The twelve disciples did not understand the true nature of the kingdom Jesus had come to establish. They continued to dispute over which of them would be the greatest. In Mark 10:35-40, James and John approached Jesus privately and requested that they be given favored positions in His kingdom.

Jesus told them they did not understand what they were asking. He then asked if they could drink the cup that He would drink and be baptized with the baptism with which He would be baptized. What did Jesus mean by this cup and baptism? Jesus would mention the cup again while praying to the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mark 14:36). Here, the cup referred to the suffering and death of the cross (Luke 12:50). The Greek word for baptism means “to plunge or immerse.” The events of the cross would plunge Jesus into immense suffering.

Though they didn’t understand what Jesus meant, James and John were confident they could share in His cup and baptism. Jesus affirmed they would share in His suffering. However, He told them He was not able to grant their request to be seated on His right and left. This is not a position to which one is appointed; it is one that he earns because of his character, as Jesus would go on to explain.

When the other ten apostles heard about what had happened, they became greatly displeased with James and John (vs. 41-45). Jesus immediately addressed this situation, as it threatened to destroy the unity of the twelve. He reminded them that the rulers of the Gentiles used their power and authority to rule over their subjects. “Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all” (vs. 43-44). In God’s kingdom, one achieves greatness, not by exercising power and authority, but by serving others.

Jesus used His own life’s work to illustrate this principle. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Of all people, Jesus was in a position to demand service from others. He came down from heaven as the creator and sustainer of the entire earth. Instead, Jesus rendered service, even to the point of dying on the cross to secure our salvation. Because of this willingness to sacrifice and take on the role of a servant, God gave Jesus the position of highest honor, power, and authority (Phil. 2:5-11).