What is the path to greatness according to Jesus? In this episode, J. Mark walks us through Mark 10:32-45 where Jesus predicts his death for the third time and redefines true greatness. He outlines three steps to being great in the Kingdom of God—embracing suffering, allowing Jesus to correct our misconceptions, and humbly serving others. While the world equates greatness with wealth, power, and prestige, Jesus exemplifies a radically different path marked by suffering, service, and sacrifice.
It’s an honor to be with you and study the Word of God together. Thank you for being there and listening to this program, which Heralds of Hope produces. We are a small media ministry from central Pennsylvania, and we believe the best answers to life’s hardest questions are all found in the Bible.
Do you remember when the 10 disciples were mad at James and John for asking to sit on Jesus’ right and left? Today, that is the story we are learning from, and our title is “The Path to True Greatness.” I mean, really, don’t all of us have dreams of being great? We may not all have the same dreams, but most of us want to be great in some way. Listen carefully as J Mark gives us three steps to true greatness.
Adversity is a fact of life. We can’t control it. What we can control is how we react to it. I remember a doctor friend who once told me, “People tend to think that an easy life is a good life, but that’s not true. Without hardship and suffering, we’d have little joy in life.”
As we resume our study of Mark’s Gospel, we’ve come to chapter 10, verses 32-45. I’ve titled my teaching “The Path to True Greatness.” Indeed, no one is greater than Jesus, so He becomes the model for our pursuit of greatness.
Here is the Word of God to us from Mark 10:32-45.
32 Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed. And as they followed, they were afraid. Then He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that would happen to Him:
33 “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles;
34 and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.”
35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.”
36 And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?”
37 They said to Him, “Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.”
38 But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”
39 They said to Him, “We are able.” So Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with, you will be baptized;
40 but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared.”
41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be greatly displeased with James and John.
42 But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.
43 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.
44 And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all.
45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
Jesus’ interaction with His disciples defines the necessary STEPS on the path to true greatness.
The First STEP (on the path to true greatness) is,
Ascending into Suffering
To ascend means to go up, rise, or increase to higher levels, values, or degrees. Think about that in the context of suffering. We generally view suffering as negative, as a lowering, as a devaluing. But our text says that Jesus is going “up” to Jerusalem. He was traveling from Jericho, 825 feet below sea level, to Jerusalem, 2500 feet above sea level. He was going up physically but also spiritually to face His imminent suffering and death.
As the crowd of pilgrims walked on the road, Jesus walked ahead of them and of the Twelve alone. Perhaps this signified His determination to embrace what lay before Him in Jerusalem, realizing He’d have to face it alone. If we were going to our death, most of us would drag our feet with every step. But not Jesus. He was prepared to obey the Father. Seeing Jesus’ steely resolve left the crowd awed.
After a while, Jesus took the Twelve away from the crowd and, for the final time, told them what was awaiting Him in Jerusalem. He had told them several times, but Luke 18:34 tells us, “they understood none of these things.”
Notice how specific Jesus was. “We’re going to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be handed over to Israel’s spiritual leaders. They will condemn Him to death and deliver Him into the hands of the Gentiles (Romans) to be crucified. They will mock Him, spit on Him, flog Him almost to the point of death, and kill Him. However, after three days, He will rise again.”
This wasn’t what Jesus’ disciples wanted to hear. We are so much like them. We want to avoid suffering at any cost. Are you willing to ascend into suffering as the first step toward greatness? Without suffering, there is no growth or progress on the path to true greatness.
The Next STEP (on the path to true greatness) is,
Correcting Misunderstanding
Immediately after Jesus’ talk about His coming death, James and John approached Jesus with a request. “Lord, give us whatever we ask for.” They tried to get Jesus to commit to their desires before they told Him what they were! They were looking for a grand Jewish world empire that would usher in the Messiah’s kingdom. Their dream brushed aside all talk of Jesus’ death and resurrection as pessimistic.
Jesus asked, “What do you want from Me?” They said, “Give us the privileged positions in your kingdom: one on the right hand and one on the left.” They wanted to be the second- and third-highest in the kingdom, next to Jesus!
What do you think crossed their minds when Jesus said, “You don’t know what you are asking for. Can you drink the cup that I drink and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” What cup did He have to drink, and hadn’t He been baptized by John the Baptist?
We know what the cup was. In Mark 14:36, Jesus prayed, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.” What about the baptism? Baptism is a symbol of entering into death. Entering the water pictures our death to self, and coming out of the water symbolizes resurrection with the Lord Jesus. Both of these things were connected with death!
Without hesitation, they said, “We are able.” Ambition blinded their eyes. They had no clue what they were asking for! Jesus responded, “You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism, I am baptized with you will be baptized…” In other words, there will be no glory without the cross of suffering.
Jesus reminded them that He didn’t have the authority to assign positions in the kingdom. They would be given according to the sovereign choices of His Father.
As this conversation develops, the other ten are angry! They may have felt that James and John had taken advantage of their biological relationship with Jesus. Can you identify with the ten? When you and I feel like someone is stealing our recognition, our position, or our rewards, we get angry too. We do that because we care more about what we want than what is best for us or others. Jesus needs to correct our misunderstandings.
The Final STEP (on the path to true greatness) is,
Descending Into Serving
Conflict among people in an organization should be a catalyst for teaching, learning, and growing together. He calls the Twelve to Himself. “Hey, fellas, let’s talk about this.” Jesus didn’t condemn their desire for greatness. Colossians 3:23 tells us to do everything with our best effort and with sincere motives. We should all strive to be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
So, Jesus appeals to them based on what they know. “You know that those considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.” Gentile leaders force those under their authority to obey. However, Jesus says, “My kingdom doesn’t operate that way.” You don’t achieve greatness in My kingdom by forcing your will on others and playing the tyrant. Instead, to be the greatest, you must become one who serves.
Jesus wasn’t finished, He said, “Whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all.” A slave is so devoted to another person and their goals that they willingly disregard their own interests. Then, Jesus said, “If you want an example, look at me. I didn’t come to be served, but to serve and to give My life as a ransom for many.”
You and I are called to have that mindset as we serve Him and others. I am convinced we can never do this in our strength. This is a supernatural work of God.
Further, Jesus said He came to give His life as a ransom for many. The word “ransom” is commonly used in ancient writings to refer to the price paid for a slave who is then set free by the one who bought him. You and I are slaves to sin, and we are powerless to free ourselves from its devastating grip. Jesus went, as it were, to the slave market and purchased our redemption.
Jesus gave His life as the price of freedom for the slaves of sin. Some refuse to admit that Jesus held this notion of a substitutionary death because the word in the New Testament occurs only here and in the corresponding passage in Matthew 20:28. But that is an easy way to get rid of passages that contradict one’s theological opinions. Jesus here rises to the full consciousness of the significance of his death for men. Jesus achieved true greatness by His sacrifice for us.
If you and I aspire to greatness, this is the path we must take. Instead of running away from suffering, we must face it head-on. We cannot escape adversity; we can only choose how we respond. Will you ascend into suffering?
Are we willing to let Jesus correct our misunderstandings about greatness? Can we set aside our preconceived ideas about what is typical for a Christ-follower? Are we open to rethinking our Western mentality, similar to that of the rich young ruler, that only losers suffer?
Are you and I willing to descend into greatness? By the grace of God and the enabling of the Holy Spirit, can we empty ourselves of our pride and selfish ambition and become so devoted to Christ that we willingly disregard our interests to fulfill His? What a high and lofty calling!
Will you join me on the path to true greatness?
Did J Mark’s description of true greatness line up with your idea of what it means to be great? Too often, our view of greatness centers on ourselves and what we want. Did any of us imagine being a servant as actually being great? Not usually, yet this is what Jesus is teaching. Greatness is not for a few select leaders; any one of us can be great. We have to see things the Jesus way.
Do Jesus teachings on greatness surprise you? Were the steps J Mark shared doable? What can you and I do today to be great the Jesus way? We’d love to hear your thoughts on true greatness. Our email address is hope@heraldsofhope.org, and our website is heraldsofhope.org. There you will find “contact us,” under the partner tab on the top right. Click on that to message us directly. Whether it’s short or long, we encourage you to share your thoughts, and we’d love to hear from you.
Today’s lesson is a paradox: to be great, we must serve. As I am sure you noticed, many of Jesus ‘ teachings are like this. At first glance, it seems opposite; it seems like it can’t work. Yet the more we think about it and put it into practice, the more we realize He’s right. The teachings of Jesus are life-changing, and we benefit from following His guidance. We wish you God’s best as you put his teaching into practice.
