Jesus Came to Serve. Editor: Rev. Perkin Simpson

Transcription

1 Spring House Worship Center Penllyn Pike & Dager Road Spring House, PA Rev. Charles W. Quann, Pastor Sunday Worship: 9:00 & 11:15 am Wednesday Bible Study: 7:00 pm Editor: Rev. Perkin Simpson Jesus Came to Serve Week of February 20, 2011 Nickelson, Ronald L.: The KJV Standard Lesson Commentary, Cincinnati, OH : Standard Publishing, 2010., S. 153 Background Scripture: Mark 10:35-45 Printed Text: Mark Lesson Outline Introduction A. God s Mount Rushmore B. Lesson Background I. Jesus Speaks to Two (Mark 10:35 40) A. Bold Request (vv ) B. Probing Response (vv ) Be Careful What You Ask For II. Jesus Speaks to Twelve (Mark 10:41 45) A. World-style Response (v. 41) B. Pagan-style Greatness (v. 42) C. Jesus-style Greatness (vv ) Humility Conclusion A. The Model Servant B. Prayer C. Thought to Remember

2 Introduction A. God s Mount Rushmore Few sights around the world are more impressive than the Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota, the world s largest sculpture. The famous 60-foot tall images of American Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt represent the ideals of American democracy by honoring four great leaders. What would God sculpt to represent his ideals for his people? What is the impressive image that God would provide to remind us of what he wants us to be? Whose image would he use? What would be his Mount Rushmore? B. Lesson Background In the previous lessons, Jesus spoke to his disciples openly and directly about his pending death, yet the disciples failed to understand him. Peter even argued with him and had to be rebuked. Like many, they believed that great people are those who can exercise power to command others to do their bidding. A great person, in their mind, would overthrow the hated Roman conquerors, and they were hoping that this great person would be Jesus. Jesus challenged them to think very differently. Those who want to save their life must lose it (Mark 8:35). Saints in God s kingdom must become like little children (9:37; 10:15). It is impossible for those who rely on their own resources to enter God s kingdom (10:24, 25). Being first, consisted of serving others being last in ordinary terms (9:35). In this lesson, Jesus brings these ideas together for his disciples. I. Jesus Speaks to Two (Mark 10:35 40) A. Bold Request (vv ) 35. Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. Teacher, they said, we want you to do for us whatever we ask. Jesus is approached in conversation by James and John, two brothers who have followed Jesus since they left their fishing business on the Sea of Galilee (Mark 1:19, 20). They left everything behind to follow Jesus. Although their question seems strange, their request reflects the mind-set of the other disciples. They have been witnesses to Jesus miracles and students of his teaching. They themselves worked miracles and proclaimed God s Word under Jesus direction (Mark 6:7, 12, 13). They are convinced that Jesus has the power to do anything and that they stand strongly enough in his favor to ask for anything. Nevertheless, the request sounds audacious. They address Jesus respectfully and submissively as Teacher. Then they betray that submissiveness in asking Jesus to do whatever they want. Earlier on the mountain of transfiguration, the voice of God ordered them to listen to Jesus and now they seem more intent on telling him what to do. Ironic. Their request also comes right on the heels of another death prediction by Jesus (Mark 10:32 34). They are clearly unaware of what is about to happen in Jerusalem. 1

3 What do your requests to Jesus say about what you think is most important? 36. What do you want me to do for you? he asked. Jesus reply is gracious and open. He does not call out James and John s presumption. He seems willing to consider their request and does not refuse them immediately. 37. They replied, Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory. James and John ask for something very significant! Like Peter, they now believe that Jesus is the Christ, God s promised king. They believe Jesus will assume his rightful place as an earthly king and rule over his people. They did not understand Jesus warnings about his impending death. They do not expect him to die, arise, ascend, and be enthroned in Heaven. Jesus, for them, is to be a king like other kings, simply more righteous and more powerful, destined to rule the entire world with godly justice. They want to share in the power and prestige. B. Probing Response (vv ) 38. You don t know what you are asking, Jesus said. Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with? James and John do not understand the nature of their own request. Here Jesus asks if they can drink of his cup or receive his same baptism. The cup is a symbol of the giving of his blood (Mark 14:23, 24). Baptism is a reference to his impending death (Luke 12:50). If James and John truly want to share in Jesus glory, they must share in his suffering as well. They need to understand and accept his cup and his baptism to understand true glory. 39a. We can, they answered. They still do not understand Jesus point. Their desire for power clouds their judgment. 39b. Jesus said to them, You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, Looking forward, when confronted with Jesus arrest and death, they will flee (Mark 14:50). Yet when Jesus is raised from the dead, they will be invited back into fellowship with him (16:7). Once they witness Jesus death and resurrection, they will understand his Godly purpose and what he has accomplished on the cross. They will then understand what it means to share in his suffering and in his glory. 2

4 Be Careful What You Ask For I ve always had a touch of claustrophobia. My heart still pounds a little faster when I remember crawling under our family s mobile home as a boy to retrieve my sister s runaway guinea pig. As an adult I decided it was time to conquer this fear, so I asked one of my friends to take me caving with him. Truly, I didn t know what I was in for! He s skinnier than I am, so I struggled to drag myself through crawl spaces he slithered through with ease. Once I lost my balance and almost tumbled into a crevasse. Halfway through the experience, I realized my energy was almost gone (as was that of our dimming flashlights). It was my childhood nightmare multiplied many times over! That experience reminds me that there are times we should be profoundly grateful when we don t get what we ask for! What grief has God saved us from by giving a firm and wise no to some of our most reckless desires! A. W. 40. but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared. Jesus response is as a riddle that the disciples can solve only after his resurrection. Jesus alludes to God as the ultimate preparer (Matthew 20:23). Interestingly, the next time that we read of someone at Jesus right and left in Mark s Gospel is when Jesus is crucified between two thieves (Mark 15:27). How do we distinguish between the preparations that are God s job and the preparations that are our job? II. Jesus Speaks to Twelve (Mark 10:41 45) A. World-style Response (v. 41) 41. When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. It appears that the other disciples are upset because they realize that the request of James and John is inappropriate. However, it is very likely that the other disciples share the same perspective not surprising when we consider human nature. The others may be upset because they also want prominence and glory when Jesus assumes his throne James and John beat them to the punch and asked first. In the next verse, Jesus responds to the fundamental misunderstanding that they all share. 3

5 What are some things that can result in conflict between Christians? How do we get to the point where we can resolve such issues in a healthy way, and not just sweep them under the rug? B. Pagan-style Greatness (v. 42) 42. Jesus called them together and said, You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Jesus begins his response by reminding the disciples of the behavior of the Gentiles. As he speaks about rulers, the disciples certainly think of the Roman imperial government, since the Jews have been ruled by a foreign empire during their entire lifetimes. They resent the taxes they pay, the violence experienced, and the indignities they suffer because of Roman rule. It is noteworthy that Jesus does not refer to the Romans directly but to Gentiles - people who do not belong to the nation of Israel. For the disciples and other Jewish people of the time, this term does not signify just those who belong to another nation, but those who do not know God or belong to God s people. To say Gentile is to say pagan, one who is ignorant of God. Thus Jesus is stating flatly that the desire to exercise power over others is characteristic of people who do not know God. Yet this kind of power is what the disciples are now asking for. They show that they aspire to be like people who do not know God and who do the very things that they despise. C. Jesus-style Greatness (vv ) 43. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, Jesus now draws the contrast. His disciples are not to be like the pagan rulers. They must pursue greatness on entirely different terms. Greatness for followers of Jesus will not consist of the exercise of power, but the ability to serve others. The term servant in Jesus time is no exalted matter, just as it is everywhere in human culture. Being a servant means giving of one s time and effort day after day to supply what others require. Such a position has no glamour or status, and it does not pay very well either! It is not a position to which people aspire. But Jesus says that those who are great in his kingdom, the kind of people who sit at his right and left when he is enthroned, are those who will live that very kind of life. 4

6 What type of person do you find difficult to serve? How do you grow spiritually in that situation? 44. and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. This verse restates the point of the previous verse, but more intensity. Jesus has spoken of one who is great; here he intensifies the statement by speaking of one who is first. Again, Jesus has heightened his language. First place goes not only to one who serves for pay, but to the lowliest person in the disciples world: a bond slave. Jesus intends to leave no doubt. He is stating emphatically that compared with the pagan point of view, his kingdom operates on different principles. The last person anyone sees as being in first place is a slave, someone who has no rights or power, but lives entirely to serve other people. How can we become servants to all without allowing people to treat us as doormats? Humility On a mission trip to Serbia recently, I had the opportunity to share a meal with a group of Orthodox priests. I didn t know what to expect. After all, a few short years ago my country was bombing theirs to force the Serbian government to change its oppressive policies. Furthermore, some differences in doctrine between my understanding of Christianity and theirs seemed insurmountable. Intimidated by such thoughts, I found myself seated by an elderly monk named Brother David. With long gray beard, skullcap, and dark robes, he looked to me every bit like an Old Testament patriarch. Yet what truly moved me was his humility his downcast eyes, gentle smile, soft and cautious answers to doctrinal questions, and even holding my coat as I prepared to leave. Only later would I learn that he was a close friend and advisor to the Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox church, the most important religious leader in the country. There are many people who are close to the centers of power, and most of them will be soon forgotten. However, in the simple actions of gracious speech, smiling, and holding my coat, a humble monk set an example I will tell my children and grandchildren about. What example of humility do you project? A. W. 5

7 45. 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. Jesus explains that in his kingdom, being least and serving others is greatness because that is exactly what Jesus himself does. Daniel 7 refers to one like a son of man (Daniel 7:13), who receives power from God and overcomes the beastly kingdoms of Daniel s vision, establishing God s never-ending reign over the earth. Jesus refers to himself as the Son of Man many times. So the Son of Man should rightly be a powerful being. And indeed he is: Jesus is unashamed to claim power and authority for himself as the Son of Man. But here he is turning the tables. Jesus says that he does not exercise his power as do the pagans, or in a way that the disciples want him to. He does not come to be served, but comes to serve others. Throughout his ministry, we see Jesus acting on behalf of others: healing the sick, casting out evil spirits, providing food for the hungry, delivering his disciples from danger. But the central, defining act of service comes near the end of the story, as Jesus dies on the cross. Jesus death will serve to provide a ransom. In that time ransom was mostly associated with a payment made to give freedom to a slave. His death will set the captives free. By dying, Jesus will personally take on the punishment for the sins of the whole world. Jesus focuses his life on this one mission: to give his life for the sake of undeserving people. His purpose is to serve others, at the greatest imaginable cost and despite our unworthiness. Since this is what the almighty Son of Man does, then this is what true greatness consists of. To realize true greatness, we too must serve others sacrificially. Conclusion A. The Model Servant Everything around us seems to encourage us to seek power and position. Whether we look at school, jobs, family, friends, or media, all seem to tell us that taking first place, having authority, wealth, and status should be our ambition. If we are honest with ourselves, we will admit that we are happy to listen to that message and follow it. Everything around us sends us toward power and position except one thing: the cross of Christ. The gospel turns worldly values upside down. We have been served by the greatest one. He served us even to the point of giving his life for us in death. That great truth compels us to reassess our lives and our ambitions. When we serve others as Jesus did, we will discover what life is to be about. B. Prayer Lord, we admit that we love to take first place. Teach us anew that you are the God who entered our world as a servant. Teach us the joy of serving others as you served us. In Christ s name, amen. C. Thought to Remember You can t live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you (John Wooden). 6

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