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Read Mark 10:32-45
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32 And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him, 33 saying, "See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. 34 And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise." 35 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." 36 And he said to them, "What do you want me to do for you?" 37 And they said to him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory." 38 Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" 39 And they said to him, "We are able." And Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, 40 but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared." 41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. 42 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. 43 But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
It’s a small phrase, easily lost in the rest of the text. Jesus says, “It’s not mine to grant.” Even though Jesus and the Father are one, it is not his place to select who will sit on his right or left. That is for the Father to do. This passage of scripture gives us a glimpse into the unique perspective of submission. We view submission and authority only through the tainted lens of sin where it is about power, control, and determination of one’s value.
Jesus is not lower than the Father. They are one. They are God. You cannot get more of an equality and unity than the oneness of the Father and Son. However, their roles are different, and in every occurrence, Jesus submits to the Father. In fact, Jesus’ submission to the Father means that, even though he is the Lord of Lords, he will serve us by ransoming his life for ours.
Our own roles of submitting to authority and bearing the responsibility of authority for others should have nothing to do with power, control, or determining the value of others or ourselves. We submit to those placed in authority because God desires it for good order, our own care, and the care of others. We bear our responsibilities of authority for others with careful diligence, because God desires it for good order and the care of others.
Prayer
Father, you have placed many in authority over me for my good. Help me to be faithful in submitting to them in accordance with your Word. In situations where you place me in authority over others, please help me to serve with care and diligence, submitting to your authority over my life. Amen.