“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” ~ Mark 10:45 (NRSV)
In Mark 10, James and John ask for the seats of power — the right and left hands of glory. They are looking for status, control, and dominance. Jesus flips their request upside down, offering instead the way of Kenosis – a Greek word referring to the “self-emptying” of Christ (Philippians 2:7). It is not about becoming less human or losing your identity; rather, it is the intentional act of refusing to cling to status, control, or prestige so that love, justice, and shared life can flourish. True greatness isn’t about how high we can rise, but how low we are willing to stoop in humility to serve others.
Serving alongside people in our community and world has completely reshaped my understanding of faith. I once thought service was about bringing something to people. I learned that it is actually about creating something with people. When I stopped trying to be the “savior” or “leader” and simply worked side-by-side, I realized my own emptiness. I needed their wisdom, their resilience, and their friendship. My faith grew from a transactional act of “doing good” into a relational act of becoming the body of Christ together.
Becoming the body of Christ together is never more apparent to me than when I am able to join mission teams from Covenant. In Reynosa, Mexico, we go to build homes for those in need. What I found there was that we are in as much need as those we come to ‘help.’ Not in need of material things, but a need for the love and community of our neighbors. Our brothers and sisters not only joined us in construction but welcomed us into their homes. I particularly remember a special lunch of tamales (my first) provided by our new friends.
The community built there was cemented with daily worship. At the end of each service, we closed with a hymn that I still remember:
Unidos, unidos en Su nombre unidos, Pues en este world paz y amor tendremos
United, united, in His name united, Well in this world we will have peace and love.
What world would we have if we lived “en Su nombre unidos?”
Written by: Bill Keith, Covenant Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, NC
Originally posted in Covenant’s 2026 Lenten Devotional. Thank you for allowing us to share!