The Greatest Question
Theme: Have you pondered the greatest questions of man?
Text: Mark 10:35-39a
Introduction
Think for a moment. In your most considered judgement, what one question about man towers above the rest? The health question certainly would be first for some. Is a man’s body strong and well? How long will I live?
Then there is the inevitable wealth question. How much money does he have? This is the first question for many of us. How much can I make? Yet as money mad as we may be, in the depths of our hearts we know that possessions is not truly the measure of a man.
If we are going to ponder the ultimate questions of life we ought to find out just what Jesus, the giver of life have to say. One day two of his disciples, James and John, both of them ambitious (as we learned a few weeks ago), brash and impatient for power, pushed their way toward him through the crowd and said, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”
Question # 1: What do you want?
Yet Jesus in a masterful teaching way answers their question with a counter question. Now, there is more depth than we generally realize. He asked them, “What do you want?” Here is a question to ponder. A question that should make us do some soul searching. What do we really want? What do I desire more than anything else in the world? What do I long for in my inner heart? What is that deep seedbed of desire that spring all of the basic motivations and attitudes of my life? Sometime or the other every man had to answer this question.
King Solomon
King Solomon did as he began his reign. He was young and untried. So troubled by his lack of wisdom and experience, he made a pilgrimage to burn sacrifices at the altar of Gideon, and to meditate and pray about the new responsibilities that had been thrust toward him.
As he stirred uneasily upon his bed in sleep, God came to him in a dream and invited him to request anything his heart desires. I believe it could have been anything.
What did Solomon ask for, what would we ask for? Oh we know the story but let us not miss the impact of this great question. Surely he must have thought about a mighty army marching in pomp and splendor at his command, or even drawn by the vision of a splendid palace, filled with treasures of all the world but he did not ask for it.
Solomon asked for only one favor. He pleaded, “Give thy servant therefore and understanding mind.” so I may better do your will. This was what he wanted most and down through the years this was what he is known for.
Now we may say, “My request is not so great. If only I could have enough money to live comfortable. If only I could have good health. If I only had that new job.”
These maybe noble request but I believe we need to look at eternal consequences. I believe as we see from the life of Solomon that when we get our eternal priorities straight then God will bless us with so much more.
Illustration of King of Egypt
Maybe you have heard the story of King Farouk I, King of Egypt. Many years back his rule was overthrown. When the officers of the new revolutionary government entered the fabulous palace of King Farouk, what did they find. This man could have had almost anything that money could by. In his library one could imagine a collection of the books equal to the finest collections in the world. Instead the police found stacks after stacks of American comic books. This is what the king wanted.
One might have thought that in the royal galleries would be hanging the paintings of the masters. Instead, they found pictures of half nude women. He was so caught up in the moment that he missed the greater benefits of being a king.
Oh let me tell you. Don’t allow yourself to be so caught up in the moment that you miss the eternal benefits of the saving grace of God.
Question # 2: What is your price?
Mark 8:37 tells us of another important question that Christ asks,” What shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” What is your price?
Some say that every man has a price. Can a man be bought? Many men have been bought with a price.
Daniel
Daniel faced this same question. His whole book, named after himself is a challenge to compromise or stand firm in what he believed.
Daniel and the Lions Den
One particular story stands above the rest. Instead of sitting by the side and softly pedaling his religious conviction he risked all to serve God. He could have easily compromised.
Yet when Daniel knew the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had the widows in the upper chamber opened toward Jerusalem; he got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks to the Lord.
Oh how easy it is to compromise but oh what a price we pay. Some would say here today, “Oh I can’t be bought.” But I ask you what price are you paying not to allow the love and salvation of Christ to come into your heart? What is it that holds you back? We have mentioned money but you know it don’t have to be something you see it could even go as deep as you pride. “What would my friends think?”
When I worked for the bank I had to carry $60-80,000 across the road to the drive thru teller. That was where I worked. It was nothing to have close to $100,000 in my safe. There was not cameras, there was no accountability except for my own check up that I did.
Was I ever tempted yes, I could do all right with $80,000. But the price was too great. There was too much at risk.
Let me tell you the price for not receiving the love of Christ in your life is too great. This is a life or death issue. This is a heaven or hell issue. I hope you understand that.
Early in Mark 10 Jesus meets up with a devout Israelite. One who has so called kept the law all his life. Yet Jesus gives a shocking answer to this mans inquisitive question, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Mark 10:21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. 22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
He had too much to pay the price.
Question # 3: What have you paid?
We now finally come to the last question. Here again we are lead back to our opening passage. Jesus asked James and John, “Can you drink of the cup that I drink of? And be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”
Jesus was getting again to a basic question that we as Christians must ask. Some say they are a Christian yet Christ says, “What have you paid?” Oh don’t get met wrong salvation is free. It is by the grace of God. All we must do is repent. But the evidence of salvation is to take up our cross and follow Christ.
I don’t want to put the old bait and switch on you when you become a Christian. You know what that is offering one thing and giving another. When you become a Christian surly Christ lives in your heart and there is peace in your life. Yet we are also told to count the cost and take up our cross and follow him.
I am not saying that life as a Christian is all suffering. No way it is a life of joy and peace but this joy and peace comes when through the help of Christ we become overcomes. We overcome our suffering, we overcome the sacrifices.
What price have you paid since becoming a Christian? Anyone can sit behind the scenes but what evidence is there that you have suffered for what you believer? If James says that, “Faith without works is dead.” Then where is the works that is evidence of our faith?
Two more Questions
What shall I do with Jesus who is called the Christ?
I close with one more question. This is a question asked by a great ruler. Yet sadly enough this same ruler missed the impact of the answer. Jesus on trial before Pilate. Pilate caught between a quagmire. It was either go with his heart and lose his political career or go with the majority and gain the favor of the people. Sadly he chose the latter. Matthew 27:22 tells us that as Pilate stood before the people he asked, “What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?”
How you answer this question has eternal consequences. Yet because of God’s love he lets you chose. You can crucify him again on the cross saying that his death meant nothing to you and that you will find you own way to avoid hell. Or you can chose eternal life and believe in him.
How shall we escape?
Hebrews 2:1 ΒΆ Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. 2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; 3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; 4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
What do you want? What will a man give in exchange for his soul? Can you drink of my cup?
