Leading well means serving well
Mark 10:32-52
- Jesus is demonstrated in this book as a “servant”
-- Beginning today, we will see that concept explained and really come into focus
- Jesus’ teachings, while difficult for some to deal with, are always timely
-- God always allows us to hear from Him at just the right time
- Today we will examine our relationship with Christ … AND with others
-- It is an important lesson that each of us could get stronger in
- Read Mark 10:32-45
∆ Point 1 – Leading means serving (32-45)
- What we see here is there are two groups following Jesus to Jerusalem
-- One group, the Disciples, seem to be hanging back, perhaps afraid (v32)
-- The other group is just followers of Jesus heading to celebrate Passover
-- What happens next is of particular interest to us and the disciples
- Once again Jesus pulls them aside to talk with them about the future
-- Jesus once again predicts His death for them with more information
-- So far, Jesus has done this three times and given them added info:
1) Mark 8:31 is the bare announcement that He will be killed
2) Mark 9:31 shows that He will be betrayed
3) Mark 10:33 shows the suffering He will undergo before He is killed
- Jesus indicates He will be handed over to the Gentiles: ultimate rejection
-- Jews are NEVER to be handed over to Gentiles (higher society of people)
-- This must’ve stirred the hearts of the disciples to not want to go even more
-- However, look at their next conversation and what they want to know (v35)
- “Would you agree to do something even before we ask it of you?”
-- APP: “Lord, we love you, but can you fill MY need before anyone else’s?”
- What I find amazing is that Jesus does not rebuke them, but He hears them out
-- Perhaps this is due to His love for them; perhaps it’s a teaching lesson here
- Either way, Jesus listens intently to what is on their hearts (v37)
-- What is it? They want to be at His left and right and given status in Heaven
- Jesus’ asking if they could drink His cup is a challenge for all to consider
-- APP: Can we take on what He has suffered? Can we endure the scorn of God?
-- The direction Jesus takes is they will suffer, but not like He will for them (v39)
- (v41) It’s not said how disciples heard, but the Bible tells us they knew of it
-- The indignation the other disciples feel is towards James and John
-- But, probably more so, they are wondering about their own positions too!
-- “Lord, we are here as well … won’t we be rewarded and given honor?”
- The lesson Jesus tells them when He pulls them aside is critical today
-- Jesus reminds them to not be like Gentile leadership they know of and have seen
-- Gentile leaders crave power and attention; they want the worship/adulation
-- They put their own faces on money and demand others bow down before them
- King Nebuchadnezzar is a great example of “Gentile leadership”
-- Daniel 4:30, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?”
God’s answer to Him is perfect: Daniel 4:31-32, “The words were still on his lips when a voice came from Heaven, King Nebuchadnezzar, your royal authority has been taken from you. You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives to anyone he wishes.”
-- FREE: While we might be annoyed with our current government, perhaps we should ALL reflect on these two verses from Daniel 4 …
- Even King David had an issue with wanting recognition (Turn to 2 Sam 24)
-- In the midst of a great battle, David wanted to count the fighters he had
-- This scripture records God not wanting David to conduct a census of the land
-- APP: God wanted David to trust in Him, to lean on Him, and not his numbers
- David however, disobeyed and God’s anger burned against Him
-- Here is what happens when we do not trust God for provision: read v11-17
-- Just like Caesar does in this time here … David needed to exercise control
- The punishment for this rebellion, was God’s anger falling on David
- Go back to Mark 10 …
- Jesus tells them (v43) don’t be like these guys … serve those around you
-- How? By not lording your leadership over them!
-- Live your lives as an example to them because of who you serve today
-- Then He makes the ultimate statement of service in Mark 10:45
- You will not find a verse like this one which encompasses Jesus perfectly
-- Let’s remember what we have seen Jesus do up to this point:
1) He has touched the unclean
2) He has healed multitudes of people who’ve come to Him in faith
3) He has fed thousands (9,000 that have been recorded)
4) And before it’s over, they will see Him wash their feet, and,
5) Freely lay down His life for them
- Remember when we saw this the other day? John 10:17, “The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life – only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.”
- IMP: I don’t know where you stand on Jesus being a servant, but in everything He has done to this point … NOTHING has been about Him but about serving God
- Why? Because He will willingly give His life “as a ransom for many”
-- The word ransom has a unique meaning here: it means to pay what is owed
-- 1 John 3:16, “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.”
- IMP: The disciples, who wanted great positions, were learning what greatness is
-- As Christians, we’ve got to be willing to sacrifice our greatness for His
- TRANS: Let’s examine one more point, our relationship with others
-- As servants, we must be willing to bring others to Jesus no matter the cost
- Read Mark 10:46-52
∆ Point 2 – Run to Jesus (46-52)
- This road that they are traveling on would’ve been well traveled
-- It was part of a central route into Jerusalem so a perfect place for begging
-- Bartimaeus was probably well known in the area which is why Mark named him
-- As they passed, he cried out to Jesus and called Him the “Son of David”
- Of course some tried to stop him from seeing Jesus (v48)
-- The reason was probably to keep Jesus “on task” going to Jerusalem
-- APP: Once again they’ve have missed the purpose of the ministry
-- Jesus has come to heal and to serve, so in that He calls for the man (v49)
- Once the crowd knew that Jesus wanted to see this man, they acted
-- They acted with urgency to bring this man to him
-- Interesting: Once they knew His desire they brought the man to Him
-- Isn’t it the desire of Jesus that all should be brought to Him? (ref. 2 Peter 3:9)
-- APP: Again, they missed it and only thought of their schedule of events
- In v50 we see something incredibly interesting and our last point for today
-- An outer garment would’ve been very valuable to a beggar in these days
-- It would’ve served as a blanket at night, and perhaps had pockets for possessions
-- Yet this man, when called by Jesus, casts it aside to run to Him
- He wanted NOTHING to obstruct his path to see Jesus or respond to Him
-- This man wanted nothing in his way!!
-- APP: If we ever needed to see an example of trusting Christ, it’s here
- The rich ruler last week wouldn’t trust Christ for provision
-- Jesus told him to sell all he had, give it away if needed, and come follow Him
-- Follow Him for everything you need and put your trust in Him
-- He was unable to do so – in contrast this man is 100% the opposite
- He knew that Jesus had everything He needed and he ran towards Him
-- He ran towards the answer to everything he needed, esp. when he was asked
- In v51, Jesus is specific with him: What do you need? Confess it now!
-- Bartimaeus could’ve asked for anything … but he wanted his sight
-- He knew that only Jesus could give it to him … this was his greatest need
- The word used originally was “seso” which means healed
-- However, it also carries with it the connotation of “saved” which this man was
-- APP: He knew Jesus had everything his heart desired, so he ran to Him
- In v52 he not only received his sight, but do you see what else happens?
-- He followed Him; He said “YES” to Jesus, and took after Him completely
- For you and me, we see a man with great need who was fulfilled
-- Why? Because He came to Jesus for his need to be met
-- So, where are you and I at this point in our lives?
∆ Big Ideas
- Jesus represents several things to us in the form of servitude:
1) We must not hinder anyone from coming to Christ
-- Regardless of our words or our actions; we MUST bring people to Him
-- How? Perhaps by participating in some form of outreach
2) It is in service to Christ we find our true wealth
-- How? We find our greatest fulfillment in service because He served us
-- We live the example that He set before us willingly and faithfully
3) If anything comes between us and Jesus we must cast it aside
-- Even the beggar threw away his coat and trusted Jesus … will you?
-- You must be PERSISTENT in your PURSUIT of Jesus … are you?
- Pray
