How to Handle a Power Struggle

This Sunday's Gospel reading is Mark 10:35-45,

James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, ‘Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.’ 

That is a rather remarkable ask, but aren't we all guilty at one time or another of asking Jesus for what we want rather than what Jesus wants for us?

And he said to them, ‘What is it you want me to do for you?’ And they said to him, ‘Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory. 

That request is so far over the top that it draws our attention, as it will draw the attention of the other ten disciples. Were James and John thinking of an earthly kingdom of which they would help to rule?

But Jesus said to them, ‘You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?’ They replied, ‘We are able.’ 

They still don't get it. To their minds the cup is full of wine, and baptism is just a dunk onto cold water.

Then Jesus said to them, ‘The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; 

I don't think they understood the dangerous consequences they will face for following Jesus, so Jesus has to let them down by answering, 

but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.’

Was Jesus planting the seeds of predestination here?

The nerve of those two, and that was just what the other disciples were thinking,

When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. 

How many times have we seen power struggles tear an organization apart?

So Jesus called them and said to them, ‘You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. 

Jesus puts the ten in their place. There is no "i" in "team". Then he assures them that he is not exempt from this rule.

For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.’ 

There is great power in Jesus' words about being powerless.

The only trap we might fall into is if we try to be more powerless than the next guy.

Ah, such is our nature.