“Jesus called them together and said, ‘You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many’ ” (Mark 10:42-45).

This isn’t the model of leadership taught by secular society. This is leadership as Jesus defined it. James and John had just asked if they could sit on His right hand and His left hand when He came into His Kingdom. The other disciples expressed their indignation. That is probably because they had their eyes on those same seats.

Jesus used the occasion of the request by James and John to correct a wrong understanding of greatness. In Jesus’ eyes, greatness isn’t defined by how many people serve you, but by how many people you serve. Then Jesus stated the truth which is the key to the Gospel of Mark, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” That is the model we are to follow. Greatness is serving and giving your life away for others.

The following verses describe Jesus’ visit to Jericho. He knew He was on His way to Jerusalem to face a cruel death. But setting aside His own impending crisis, He asked Bartimaeus, “What do you want me to do for you?” (v. 51). That question rocks my world. Jesus put the needs of a blind man ahead of His own personal issues. He modeled the kind of leadership He had just described. That was remarkable! Jesus demonstrated what serving others looks like. We each have personal issues that occupy our minds. But Jesus wants us to walk through life with this question on our lips. “What can I do for you?” That’s greatness!