OUT OF WEAKNESS…STRENGTH - James and John: “We Deserve the Best!”
Mark 10:35-45 (p. 707) September 10, 2017
Introduction:
Dwight L. Moody once said, “The measure of a person isn’t how many servants they have but how many people they serve.”
But man! That doesn’t seem to be the attitude in the world today…even many times for those who claim to follow Christ as disciples.
It doesn’t seem many want to sign up for the “servant” job…because on that job description it lists: Someone who is willing to stoop down…someone who is willing to give up…someone who is willing to surrender, sacrifice, and ultimately crucify self.
We read that job description and think: “No way buddy! NO WAY!!! I’m not signing my name on that contract.
But Jesus doesn’t mince words when He says, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, and the chief priests, and the teachers of the law, and He must be killed and on the 3rd day be raised to life." (Luke 9:22)
Right after He tells them this, He says, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me…for whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.” (Luke 9:23-24) “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world and forfeit or lose their soul?”
James and John and the other disciples have first heard this from Jesus…and on the heels of this amazing statement…they ask Jesus: “Let us have the best places in your glory…one of us on your right and one of us on your left.”
John R.W. Stott in his book “The Cross of Christ” says: “That’s the request of our world…and even many in the church. We’re go getters, status seekers, hungry for honor and prestige. We measure life by accomplishment and our everlasting dreams of success.”
Jesus has just said, “I’m going to be rejected, beaten, killed and I will rise again…If you want to follow me…you must (and yes He uses the word “must”) deny yourself…crucify yourself daily and walk down the same road.
And James and John seem to brush it off and say, “Yeah, yeah, but what about those best seats in the house…give those to us!”
[It would be like your boss asking someone if they’re willing to clean the bathroom and a couple of your fellow employees go…“No, but can you give us your box seats for the Reds game?”]
None of us want to humble ourselves…None of us want to appear weak…but that’s exactly what Jesus is asking of those who would follow Him…It’s essential…it “must” happen…or it’s not real.
And there really is a way to tell if someone is following Jesus.
I. IT TAKES THE RIGHT ATTITUDE TO BE A SERVANT
You cannot serve Jesus and others with your heart full of self and your hands full of stuff.
It’s even more amazing that right before James and John make this arrogant request, Jesus and the disciples have an encounter with a man that runs up to them and asks from his knees: “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life.” Jesus then asks “Why do you call me good?” No one is good except God.”
He doesn’t say He isn’t God…Jesus, I believe just wants to know if this man believes He is.
Then Jesus says, you know the commandments don’t you? He mentions 6 of them. (Ironically Jesus doesn’t include you shall not have any other God's first in your life…you shall not worship idols and you shall not covet…coincidental, I think not.)
And the man from his knees says, “I’ve done all that since I was a child.”
Jesus looks at him…and LOVES him…and says, “One more thing…go sell all you own, give it to the poor and come be my disciple.
When the man hears this his expression changes dramatically from smile to frown and he leaves Jesus’ presence sad. He owned a lot of stuff.
The disciples are amazed at all this…and Jesus tries to teach them. He says:
MARK 10:24-27 (p. 707)
The disciples are amazed because they think just like all of us. God blesses good people with stuff…He punishes bad people…It’s how the charlatans who are health and wealth and prosperity preachers prey on people. And Jesus is teaching a radical new truth…only God can change this attitude…only God can transform the human heart…otherwise it’s impossible.
There are two definitions of greatness…the world’s and God’s. The world is easy to run after because it makes us feel important and powerful…God’s is much harder…listen to what Jesus, God Himself says:
“You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the gentiles Lord it over them and exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.”
There’s that word “must” again.
The world says: “Let people know who is boss…put people in their place…and Jesus says: “Serve others…wash their feet if necessary…It’s why I came here…It’s what my Kingdom is all about.”
Is it easy to be a servant in the Kingdom of God…nope! It’s impossible left to ourselves.
The reason we have to crucify self daily is because “that” worldly man and “that” worldly woman keeps trying to live in us…It’s natural to please ourselves…it’s supernatural to put others before ourselves.
But just a reminder…if Jesus is King of your world: “He didn’t come to be served…He came to serve and to give His life as a ransom.”
Just a reminder to everyone who has confessed Christ as Lord and Savior…and a challenge for those who haven’t, and are thinking about it:
PHILIPPIANS 2:3-8 (p. 819)
It takes the right attitude to be a servant…It takes the attitude and mindset of Jesus…That only happens through His Spirit at work within us…doing battle with our “worldly” nature…and us choosing to be a servant. It’s in this place of weakness…God flexes His muscles to save and serve the world.
It’s this attitude that:
II. BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER INSTEAD OF TEARING THEM APART
James and John arrogantly ask for the best seats in the Kingdom…and not too surprising when the other 10 disciples hear about it they become “indignant.”
It’s what the attitude of gentile rulers and authorities does to people…It doesn’t bring you together…it tears you apart…The word indignant means… “you feel and show that you perceived to have been treated unfairly…It means feeling more worthy than the person you feel it towards.”
It’s an attitude that will quickly permeate the church unless we zealously guard against it. I’m sure the other disciples started to think of reasons they were more worthy of those seats than James and John. “I’ve been with Jesus longer…I’ve given more than them…I’m better at it than they are…Those places belong to me…You cannot seek first the Kingdom of God and your Kingdom at the same time.
This attitude makes us angry at others more than being joyful in the Kingdom.
Two shopkeepers were bitter rivals. Their stores were directly across the street from each other, and they would spend each day keeping track of each other’s business. If one got a customer, he would smile in triumph at his rival.
One night an angel appeared to one of the shopkeepers in a dream and said, “I will give you anything you ask, but whatever you receive, your competitor will receive twice as much. Would you be rich? You can be very rich, but he will be twice as wealthy. Do you wish to live a long and healthy life? You can, but his live will be longer and healthier. What is your desire?”
The man frowned, thought for a moment, and then said, “Here is my request: Strike me blind in one eye!”
One sign of jealousy is when it’s easier to show sympathy and “weep with those who weep than it is to exhibit joy and “rejoice with those who rejoice.”
We live in a competitive world…a world that teaches us that in order to succeed, others must fail.
Having John the Baptist’s attitude: “He must increase while I decrease” goes against everything we feel…but maybe that’s exactly why Jesus said, “He was the greatest man ever born.” After all, we now know Jesus’ definition of what truly makes a man or woman great.
Let me end today with the most important eternal truth I can share.
III. IT’S ABOUT OTHERS' SALVATION, NOT MY PRIDE
“For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve AND TO GIVE HIS LIFE AS A RANSOM FOR MANY.”
What attitude would make the creator of the universe kneel and wash the feet of His creation?
What attitude would make the Almighty Lord endure punches to the face, spit and taunts while wearing a crown of thorns, and enduring scourging and then a crucifixion?
What attitude would make the God of Heaven leave a place of absolute worship, peace and love to come and take my place on an old rugged cross?
Love…it’s what God is…not the selfish thing we refer to as love…the I love you, but…or I love you, if…or I love you, because.
But a perfect love that had only you and me in mind when it showed up…love that knew my sin…and died for me anyway…to demonstrate it.
Satan is at work in this world so that we feel indignant towards others instead of loving them like Jesus…Yeah, but Rick, come on!!! They don’t agree with me politically, they’re argumentative, they are sinful, they are my enemies…They aren't worth it…You’re right…neither were you. And agreeing with someone has nothing to do with the attitude we have towards them…especially if they are outside the Kingdom of God. This world will never be saved by people who stand on a soapbox…It will only be saved by those who are kneeling at the cross.
But I don’t feel like loving like that…“must” I? Well, Jesus said you “must.” He said I “must.” If we really want to be His disciples, maybe this is why he also said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the servants are few.”
We all naturally want the best seats in the house…but wouldn’t heaven be a lot fuller if we gave up our seats for lost people and were content to sit on the floor? What if we stopped being so indignant and became more loving? Do you think more people would be saved? Yeah…me too!
Let’s pray.
