Mark 10:42-45 – Change The World From The Bottom Up

Daily Devotional Bible Verses

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 10:42-45 ESV)

Just before Jesus had spoken these powerful words, James and John requested they be able to sit at Jesus’ side in Heaven, one at his right, one at his left (Mark 10:37). These were positions of power. Jesus then responded that even he, the “Son of Man”, had come to serve rather than be served. Jesus explains here that as Christians we don’t truly change the hearts and minds of the world by man’s authority or power, but through the God-honoring serving of others.

There is constant talk that America simply needs more Christian politicians to turn the nation back to God, and the furthering of the idea that change only occurs from the top down. In essence, the most powerful make rules and the people within their sphere of leadership change accordingly.

However, when that ideology is compared to the words of Jesus, we realize He was speaking of change from the bottom up. Recently, we came across a poignant thought from Bill Tibert, which we have paraphrased here: “Which will make the most change? Having 10,000 Christians standing outside an abortion clinic shaming those seeking an abortion? Or, 10,000 people taking signed petitions to their state capitol stating they will take any unwanted child, regardless of age, color, or physical condition that they may love that child in the name of Jesus?”

Read the last words of Jesus carefully and decide if our way of creating change is better than His.