Jesus just told them he was going to be killed. And all they could think of was who was going to sit with him at his right and left in heaven. So they boldly asked Jesus if it could be them.

That had to have hurt.

No grief over his impending death. But rather just fighting over positions of importance.

The other disciples were furious. And likely jealous.

If those two were on our team. We would be calling for Jesus to kick them out. Get them fired. Have them removed from the team of disciples.

They just weren’t team players.

But Jesus didn’t. He loved them. And he knew what they were going to be.

He called them to himself and said something that every leader on earth should hear and understand.

“And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.  But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,  and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.  For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:35-45).

He said it was the Gentiles who use their positions of power and authority to lord it over the ones under them. It’s a “we are over you” model of leadership.

Jesus tells them plainly: Don’t be like this.

Leadership is about being a servant. Getting your hands literally dirty. And laying down all your rights for those whom you serve.

Jesus said he himself is that model. He would do this by literally laying down his life in the most humiliating way possible: Through death on a cross.