There was a movie in 1986, and the tagline was: "More seductive than sex, more addictive than any drug… more precious than gold… Power!”

The movie had an all-star cast: Richard Gere, Julie Christy, EG Marshall, Gene Hackman, and Denzel Washington

I remember seeing it not long after I was ordained to the ministry, and I must tell you that God used it to bring enormous conviction about the seductive nature of ambition and the lust of having "influence" over other people.

The desire for glory, the desire to be "first," the ability to control the options, to be in charge and to play the fiddle to which other people dance – it ran deep in my heart. Ugly stuff.

Do you remember that Jesus, out of appreciation for his disciples told them that the day would come when they would sit on 12 thrones of Israel? Of course he was talking about that great and glorious day when he comes again and the new heavens and the new earth are established, and his apostles will have 12 of the 24 thrones in that glorious kingdom!

But James and John get a little ahead of Jesus on this, and they get their mother and they come up to Jesus and kneel down. "What do you want?" He asked. She said to him, "Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand, and one at your left in your kingdom."

Do you remember the answer of Jesus? First, he just makes them think: "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?" How did they respond? It's really quite laughable "We are able." Of course, they don't get it yet. They don't realize how much suffering there must be in the leadership they will bear in the kingdom. But that's quite a ways off and a lot needs to happen first.

Then Jesus tells them, essentially, "Listen guys, I'm not in charge of the seating arrangements at this point."

Now the other ten disciples catch on that James and John are jockeying for influence and power, and how do they react? We read, "And when the ten heard of it, they were indignant at the two brothers." It becomes a hot mess of ambition and pride.

But Jesus sees it is such a great teaching opportunity for them, and for his ambitious disciples, like me, whom he will call down the road. What does he say?

We read, "But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant..."

There you go. Do you want to be great? Do you want influence? Don't be like the petty ambitious, obnoxious, proud and arrogant rulers of this world. In my kingdom the one who is great is the one who is a servant. Once again, Jesus turns the world on its head. True greatness is to have a servant’s heart.

Not long after I saw the movie, I read the verse in 2 Corinthians 4:5 which says "For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake." It was one of those painfully exquisite moments that every minister must have. "Not ourselves. But Jesus Christ as Lord. With ourselves as your servants. For Jesus' sake."

Where does the power come from to live like this? What can rip through ambition, self-importance, and glory lust? What sets people free to serve the God who "opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble?"

Fortunately for me – and you, too, before Jesus finishes with James and John, he ends his instruction by saying "and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many." Let this sink in. If you listen carefully, you realize that before you can serve Jesus, you must first be served by him. You must first be ransomed by him. You must first be washed by him.

Remember when he took up the towel and washed the feet of his disciples? Certainly on that night He knew his full deity as God the Son. And yet he stoops down and washes the feet of those who would betray, deny, and doubt him. Yet he loves them and serves them first. Before he commands them to serve, he serves them first. And that simple foot washing foreshadows the great washing he must do from head to toe of all his disciples. Well, so many years ago, and many, many times since, I needed to be reminded that before I take up a towel or preach a message, or counsel another, I am first standing in the need of a Savior who must wash me.

And he does. Then, and only then, am I delivered from being the "proud do-gooder and ambitious influencer.” Then, and only then, am I set free to love and serve others humbly with his love.

Does that make sense to you, too?

Musings from Pastor John, September 20 , Click to Email Pastor John