Trustbusters: Guarding Against Choices that Ruin Relationships
Sermon #4 - Trust and Duty
Mark 10:32-45
Sermon Objective: Even at his own expense Jesus was determined to faithfully serve and please His Heavenly Father. By doing so He set an example for us in how to represent His kingdom as ambassadors.
Some people are just waiting to see faith make a difference in the lives of Christ’s followers. They want to see it work. They are not asking too much. As God’s Spirit is allowed to inform and transform it builds trust in those watching. If we live in such a manner as to undermine God’s values and promises it erodes trust.
In Mark 9 Jesus began to show us that discipleship expresses itself through relationships. In chapter 10 that theme is extended into more complex relationships that include elements of society. Mark 9:50 serves as a good transition between the two … it hits the nail on the head. Mk 9:50 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other.”
We have already looked at
“Trust and Marriage” (Mark 10:1-12)
“Trust and Children” (Mark 10:13-16)
“Trust and Possessions” (Mark 10:17-27)
Next week we will look at
• Trust and Opportunity (Mk. 10:46-52)
These issues go far in enforcing or destroying the world’s confidence in us as the People of God. When they are handled with wisdom, compassion and obedience, trust is established. When they are handled in a selfish and carnal manner trust is eroded.
This week we will look at Mark 10: 32-45
Mk 10:32 They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him.
Mk 10:33 “We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles,
Mk 10:34 who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.”
Mk 10:35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”
Mk 10:36 “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.
Mk 10:37 They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”
Mk 10:38 “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?”
Mk 10:39 “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,
Mk 10:40 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.”
Mk 10:41 When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John.
Mk 10:42 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.
Mk 10:43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,
Mk 10:44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.
Mk 10:45 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.”
Does that passage give you a flashback? Do you see hints of the ever-present rivalry that seems to exist within the band of followers? Remember these words from the last chapter:
Mk 9:33 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?”
Mk 9:34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.
Mk 9:35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.”
The words from Mark 9:50 are still germane … 9:50 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other.”
As we think about Trustbusters: Guarding against Choices that Ruin Relationships we must give some attention to our life’s primary “duty”. It is kin to the primary duty of Jesus. You see, even at his own expense Jesus was determined to faithfully serve and please His Heavenly Father. By doing so, He set an example for us in how to represent His kingdom as ambassadors.
How one conducts themselves and understands their duty goes far in serving as Christian seasoning or a trustbuster.
• If your primary objective in life is the acquisition of things, your spiritual walk among men is a trustbuster.
• If you goal or pursuit is pleasure and comfort then your spiritual walk among men is a trustbuster.
• If you ruthlessly step on and over people in order to get promotions at work then chances are
• If you expect “special status” that exacts privileges, favors, and perks out of life then your spiritual walk among men is a trustbuster.
Jesus said, Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.
Jesus gets in our faces this morning as he shows us some important points about duty and obligation. However, he does not ask more of you than he demands of himself. He shows you what is important and what priorities permeate every other duty we are entrusted with. In fact, Jesus models faithfulness and conscientiousness performance of duty for you: 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.
The contrast between Jesus and his followers is striking.
• Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem and to the cross
• But the disciples … they are looking for a pathway to privilege.
It is okay to want to be “close to Jesus” – it is even noble. But the disciples’ PROXIMITY has nothing to do with faith and love – it has everything to do with carnal ambition.
By seeking PROXIMITY they are seeking PREEMINENCE and POWER. They are not even thinking about closeness in terms of likeness and obedience. The concept of the NEARNESS bringing Jesus glory and drawing others to him is the farthest thing from their minds!
Those who sit on the right and left of the King are often in charge of large portions of his Kingdom. Their words carry great authority … when they speak the King speaks, so to speak.
There is no way that Jesus could entrust that much authority to these men … at least not at this time in their lives.
When it comes to duty – your first task on earth is to be a witness to the grace and power of God. Success will be based on whether you let Christ’s Spirit reveal His Son through you.
The disciples wanted to talk about COURTS and THRONES – Jesus talked about CUPS and BAPTISMS.
The disciples were focused on REIGNING and RULING – Jesus was all about REDEMPTION and RECONCILIATION.
Jesus shows us that the way to accomplish his will is by submitting to His Lordship and taking the role of a servant … even a slave.
But it is not natural for us think it terms of servants and slaves as the path to honor. The world does not work that way. It is, however, the way the Kingdom operates. It is one of the great reversals you see so commonly throughout this chapter.
1. Two shall be one (10:1-12)
2. Adults must be as children (10:13-16)
3. The first shall be last (10:17-31)
4. Servants shall be leaders (10:32-45)
If you want your faith to impact society -- if you want to be a Christian seasoning -- there are three things that must become a part of you. There are three things that have to emerge as part of your character in every relationship you have:
1. You must be SELF-DENYING
2. You must be SELF-RISKING
3. You must be SELF-GIVING
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.”
Wrap-Up
In “The Legend of Perugia” there is a window into the heart of St. Francis of Assissi’s approach to servanthood. It bears evaluation. It is hidden in a description of his practice of traveling and preaching in churches. It simply records that “He brought along a broom to clean the churches.” St. Francis understood life was about serving not being served. It was not about being given places of prominence.
The disciples were ordinary men with ordinary passions. They needed purification. Never forget – God used these men mightily. God uses common men today too. We are prone to think they would never get it! Time and again they fall back into the old ways of self-preservation and self-promotion.
But they did get it -- eventually.
A few minutes ago I told you that those who sit on the right and left of the King are often in charge of large portions of his Kingdom. Their words carry great authority … when they speak the King speaks, so to speak.
There is no way that Jesus could entrust that much authority to these men … at least not at this time in their lives.
Well, that changed after the Spirit came. Their words were God’s words and they could speak for God. One of the men who made this preposterous request for a throne (John) later wrote the following:
We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? (1 John 3:14-17)
Yes, they got it – eventually. But not until after the Holy Spirit came upon them and purified their hearts. And that gets to the core of what some of us lack … a heart purified by the Spirit and made receptive to the values of God.
Until we have encountered this deeper work of the spirit within, we will neglect our primary duty in exchange for and pursuit of lesser gods. We will use people rather than being used by our Heavenly Father. We will also be hindered by trustbusters … those choices that ruin relationships.
He who has ears to hear
Let him hear
