Mark 10:41-45 “Lost Desires”

Mark 10:41-45 NIV

Suggested Praise Songs:

• God of Justice – Tim Hughes
• Zach Williams – Less Like Me
• Goodness Of God – Bethel Music
• We are the Moving Church of the LORD | Feast Family (Korean Praise with ENG SUB)
  • Click [CC] and select ‘English’ Subtitles/CC in Setting [Gear Wheel]

Resources for Family Worship (with Children):

• St Bart’s Kids eBible – Mark 10:35-45 – Bible Story for Kids
• Mark 9:35 – Servant of All – Song for Kids
• Northview Kids – THIS IS AMAZING GRACE – Song for Kids
• Open The Eyes Of My Heart by Local Sound Ft. Paul Baloche | Lyrics & Dance Video | Table Kids – Song for Kids
• Discussion Questions for Children & Youth located in the section after Explanation, Meditation, and Prayer (at the end of this email/blog).

Explanation:

When the other ten disciples realized that James and John had acted first, they “became indignant” (v. 41). This indicates that they had the same desire in their hearts. Knowing this, Jesus called his disciples to him and contrasted the kingdom of God with the kingdoms of the world. “You know that” (v. 42) refers to the order of the world. “The Gentiles” refers to those who do not have faith.

Jesus defines the order of the world with two key phrases. The first is “to lord it over”—this comes from the Greek word katakyrieuō, meaning “to rule from above.” The second is “to exercise authority”—from the Greek katexousiazō, meaning “to wield power from above.” This reveals that the fundamental principle by which the world operates is the desire to rise above others, rule over them, and wield power. Through this teaching, Jesus points out that his disciples mistakenly equated the kingdom of God with the world’s order.

Jesus said, “But it shall not be so among you” (v. 43), meaning that the order of God’s kingdom differs from that of the world. He acknowledges the disciples’ desires “to become great” and “to be first” but redefines what these mean and how they are achieved. In God’s kingdom, greatness and prominence are not determined by how much one possesses or accomplishes but by how much one sacrifices and serves. The phrase “servant” comes from the Greek word diakonos, meaning a steward, while “slave” comes from doulos, meaning a bondservant. True greatness belongs to those who humble themselves, serve others, and willingly sacrifice.

Jesus then declares, “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” (v. 45). Though he is the Messiah—the eternal King—Jesus follows the principle of God’s kingdom by lowering himself to serve. his death on the cross is the ultimate expression of service and sacrifice. The Son of Man, who will return as the highest King, first went to the lowest place through his suffering and death. This statement overturned the disciples’ expectations of the Messiah. As a result, they did not fully understand his suffering and death until they encountered the risen Lord.

The phrase “to give His life as a ransom for many” (v. 45) can be more literally translated as “a ransom for many people.” The Greek preposition anti used here can be translated as “for” or “in place of.” While both translations are possible, the primary meaning should be understood as “in place of.” This aligns with the prophecy in Isaiah 53, where the Messiah takes upon himself the sins of the people and dies in their place. In Greek, the word “many” (polloi) can, depending on the context, carry the meaning of “all.” The term “ransom” translates the Greek word lytron, which refers to the price paid to free a slave. This emphasizes that Jesus’ death was the payment that secured freedom for humanity, redeeming them from the bondage of sin.

Meditation:

The desires that God has given us—such as hunger, sexual desire, ambition, and the longing for honor—were originally good. They were meant to help us fully enjoy the life we have been given and maximize our God-given potential. In this sense, the desire to become a good person and to be recognized for it is a natural inclination that exists in all people if their humanity is not severely corrupted.

The problem, however, is that sin has spread like a disease, tainting every human desire. As a result, desires often lose their proper direction, leading people to long for things they should not and to forget their limitations. When corrupted by sin, the desire for food leads to gluttony and overindulgence; sexual desire turns into adultery and immorality; ambition gives rise to all forms of injustice. Consequently, the world becomes a battleground where “everyone is at war with everyone else.” When this struggle intensifies, reality can turn into a living hell.

The root cause of this world’s becoming a living hell is human desires corrupted by sin. Therefore, the first step in transforming this world into a living paradise is to heal the sinfulness that has spread within human nature. The complete removal of sin will only happen when we participate in Jesus Christ’s resurrection in the new heavens and new earth. Until then, we must live with our sinful nature—but we must not allow it to dominate us. Instead, we must put to death its power.

This is like how our bodies contain various bacteria. Being healthy does not mean that all bacteria have been eradicated, but that they are controlled so they do not overpower us. Likewise, we must be filled with the Holy Spirit to prevent our sinfulness from taking control. Only then can we use our desires as God originally intended. With the Holy Spirit’s guidance, we can humble ourselves, sacrifice for others, and serve as many people as possible to help transform this world into the paradise God desires. Instead of being swayed by worldly standards and judgments, we can walk the path of the cross, following the will of our Lord.

Prayer:

Lord, fill us with your Spirit and rule over our hearts. Do not let us be consumed by unbridled desires, even for a moment. And if we fall into them, awaken us quickly so that they do not become our habits. Help us walk the path of service and sacrifice that you have walked—joyfully and willingly. Use us to bring light, even to a small corner of this world. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Discussion Questions for Children & Youth:

Key Point: In God’s kingdom, true greatness is not about having the most power or being first, but about serving others with love and humility—just like Jesus did. When we follow his example, we help make the world a better place.

• For Preschool-Lower Elementary
  • Have you ever seen someone sharing or helping others? How did it make you feel?
  • Why do you think Jesus says serving others is more important than being first or the most powerful?
• For Upper Elementary-Middle School
  • How does the world define “success” differently from how Jesus defines it?
  • Jesus sacrificed his life for us. What are some ways we can sacrifice (our time, comfort, or resources) to serve others?
• For High School
  • Jesus says he came “not to be served, but to serve.” How does this challenge the way we usually think about leadership and success?
  • Have you ever struggled with ambition, competition, or wanting recognition? How does Jesus’ teaching about serving others change how we should see these things?