Text: Mark 10:32-44
Sunday, January 18, 2009
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In this section of Mark’s Gospel, we see Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem and to the cross. Mark records three times how Jesus predicted his own death, once in chapter 8, once in chapter 9 and a third time in our text in chapter 10. Each time, the disciples fail to understand. Each time, Jesus responds to their wrong ideas by teaching about discipleship. I’ll start reading at 10:32, but I’ll be dealing mainly with verse v. 42 – 45.
[Introduction] It was now or never, they knew it would soon be too late and their one chance would be gone. They could just imagine how Mom would take it – she would never forgive them. Lately, she only wanted to talk about one thing – her boys becoming big men in the new administration. Besides, they had paid their dues, they had been loyal, they had followed the teacher’s every step without complaining – in their minds they had earned it – they deserved it. Surely, he would pick them. Just after dinner, they had their chance. The boss seemed a little gloomy, but they were confident their timing was right. With all the boldness they could muster (and taking their mom along for backup), they walked right up to Jesus and began to make their request.
Can you imagine this scene? Jesus was making his final march to Jerusalem, he was preparing for complete humiliation – mocking, and spiting and beating and unthinkable suffering, and finally death. But his closest friends were more concerned about their glory – in this dark hour they were seeking their own interests. For 3 years they had seen his life of service, how he helped others with little though of his own needs. With their own eyes they had seen his compassion for the sick, his love for the outcast, and his continual searching for the lost & hopeless. But after 3 years of being with Jesus, they were still too selfish to follow his example of service.
How do we compare with them? Too often, we share their struggles. Even though we know that Jesus wants us to help others, but we just can’t seem to live that way. If we’re honest with ourselves, we find it difficult to put aside our own interests and put the needs of others first. Some of you have a sense of guilt because you do less than you think you should. Some of you too caught up in your jobs, or school, or family life to even notice the needs of others. In one-way or another, all of us struggle with our own selfishness.
But despite our failures and sin, God wants to help us grow in this area. Just like these disciples, Jesus wants to show us how we can become more like him. Maybe we have wrong ideas about our own importance, maybe we fail to see how much Jesus values service, maybe we haven’t understood how his death was an act of service for our benefit. In every situation, we need to see Christ’s encouragement for us to put others first. That is what I want to show you this morning: Because Jesus came to serve us, we can follow his example in serving others.
So, let’s look to this passage and see what Jesus says to selfish disciples. How can we learn to serve others? read more…