Mark 10:45 – Let’s Serve!

“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)

If this verse doesn’t empower you to serve others, I don’t know what will. The Son of Man here is Jesus, our King and friend. He set the perfect example for us in how he lived his life. He didn’t hide away in some palace, but he lived among the people, learning about their needs and meeting some in their darkest moments. And then he ransomed himself for us. That’s what devoted servanthood looks like to me.

Context (Mark 10:35-45) This verse concludes Jesus’ teaching about serving others, initially directed toward James and John. You may recall those brothers were fighting over who was the greatest, and they were asking Jesus for a special favor in the kingdom. Jesus turned his response to their request into a teachable moment for all his disciples. Jesus’ message reminded them that to be a great leader, you must first be a slave.

It’s hard to lead when you have no perspective of the ones you are leading. Jesus took on flesh so he would better understand us humans. Jesus’ counsel to his followers was brilliant, reminding them of the importance of servanthood. If he, Jesus, the one and only God of the universe could serve others, we have no excuse not to serve.

There are so many ways to serve others. What are some of your favorite ways? I’m partial to working with children and youth, but I know my husband prefers teaching adults. Yet in this season of life, his mentoring of our youth group girls is bringing him great joy and seeing him serve in this way warms my heart in places I didn’t know needed warming. Maybe for you, your sweet spot is baking goodies for others or helping out at a soup kitchen. When we serve together, we fellowship.

Many people think that serving only happens inside the walls of a church. That’s a great place to start and be accepted by other Christians. When we get out into the world, into places where darkness reigns, our service can really stand out. Jesus came to serve like he said, but he also came to die for us. His sacrifice is what makes all the difference for us. He is no longer here, so what is our response?

When we remember we’re the hands and feet of Jesus, our whole demeanor about serving changes. It’s no longer all about us, our reward or concern over what other people think. When we recall how Jesus himself stirred things up while serving the needs of others, even on the Sabbath in some instances, we can’t help but be encouraged.

Setting our own agenda aside can be hard when trying to find room on our schedule to serve. You’ll never imagine the excuses I’ve heard when trying to recruit people to help teach Sunday School or make calls for fund drives or even attend a quarterly planning meeting. Why do we let the busyness of our lives interfere with something Jesus expects us to do?

One suggestion I would have about serving is to serve from your giftedness. What I mean by that is to find a service project or way to serve others that aligns with things you already love to do. For example, I would never ask someone to teach Sunday School that doesn’t like children. They would hate it. The kids would suffer. But that same person may be brilliant at spreadsheets. I’d put them in charge of something behind the scenes where they would thrive.

My final thought on serving is to do it because you love it and because you want to be more like Jesus. Don’t ever serve out of obligation or because you expect some sort of “credit” or recognition. Serve with humility like Jesus did. Serve with intention. Keep your eyes open and look for doors to open and opportunities to serve to present themselves. Ask yourself, “Do people see Jesus in me?”

Let’s pray. Lord, I thank you for the privilege of serving you. You have gifted me in the exact ways you want me to serve. Help me to be aware of how to share what I have been given in a way that is accepted and points to you. Give me courage to step away from the busyness of life to serve you in the ways you deserve. I want people to see you living inside me. Thank you for your sacrificial love and grace. In Jesus’ name. Amen.