The Better Mom by Ruth Schwenk

Author:Ruth Schwenk
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Zondervan
Published: 2018-03-23T04:00:00+00:00

REDEFINING THE “GOOD LIFE”

Even Jesus’s earliest followers, his disciples, got this mixed up. They too had a vision for the good life—a life that had them at the center instead of others. But Jesus had a different idea. Jesus makes it clear to his disciples that true fulfillment does not come from where they thought it would.

The passage in John 10 begins with Jesus and his disciples heading to Jerusalem. “They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way . . .” (Mark 10:32, emphasis mine). Remember that phrase, “leading the way.” Underline it. Highlight it. Circle it. Do whatever you need to do to remember it. It is important: Jesus leads, we follow.

As they walked, the brothers James and John came to Jesus with a ridiculous request: “Teacher … we want you to do for us whatever we ask” (Mark 10:35).

Say what?! Can you imagine telling God, “We want you to serve us”? They are in effect saying, “It’s all about me! Give us what we want!”

In grace, Jesus asks the two brothers what they want. What they want is to be front and center—with Jesus, of course. They want to sit one on the right and one on the left of Jesus. They are asking for places of honor, recognition, worship, and glory. Jesus reminds them that this is not why he has come and that it’s not the abundant life he brings. The good life Jesus offers is very different from what the disciples imagined. It is not about living for ourselves; it is found in dying to ourselves. So Jesus says, “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).

In the disciples’ minds, they were on their way to Jerusalem because they thought Jesus was about to make a grand entrance. They thought Jesus would finally defeat their enemies and establish his kingdom on earth. Victory would be theirs! But Jesus wasn’t going to Jerusalem to be celebrated; he was going to be crucified. He wasn’t establishing a political kingdom on earth; he was establishing a spiritual kingdom in our hearts.

Please don’t overlook the weight of this interaction. Jesus is not just contrasting two different ways of life; he is inviting them to a different way of life—to follow the way he lived, to follow his words and actions. The only way we get to experience the good life Jesus offers is by letting him lead the way and trusting that he is worth following. The world values a life of greatness and fulfillment in the form of power, fame, wealth, taking care of yourself, indulging, and doing whatever you want. But in God’s kingdom a valuable life is found in becoming a Christ-like servant—one who lives and gives for the benefit of others.

There are, of course, things we need to do to nourish our souls. But despite what we may be led to believe, happiness and fulfillment are not found in living for ourselves.

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