Take a moment and slowly read James Edwards’ comment on Mark 10:43. Think about what Jesus is really saying about serving. The failure to serve is to “fall outside of an existing condition that corresponds to the kingdom of God.” Why? Because that is just “the way it is.”
“But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant”
“...the best textual evidence suggests that it is the present of the verb “to be” (Gk. estin), not the future (Gk. estai), that is, “It is not the way among you,” as opposed to “It shall not be this way among you.” V.43a is thus not an admonition to behave in a certain way as much as a description of the way things actually are in the kingdom of God, and even among disciples of the kingdom. Thus, to fail in being a servant is not simply to fall short of an ideal condition but to stand outside of an existing condition that corresponds to the kingdom of God. ”