Servanthood is the foundation of the Church.

My sermon this week focused on three takeaways:

1.) James and John's request was a failure of epic proportions. They missed just about everything Jesus had been teaching by word and example for some time, at least since Caesarea Philippi.  Mark thought the point about the importance of servant-hood and humility as the foundational characteristics of discipleship that he was willing to run James and John through the proverbial ringer in order let us know it.

2.) James and John's failure to get Jesus was not the final word.  Their failure did not tear them away from salvation, because their knowledge would not save them.  Rather, their faith, their lived our trust in God is what saved them, and will save us, even in those times we fail to grasp the full reality of who Jesus is and what he does.

3.) James and John were told they would drink the same cup and share the same baptism as Jesus.  Everyone of us will undergo suffering but we are not alone in our suffering.  Jesus himself suffered and his suffering was efficacious for our salvation.  By faith, we are united in our suffering to Jesus in his.