A deacon (1)

Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, (Mark 10:43)

The phrase ‘Your servant’ is a translation from the Greek word “diakonos (διάκονος’) from which the English word ‘deacon’ is derived. A deacon does not mean a person who would exercise a certain power but a mere waiter at a table. The author of Mark might have a proper reason for using this particular term here.

Firstly, pay attention to ‘Not so with you’. The previous verse 42 mentioned about the rulers’ wielding of their power. The reader of Mark’s gospel might have experienced the power of Emperor Nero. They might know very well how much wielding of power would completely destroy the community for they had directly experienced the tyranny of the rulers. Here the phrase ‘Not so with you’ means that such thing could not be happened among the gospel community. Or there would be a certain possibility to happen such things in their community.

Among Christians there is no room for ecclesiastical authority. The reason is that the essence of faith itself does not have any relationship with the ecclesiastical authority. Precisely speaking, to give up one’s power is rightly the essence of faith. So the author of Mark could say, “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.” How could a waiter at the table give order to a guest? He can only maintain his identity by serving the guests and providing whatever they want.

It is not easy to practice such a humble attitude. However, it is not the matter of impossibility. See young mothers. They are inexperienced in many part but very sensitive and perfect to serve their own child. The mother does not think of exercising her power over her baby. She finds her real essence of serving as she serves her child. A person doing such job in a church is exactly what we call diakonos, or a deacon.