Son Of Man

In Mark 10, Jesus and the disciples are headed to Jerusalem.

Jesus made it abundantly clear that his death was around the corner, yet the disciples still thought that when they arrived in Jerusalem Jesus would finally establish his political kingdom. James and John approach Jesus and ask him to let them each sit at his right and left hand - essentially asking for the two most prestigious places in Jesus’ ministry.

It’s almost comical the juxtaposition of Jesus’ humble, meek, and self-sacrificial tone compared to the eager, immature, self-seeking nature of the disciples. They are young and surely these requests aren’t malicious, they are just foolishly ignorant, like so many of us, letting their sin blind them from the entire point of what Jesus has come to do.

Jesus quickly reminds them that his kingdom is not like the world, and in verse 45 makes it clear what it means to be considered great in the Kingdom of God:

“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 10:45

Real ministry, according to Jesus, isn’t about securing the most impressive seat in the Kingdom, or getting the most credit. Real ministry is about the benefit of others, not yourself.

Jesus came to serve us, not to be served.

We are called to go out and replicate that selfless kind of leadership.

Notice how Jesus refers to himself in this verse: “Son of Man.”

That title is used to refer to Jesus 88 times in the New Testament. In fact, “Son of Man” is the primary title Jesus uses to refer to himself. When Jesus talked about himself he didn’t always say “King of Kings” or “Lord of Lords” or “Son of the Most High.” Certainly there were times where his power and glory were made evident. But more often than not Jesus used the title “Son of Man.”

“Son of Man” reminds us that Jesus was fully HUMAN just as he was fully GOD. “Son of Man” highlights the humility of Christ. He became flesh, he crashed heaven into earth, he HUMBLED himself and became the Son of Man in order to bring love to his people.

When his disciples are seeking notoriety, he reminds them that the Son of Man humbled himself to serve others.

Certainly if Jesus Christ put others before himself, his followers should do the same.

This Christmas, it’s easy to forget what love really is. We start to confuse love with presents and dollar signs and vacations and the perfect Christmas card. Love isn’t a title or an image or trying to show everyone that your family has it all together (when clearly none of us do). Love isn’t what the disciples were looking for in a prestigious seat in the Kingdom of God.

Love is a God who humbled himself, took on flesh, and became the Son of Man, to serve you and to serve me.

Love is a birth in a stable, a life of service, and a sacrifice on a cross. And love is resurrection on a Sunday morning. That’s love. Have you felt it? Have you received it? Are you ready to give it?

That’s the kind of love Jesus came to bring us. It’s not the big bow on the new Tesla. It’s not the perfect Instagram feed. It’s not bringing home the Christmas bonus you sacrificed everything that really mattered for. It’s not the highest seat in the kingdom. Love is serving others before yourself. Love is humility, dying to oneself, and serving like Jesus.

But you can’t give that kind of love, until you’ve felt the love of the Son of Man.

This Christmas, are you seeking the title without feeling the love of a Creator who came to serve you? Close out the Amazon tab, log out of Instagram, and spend some time with the Son of Man. Let him love you, let him hold you, and watch as he transforms your heart into a person who would rather serve than be served.

If you want to experience that love, make space for time with your local church body. Join us for a Christmas Eve service this year on December 23 at 6PM or on December 24 at 1, 3 or 5PM. Christmas with us this year!

Cristina Schmitter

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