The rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you.

The disciples of Jesus were not immune to temptations for power and prestige.  Despite all that Jesus had taught them and all they had seen him do, they still thought, or hoped, that Jesus had come to establish an earthly kingdom that would free them of the oppression of their Roman conquerors and the Jewish leaders.  They had visions of “Doing unto others what had been done to them.  “Jesus asked them if they could do what he knew he had to do.  They had no clue what he meant, but they enthusiastically said, “Yes, we can.”  Jesus does not condemn them for their human weakness of pride and envy, but he tells them that their greatness will be determined, not by wealth, power and prestige, but by the way they serve others, by becoming a slave to all.  That certainly is not what James and John, or any of the other disciples, had in mind.  It would not be until Jesus rose from the dead and served them meals that they would begin to understand.  We have their testimony in the Scripture that they understood.  Do we understand?