Scripture: Mark 9:30=37; Psalms 1; James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a
Theme: Ambition/Success - Jesus Style
Proposition: Jesus addresses the issues of ambition/greatness/success. He does so by teaching His disciples that true greatness comes when we decide to 1. Become true servants 2. When we practice true servanthood
INTRO:
Greetings in the name of Jesus. What a joy it is to be with all of you here to worship, to pray and to hear from the Word of God.
Let's take a few moments and center in on that passage that God provides for us in Mark chapter 9:30-37. We first of all find the 12 and some of their family members back at Jesus' home base located in the city of Capernaum. You may remember that the city of Capernaum was the center of Jesus preaching ministry and was his primary residence for a great deal of His ministry.
It was in Capernaum that we see Jesus teaching in the local synagogue. It was in Capernaum that we see Jesus healing and casting out demons. ( Mark 1:24-31; Matthew 4:12-17 and John 6:59). Capernaum was also the residential area of Peter, James, Andrew and John, and the tax collector Matthew. The city was located about 2 1/2 miles from the mouth of the Jordan River and bordered the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee. It was both a fishing village and a busy trade center.
Verse 33 provides for us the back drop. They had all been out preaching the Good News. And now after a successful journey they were back home. They were all gathered together in Jesus' home and were starting to settle down and get comfortable. It was a time to debrief, take stock of what had happened and to prepare for the next mission.
Jesus opens up a discussion by wanting to know what His disciples had been talking about the last few miles of their journey. He of course had been in the front leading them, but behind him, He could hear that they were having a rather heated discussion. Now, that everyone was gathered together and setting down, Jesus desired to know what it was that had caused such a lively and heated discussion. He wanted them to share so that they could all talk about it together, calmly and rationally.
Verse 34 tells us that suddenly, everyone became mute. No one offered a sound. Along the trail everyone had been talking up a storm, sharing their own opinion(s). Now, here in front of Jesus, no one dared to open their mouth. No one wanted to share what they had been arguing about. No one wanted to confess that they had been arguing among themselves about which of them was the very best disciple. No one wanted to tell Jesus that they felt that they were the cream of the crop. No one wanted to confess that they believed that they were right below Jesus in the pecking order.
What these men and the others that followed them did not know was that Jesus knew exactly what they had been talking about. He knew that they were talking about personal ambition, about wanting to be the best, about even wanting to be the greatest. What they did not know was that such discussion didn't bother Jesus at all. In fact, it allowed Jesus the opportunity to help them understand how they could in fact be the best disciple possible. What they thought was a negative, Jesus saw as a positive. Where they thought they were going to get a reprimand, Jesus wanted to share a lesson. All Jesus wanted to do was to steer them the right direction so that they could achieve their ultimate dreams and ambitions.
You see, rather than being upset, I believe that this passage tells us that Jesus was thrilled to be able to have the opportunity to sit them all down and teach them some very important lessons. I believe that Jesus was thrilled to be able to reveal to them some ways that they in fact could achieve their highest potential as His disciples.
Most of us, I think share the same hopes and desires of these 12 men. We desire to be the best that we can be in what we do. I think we all want to get ahead in this life and I believe we all strive to be the best in certain areas and that we may even at times want to be the greatest in a certain chosen area. None of that is evil or bad or wrong. Just the opposite. What would be bad is if we decided that we only want to be 2nd best or 3rd best in the eyes of the LORD. What would be bad is if we just wanted to slide in this life and only do the mere minimum. That would be the last thing Jesus would desire in our lives.
The Bible is full of examples of people who wanted to be their best. David, after being anointed by Samuel is passionate about becoming the King of Israel, and not just king, he sets about being the very best of kings. Elisha after accepting the call of prophet, is passionate about being the next prophet after Elijah. He wants to be an even better prophet than Elijah, praying for a double portion of Elijah's spirit. After his conversion, there is no one more passionate that the Apostle Paul about living out and sharing the message of Jesus. The LORD is not opposed to ambition, in fact, the LORD desires for us to be passionate about being the best that we can be in this life. He only wants us to understand that only He can show us how to exactly accomplish that in our lives.
In verses 35 - 37, Mark records how Jesus takes some time out here with His disciples to share how they can get into the top 10 so to speak of Holy Living. Jesus shares how they can be a success in their own eyes, in the eyes of Him as their rabbi and in the eyes of God Almighty Himself. Again, as we read the words of Jesus we can better understand that it was His own ambition and desire for each of His followers to accomplish this very thing that they wanted - to be the greatest disciple of Jesus.
However, it is also easy to understand that the way that these men perceived how one became the greatest was a little out of line with how Jesus viewed success and greatness. That is why we have verses 35-37. These men had been taught the world's view of how to be the best and the greatest. They thought that they could use the same paradigm and principles that the world employed to achieve greatness in the Kingdom of Heaven.
So, in verses 35 - 37, we see Jesus very carefully and compassionately correcting some of their faulty thinking. And as we examine Jesus words in more detail, perhaps, they even will correct some of our own views concerning ambition, about being the greatest and about being successful.
Jesus carefully and powerfully points to us some steps that we need to implement in our own lives so that in God's eyes we can achieve the best for our lives. For when all is said and done, to be a success in the world's eyes does not guarantee us everlasting life. We can in fact, gain the whole world and yet lose our own soul (Mark 8:36). We all know that.
However, if we are seen as a success, as being great in the eyes of God, then we will most definitely hear these words one day:
'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' (Matthew 25:23).
Let's get back to our passage. Verse 35 tells us that Jesus instructed everyone to sit down. He does not reprimand them, lashed out at them or tell them that He is upset in any fashion. Mainly, because Jesus is not upset with any of them. Rather, like any rabbi, He simply asks them to sit down so that He can address the issue calmly, rationally and spiritually. He wants to share with them the way that they can be the best disciple possible. He wants to share with them how they can be successful in their spiritual journal.
I. Jesus begins by teaching and focusing on the ideas of position and service.
Verse 35 - "And He said the them, "If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all."
Jesus begins by bringing everyone into His classroom.
Jesus begins by telling everyone that instead of worrying about always being in first place, they should instead be concerned about being last. Jesus wants his disciples to focus their attention on how they serve one another rather than focusing on having others look up at them as being successful or great.
Naturally, Jesus does not mean that in order to be first one must do the least, do the worst so that you would of course be last. That is not what Jesus is meaning.
Instead, He is saying, plan to be the last person to be served. Plan to be the last person who desires to have all their needs and wants meet. Plan to be the last person because you have determined that you will instead be the servant of everyone else. You have chosen the ministry of serving rather than the ministry of being served. Rest in the reality that God will take care of all your needs (Matthew 6:33). By living this way, you will enjoy the life of being a God servant like Jesus. By living this way you will find greatness and success in this life.
What Jesus is dealing with here is how we approach and practice the grace and ministry of what the Early Church would later call the Spiritual Discipline of Service. (Acts 6:2-3; 1 Peter 4:10-11; Galatians 5:13)
What Jesus was attempting to get them to understand is greatness is not to be found in possessing some title or position. Greatness and success is found in possessing the ability to pick up a towel and serve others. Greatness and success is found in one's ability to humble oneself in true service and in living out a life of Christian servanthood.
Now, we all are aware that there is a huge difference between a life of authentic service and a life of self-righteous service. That is to say, that there is a huge difference between the way the world normally see serving and the way Jesus is calling for us to serve. In His little book, Celebration of Discipline, Dr. Richard Foster points out for us some of the differences between true service and self-righteous service.1 (See Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster, chapter 9 - Service).
For example:
+Self-righteous service comes through human effort. True service is a byproduct from a relationship with the Divine God. It's engine of strength comes from God.
+Self-righteous service is always impressed with the "BIG DEAL.". It is always trying to make the big score. True service finds that it is almost impossible to distinguish between the small thing or the big thing. It's focus is on serving others.
+Self-righteous service is highly concerned with results. It eagerly awaits to find out if there has been immediate results. Numbers are vital. The focus is on reaching the goal. True service is free of the need to calculate results. It delights only in the opportunity to serve others. True service knows that the LORD will keep the score.
+Self-righteous service is affected by human moods and whims. It can only serve when it feels that it "needs" to, or "wants" to or if it is it's "turn." True service simply and faithfully serves because there is a need. It refuses to allow "feelings" to control service. It operates out of a heart of service that is directed and controlled by the Holy Spirit.
+Self-righteous service is temporary. It functions only while the lights are on or while there is great attention given to the project. Once the lights are turn off, so too, is the service. True service is a life-style. It acts from a life in which service becomes first a habit and then a natural outcome of one's life. It springs up whenever there is a need. True service is there for the long term.
+Self-righteous service is without sensitivity. It insists on meeting the need even when doing so might prove unproductive. It demands the opportunity to serve. In contrast, true service at times can even withhold service if that absence of service serves the greater good. It does not demand the opportunity to serve. As John Milton said, "They also serve who only stand and wait."
+Self-righteous service fractures community. It centers on the glorification of an individual(s) rather than a group. It puts others in debt as it waits for them to serve or to take up the service. True service creates community. It quietly goes about caring for the needs of others. It puts no one under obligation to reciprocate. True service seeks to draw, to bind and to bring healing and wholeness.
+Self-service worries about being taken advantage. It is concerned about anyone stepping on us, taking charge over us. It is concerned about its own view of justice and righteousness. True service chooses to be a servant, thereby giving up the right to be in charge. True service enjoys the freedom of knowing that you can willingly be taken advantage. True service knows that when we choose to be a servant we surrender the right to decide who and when we will serve. True servants are available and vulnerable.
Throughout the Scriptures the writers of our Bible share stories of this kind of true servanthood in action. This is where we see Jesus washing the feet of His Disciples. (John 13:1-20) This is where we see Mary taking the pound of nard and anointing the feet of Jesus (John 12:1-8). This is where we see Paul calling himself a love slave of Jesus (Philippians 1:1; Romans 1:1) This is where the LORD can enable us to grow in our spiritual walk.
Think about it for a second. How can you be hurt, if, in your heart you have already decided to be humble and vulnerable? How can you be hurt if before you even pick up a towel you have already decided that no matter what someone says or does, you will still wash their feet? True service does not lead us to humiliation, rather, Jesus tells us it empowers us.
Listen to the words of St. Francis who in sharing the idea of humility, service and servanthood with Brother Leo shared these words: "Above all the graces and gifts of the Holy Spirit which Christ gives to His friends is that of conquering oneself and willingly endure sufferings, insults, humiliations, and hardships for the love of Christ." (italics mine)
Jesus was trying to teach His Disciples about true greatness in the Kingdom of Heaven. He wanted them to understand that servanthood and service is not something we simply do, it is rather, someone we become in this life. We become servants. We become people who serve not because we have to but because of the love of Christ in us we are compelled to service. It is a way of living out what it means to be an authentic human being. It is a way of living out the life that our Jesus lived each and every day of His life here on earth.
II. Jesus concludes His lesson by visually showing them what this looks like in real Life. - verse 36
Jesus takes them from the class room to real life. He has been teaching them theology and now wants them to understand the practics of it all. He wants them to take what He has just taught and now put into practice.
To show them what He means, Jesus models it in front of them. He models through the receiving a child - the perfect example that day of serving and receiving the least, the lost and the last.
I wonder whose child it was that day that Jesus picked up in His arms. Perhaps it was the Apostle Peter's or Matthew's little child. Tradition says that it was Peter's but we really don't know. It could have even been someone that had just stopped by to talk to Jesus and welcome everyone home. But whoever's child it was they were blessed.
Jesus takes this little child by the hand and pulls them close to Him. He has the child stand in the midst of the room. Then very carefully, Jesus goes over to the child and picks him/her up in his arms and loves on that child. He holds them close to Him and gives them hug after hug after hug. No doubt, Jesus holds them for a while and they share smiles and winks with one another. Jesus is not in a hurry. He is here to teach them what true greatness looks like in the real world.
Why a child? Why not a woman or one of the other disciples?
In Jesus day, men held the highest honor in society. The pecking order normally went like this:
+The highest position of society was a married man
+Next would come a man over the age of 50/60/70 - seniors
+Next would come a man who was young and single.
Women would take the next honored positions:
+Married women with children would come first and foremost
+Then would come widows
+Finally, would come single women.
Children held the lowest social position. Even first born male children. Until they were of a certain age, it really did not matter whether you were male or female. To most of ancient society children were viewed no higher than a slave or piece of property. For the most part they had no intrinsic value or worth. Their fathers had sole authority over them and could pretty much do with them as they wished.
In Jesus' time, children lived in a dangerous world. Abortion was legal in the Roman world. And if one was not happy with a child you could either sell that child into slavery or simply leave them to fend for themselves or die from exposure. Today, it is hard for us to think about a society treating its children that way. It is hard for us to understand all of this but the fact is one of the greatest ministries that the Early Church practiced was the saving of children.
The Epistle or Barnabas and the writings of Tertullian specifically deal with the horrors of abortion and allowing children to die to exposure. Justin Martyr in the 2nd century makes it clear that the Church should do all it can to adopt abandoned children. He saw it as one of the major ways the Church could transform society. One of the marks that made the Early Church among all the other beliefs, faiths and religions was its desire and willingness to see children in good homes, well feed and well cared.
By receiving a child in this fashion Jesus wanted everyone to understand that
+It meant that one had to abandon one's authority - rather than making the child kneel down to the adult - the adult would reach out to the child.
+It would mean that one had to abandon the normal status of power and position. Instead of the adult in the room being the focus of attention it would be the one in most need, in this case the little child.
+It would mean that most resources and most of the time would not be spent on taking care of the needs and wants of the adults, but rather on the well being and welfare of the smallest, the youngest and the least.
+It would mean living a life of being genuine, transparent, friendly, simple, humble, trusting, faithful and loving.
+It would mean living a life of being surrendered in the arms of the LORD.
Now, Jesus did not want us to simply focus on children alone. We misunderstand this passage if that is all we receive from it. Rather, He knew if we can focus on the very least and last of society then we will naturally take care of everyone else. Jesus knew if we could serve the very least then it would be easy for us to serve anyone and everyone.
All that Jesus says here demands from us both a hearing and a response. His words demand that we take a few moments and sit back and allow the Holy Spirit to help us reflect and examine our own lives and hearts.
+What are we doing for the least and the lost and the last?
+ What priority do those have who actually have no voice, no means of giving or ability to vote possess in our lives?
+ How do we receive those who are most vulnerable in our lives - the children, the poor, the aged?
+How do we do as Jesus did - how do we receive them for in receiving them we receive the one who sent them - THE LORD?
+What amount of our time and how much of our resources are dedicated to taking care of those who have the most need, who are the least, the last and the lost?
So, exactly who does Jesus see as a success? Who does Jesus see as being great in the Kingdom of Heaven. How do we achieve "Jesus type" greatness in our lives? How do we fulfill God's plan for our lives?
According to Jesus, our Savior and LORD the way we accomplish all of that is by being a person who
+Sees that their greatest desire in life is to serve - to develop the habit of service in their lives so much that it become a part of our nature.
+By being a person who willingly gives of themselves so that others might be first - understanding that God will take care of all of our needs.
+By being a person who can look for the least, the lost and the last and receive them with open arms.
+By being a person who can look at the very least, the lost and the last and put them closest to Jesus.
Jesus words are a top order. They are not easy to hear, to understand or model in our everyday lives. Our world does not think the way of Jesus. Our world tells us that we will not gain the corner office by making sure that other's needs are meet. Our world tells us that we must look first of all after #1. After making sure our own needs are meet then we can look at others. However, as we have seen that is not the life that Jesus has for us or modeled for us.
Like all that Jesus teaches we know cannot do it on our own. On our own, we humans are still reaching for the "APPLE" so that we can obtain a state of godness, so that we can be successful and great in our own sight. However, in Jesus we can be transformed into His image. In Jesus we can become a true servant.
This morning, I can think of no better way to portray that desire to be great in the eyes of Jesus, than by us kneeling at an altar and receiving the elements of the LORD's Supper.
For in taking the symbols of His Body and Blood we are asking the LORD to recreate in us His Spirit, His Life, and His Presence. In kneeling down in submission to Him, Jesus will through His Body and Blood bestow to us the grace of healing and wholeness. By taking communion today we receive the presence of Christ.
As we come to the table to receive Communion - let us do so with this prayer on our lips:
"Lord, Jesus, I would so appreciate it if You would direct my eyes, my hands, my mind, my emotions and my feet to be used in service for You this day. Would you bring someone today whom I can serve as You would serve them."
1(See Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster, chapter 9 - Service). I have adapted these to fit this sermon.
