Descend

When Jesus walked the Earth, a lot of people asked Him for a lot of different things: 
Miracles, signs, wonders, explanations, favors...wait, favors?
Then James and John came to him. "Teacher," they said, "we want you to do for us whatever we ask." "What do you want me to do for you?" [Jesus] asked. They replied, "let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory." - Mark 10:35-37

Why would two of Jesus' disciples even think to ask him if they could sit at His side in Heaven? Perhaps, even in his dirty clothes and worn out sandals they saw a King. Being friends with royalty should have its perks. A chance to reign too!
When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. - Mark 10:41
A little jealous because they hadn't thought to ask the question first??
Jesus then gathered His twelve disciples. Their hearts needed some readjustment, and a reminder of what sort of King they served. 

...Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” - Mark 10:43-45

We might associate a King with royalty, power, and victory. Those things do indeed belong to Christ. But the Gospel message isn't about a Savior who ascended, but descended. Philippians 2:5-8 beautifully illustrates:

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset at Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!

Jesus lowered Himself. He not only became a man, He became a servant. No not only a servant, He became obedient to death. Not only death, but death on a cross. The life story of our God is a story of constant descent, and service. That is our model. Jesus' manner of life is our example.

A Pastor named Tim Smith brilliantly compares Jesus' decent to Isaiah 14. Notice the contrast (vs. 13-14):

You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.”

 This verse refers to Satan. Jesus lowered Himself, Satan climbed up. He put himself in the high place, desiring nothing less than all power and authority. If we, though children of God, spend our life trying to lift ourselves up, are we not becoming like Satan? Does that not more resemble his character than the character of Christ?

What does our culture teach? A life of servant-hood and purposeful descent is not glorified or even considered a successful life. On the contrary, it's viewed as a failure. Yet Jesus desired that His disciples follow in His footsteps, imitating His example to humbly serve and sacrifice. To pursue descent rather than ascent. 

And that is a life worthy of the Gospel of Christ.