Series Collage: Portraits of a Revolutionary Message 39 Jesus Defines True Greatness (Part 2) Mark 9: 33-37 Mark 9: 33-37 HCSB 33 Then they came to Capernaum. When He was in the house, He asked them, What were you arguing about on the way? 34 But they were silent, because on the way they had been arguing with one another about who was the greatest. 35 Sitting down, He called the Twelve and said to them, If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all. 36 Then He took a child, had him stand among them, and taking him in His arms, He said to them, 37 Whoever welcomes one little child such as this in My name welcomes Me. And whoever welcomes Me does not welcome Me, but Him who sent Me. INTRODUCTION: We continue with the second part of Jesus teaching on true greatness. We are seeing His views (which is truth) are in direct opposition to the world s view. Here is what we saw last week: REVIEW FROM LAST WEEK Three times the disciples argue about who is the greatest (Mark 9: 33-37; Mark 10: 35-45; Luke 22: 24-30) Jesus always confronted them and used the opportunity to insert His evaluation and give insight. True greatness is different (contrast) from the pagan s (worlds) view. The inverted pyramid: The greatest is servant of all. I. THE DRIVE: THE DESIRE TO BE IN THE PLACE OF HONOR (PURSUING THE WORLD S VIEW OF GREATNESS) A. How does the world define greatness? 1. The world s definition: The following words are used in Miriam-Webster as synonyms of greatness: Superior, distinct,
excellence, preeminence, importance, supremacy. That which is on top of the pyramid. We have grown up with culture holding this definition before us. 2. The drive of man (as it seems to be with all humans) B. The self-promoting attitude of the disciples indicates they were driven by the flesh: Our competitive natures. 1. The destructive flesh: Problem caused in marriage, families, business, and even church! 2. Damage caused by this desire to be recognized: It s all about me! (In marriages, families, work situations any situation that involves the positioning and attitudes of people). THE CRY OF THE FLESH: a. To be recognized b. To be appreciated b. To be honored C. Places of honor: Your place at the table (Luke 14: 1-14) (Jesus deals with self-exhalation) Luke 14: 7-11 HCSB 7 He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noticed how they would choose the best places for themselves: 8 When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, don t recline at the best place, because a more distinguished person than you may have been invited by your host. 9 The one who invited both of you may come and say to you, Give your place to this man, and then in humiliation, you will proceed to take the lowest place. 10 But when you are invited, go and recline in the lowest place, so that when the one who invited you comes, he will say to you, Friend, move up higher. You will then be honored in the presence of all the other guests. 11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted. (emphasis added)
D. Reminders from Peter and James that we are to humble ourselves before the Lord and allow Him to take care of where we are placed in life s pecking order. 1 Peter 5: 6 HCSB Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time, James 4: 10 HCSB Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you. II. THE MASTER AND THE SUBJECT OF GREATNESS A. Implementing the inverted pyramid: We have already seen this. The teachings of Jesus as well as his exemplary actions reflect the nature of the pyramid. B. Jesus taught the disciples that greatness is achieved in voluntary service to others (Mark 9: 35) - 35 Sitting down, He called the Twelve and said to them, If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all. (emphasis added). Here servant (diakonos) depicts one who attends to the needs of others freely, not one in a servile position (as a doulos, a slave). Jesus did not condemn the desire to improve one s position in life but He did teach that greatness in His kingdom was not determined by status but by service (cf. 10:43 45). Grassmick, J. D. (1985). Mark. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 146). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books. C. Two illustrations of greatness 1. The little child: To illustrate servanthood Jesus set a little child from the home (cf. v. 33, perhaps Peter s child) among the disciples. To be a servant of all included giving attention to a child, the least (cf. the very last, v. 35) significant person in Jewish as well as Greco-Roman society which idealized the mature adult (cf. TDNT, s.v. pais, 5:639 52). Grassmick, J. D. (1985). Mark. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 146). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
2. The servant with the towel: Jesus models the servant life (John 13) D. Paul reveals Jesus life of servanthood: Defined and demonstrated (Philippians 2: 2-11) 1. Defined (Philippians 2: 3-5) Philippians 2: 3-5 HCSB 3 Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. 4 Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, 2. Demonstrated in Jesus (Philippians 2: 5-11; John 13) E. Understanding the it s not about me attitude: It's not about me. IT S NOT ABOUT ME By Mark Baxter YWAM Jacksonville Beach, Florida My ideas aren't always the best. My opinions aren't always right. My needs aren't the most important. My ways aren't always true. My thoughts aren't always correct. My judgments are often wrong. My actions are often selfish. My love is often shallow. I'm not all that important. I'm not the smartest guy. I'm not needed by others. I'm not the best leader.
I'm not very strong. I'm not always honest. Jesus is the best, right, the most important, true, always correct, never wrong, never selfish or shallow. He is the smartest and wisest, needed by everyone who knows it or not, the best leader, always faithful, and all powerful. It's not about me, it's all about Jesus. I must decrease and He must increase. It doesn't matter what others think about me. It doesn't matter what others say about me. It doesn't matter if people like or love me. It doesn't matter if people respect me. It doesn't matter if people understand me. It doesn't matter if I feel dishonored and disrespected. I deserve to rot in hell forever, but for the grace of God. He has saved me by His choice, for no reason other than His reason. He has given me life, when I deserve death. He gives me joy, when there should be sorrow. He gives me peace, in the midst of chaos. He gives me hope, when there is just no way. So I just need to get over myself, stop living for myself, stop planning out my life for my own good, stop worrying about everyone else's opinions. No more fear, rejection, anger, envy, jealousy, pride, or self pity. It's not about me, it's all about Jesus.