What do you want?

Our reading today came from Mark 10:35-45. It’s a passage in which James and John request to be seated at Jesus side when He comes to reign in power and glory.

The sermon can be found here

Today’s lesson challenges us to consider, not only what we want in life, but how our desires can be achieved.

1. It speaks to us about prayer. Our prayers can be self-focussed rather than God focussed. We tell God what we think God should give us. Sometimes we are even 'James and John-like' in that we have a sense that we deserve to have our requests answered in the way we feel they should be. That is not praying! Prayer is seeking what God desires for our lives and seeking the strength to achieve it. Of course we pray about our needs, but we need to first discern the difference between needs and wants.

2. This passage speaks about perseverance. Jesus asks the disciples if they are capable of drinking the cup that He will have to drink. His life is about to be submerged into deep suffering. They desire a crown, but fail to see that Christ’s glory came through a Cross. The Christian life does offer great things. But they do not often come easy. Spiritual life is the long haul option!

3. This passage is also about pride. “Everybody wants to rule the world”. (Or at least their small corner of it.) Jesus us calls to the abandonment of our quest for personal gain and towards embracing a servant lifestyle that keeps the needs of others always in our minds eye. Now that is not easy! It doesn’t grab the attention in the way winning a race or gaining a promotion may do.

Prayer. Lord Your Word invites us to consider what we want from You. By asking the question it challenges us to consider our motives. Teach us how to pray in a way that sets our life on the path You wish us to follow. Through your Holy Spirit preserve and protect us on our journey. Save us from the kind of misplaced pride that takes away our desire to serve others. All these things we ask in our Saviors name, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.