A story about getting a place of honor
(From the Gospel of Mark, Chapter 10, verses 35-45)
Jesus told his friends that after he died he would live with God in a new way. His new life with God would be forever and ever. He called it his "glory."
Jesus' glory would be a wonderful time. Everyone would know the powerful love of God. Everyone would feel hopeful and happy.
Two of Jesus' friends, James and John, listened carefully to what Jesus said. Feeling hopeful and happy sounded really good to them! They knew that Jesus' glory would be amazing! And they wanted to be part of it.
So they came to Jesus. "Teacher, we want you to do something for us," they said.
"What is it?" Jesus asked.
"We want you to give us the most special places of honor in the time of your glory. Let us sit on either side of you. Then everyone will know that we are your special helpers," they said.
Jesus answered, "You have no idea what you are asking. Can you face the things I must face soon?" Jesus was thinking about all the suffering he would have to go through before coming into his glory.
The two friends looked at each other. Then they looked at Jesus. "Yes," they said. (They did not know what was ahead for Jesus.)
Jesus looked at his friends. He loved them very much. He said, "You don't realize it yet, but you will have to go through some really hard times because you are my friends. But I can't promise you places of honor. Only God can do that."
The rest of Jesus' friends got angry when they learned that James and John wanted special treatment. They started to argue with each other over who was the best.
Jesus had to settle them down. He said, "When people get a little power, they get big ideas about themselves and start to boss everyone else around. It's not going to be that way in the forever and ever life that you and I have with God. Whoever wants to be great must become like a servant. With God's help, that is what I am doing. I am giving my life away so that others will have new life. That's what you need to do, too."
Questions to think and pray about:
• I wonder what forever and ever life with God is like.
• I wonder if you feel hopeful and happy. I wonder if you know anyone who does not feel that way.
• I wonder what you can do to reach out to that person.