Pride Series

The Temptations: Pride

3 of 4

Mark 10:35-41

September 9, 2001 F.B.C. Chester, Illinois Mike Fogerson, Speaker

1. Introduction

A. The lion was proud of his mastery of the animal kingdom. One day he decided to make sure all the other animals knew he was the king of the jungle. He was so confident that he by-passed the smaller animals and went straight to the bear.

a. "Who is the king of the jungle?" the lion asked. The bear replied, "Why you are, of course" The lion gave a mighty roar of approval. Next he asked the tiger,

b. "Who is the king of the jungle?" The tiger quickly responded, "Everyone knows that you are, mighty lion " Next on the list was the elephant.

B. The lion faced the elephant and addressed his question, "Who is the king of the jungle?"

a. The elephant immediately grabbed the lion with his trunk, whirled him around in the air five or six times and slammed him into a tree. Then he pounded him onto the ground several times, dunked him under water in a nearby lake, and finally dumped him out on the shore.

b. The lion--beaten, bruised, and battered--struggled to his feet. He looked at the elephant through sad and bloody eyes and said, "Look, just because you don’t know the answer is no reason for to get mean about it!"

2. We are continuing our look at The Temptations with a message entitled Pride.

B. Our text is Mark 10:35-45

a. [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." 36 "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked. 37 They replied, "Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory." 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?" 39 "We can," they answered. Jesus said to them, "You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, [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."

41 When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. [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. [43] Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, [44] and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. [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."

b. Jesus told His disciples where to go. ETS

B. Christians don’t think less of themselves, they just think of themselves less. ESS

a. I hope you will surrender your pride. Objective

b. Where are you going to sit? Probing Question

T.S.: William Shakespear said, "The whole world is a stage and the men and women are merely players." Let’s look at two seats we can chose to sit in at this production.

I. Pride makes us sit in the seats that are front and center.

A. Ever since James (Jim) and John heard Jesus say Matthew 19:28, they really wanted to have front row seats close to the aisle.

"Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." -Matthew 19:28

a. "Let us sit on the right and left" asked Jim and John.

*Right was the #1 position (Last weeks sermon) Left was the #2 position.

*Places of honor, prestige, recognition...Jim & John are saying, "We deserve those spots!"

b. Do you think James & John expected Jesus to say "Yes"? (I do.)

*Why didn’t Jesus promise Jim & John the #1 & #2 spots?

Two Reasons:

1 Jesus knew His place in trinity.

Jesus said "That’s Dad’s job to make up the seating arrangement. I’m just the groom." (Not lesser, just different)

2 Jesus doesn’t make promises He can’t keep.

B. Have you ever felt like you deserve..... more...better?

(I’m a good moral person. I’m a good provider for my family. I’m in church nearly every Sunday. I feel guilty when the pastor preaches. I deserve....more...better? Why do you think men/women have mid-life crises?)

a. vv:37 "Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your GLORY."