, and his joy in the redemption of souls can be shared only by unselfish ministry following his example.

Christ's kingdom is not a worldly kingdom of striving for the highest position, rank, honor, or rule, for his example was humble, poor, and free from worldly dominion. His humility was not a low estimate of his character or abilities but his adapting himself to fallen humanity in order to raise people to a higher life, which his true disciples follow by humility and self-sacrifice for others' good rather than seeking to exalt themselves over one another. Seeking kingly power, supremacy, and self-importance toward others reflects the condemned worldly exercise of authority; no person is appointed as a supreme counselor or may make other minds subject to his own, because that power belongs to God. A laborer with Christ carries out the work God appoints rather than exalting himself, with fellow servants lying low and not striving to be above one another.

The desire to master others and seek the highest place shows quarrelsome, self-exalting character and does not prepare people to serve under the Prince of peace or to submit to God, the Governor of the universe. It speaks especially to the temptation to seek greatness, honor, and high worldly position when the cross is treated as an obstacle to advancement. In God's work the selfish desire to lord it over others supplants high-toned integrity, erases religion from the soul, and blots out the principles specified to rule in every department, so that truth ceases to be a living, all-pervading, sanctifying principle and is replaced by selfish plans and engagements. Therefore guarding the churches does not justify harshness or human control, and one person is not to rule another in this way.