The Good News

Dedicated to the good news of Jesus Christ

Vol. 1 Issue 27

Training To Serve

Galilee – As we continue to follow Jesus and his disciples as they are on the way to Jerusalem, we are being allowed to listen as the rabbi teaches his followers. Many of his followers expect to be officials in his kingdom when he comes to power. They have even had arguments about who will have the highest office. One evening Jesus ask the disciples,

"What were you arguing about on the road?" But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.

Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all." (Mark 9:33b-35 NIV)

A couple of days later,

As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good-- except God alone. You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.'"

"Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy."

Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. (Mark 10:17-22 NIV)

Then Peter said to Jesus,

"We have left everything to follow you!"

"I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields-- and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first." (Mark 10:28-31 NIV)

There seems to be no getting away from it. Jesus expects his followers to empty themselves if they wish to become disciples. Many of these men gave up everything in hopes of being great in his kingdom, but the Master seems to value the servant attitude more.

Page Two

Make Me A Servant from the S.W.A.T. and J.H.A.M.S. Song book

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