You can hear the sermon on my podcast here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/697261/4722329
• stopping to help woman with tire.
• Son Jay’s insight about dirty hands. "I guess that's what a Christian's hands are supposed to look like.
• likely we’ve all done similar things without much deep philosophical thought. it took a child’s insight to attach meaning to the action.
• perhaps unusual illustrations and ideas to open a sermon on leadership.
• our thoughts about leadership are more likely to be about politicians, coaches, CEO’s, etc.
• apparently this is how it was in Jesus’ day as well with his followers.
• Jesus told them:
Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
• Christian leadership looks nothing like secular leadership.
• For some reason, we find ourselves in a tug of war between two extremes:
o One is that we think we have no power, influence, leadership at all.
o The other is to treat each other and the church as if it’s just like the world with similar outcomes:
o conflict, strife, lack of unity, no vision, no productivity, no cooperation, etc.
• The clearest exposition on this is the circumstance of James and John and their power play:
Right and Left Hand Leadership
• James and John didn’t shoot for the top slot. They would be “content” being the 2nd level down.
Mark 10:35–37 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came over and spoke to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do us a favor.” 36 “What is your request?” he asked. 37 They replied, “When you sit on your glorious throne, we want to sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.”
• Humans are always in competition. Sometimes “friendly” sometimes not so much.
• Power over others means we get to decide what happens. It means our posse gets to set the direction.
• We can dress this pig called competition or power play up in a dress and put lipstick on it but its still a pig in a dress.
Real Leadership Is Very Different
Mark 10:38–40 But Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink? Are you able to be baptized with the baptism of suffering I must be baptized with?” 39 “Oh yes,” they replied, “we are able!” Then Jesus told them, “You will indeed drink from my bitter cup and be baptized with my baptism of suffering. 40 But I have no right to say who will sit on my right or my left. God has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen.”
• In Jesus’ world, being first has a high price attached to it.
• Many “leaders” in business, sports, have paid a high price along with their families, their health, their morals to get to the “top.”
• Maybe James and John thought that was what Jesus meant.
• His description, though, comes from the prophets:
o Cup = God’s judgment and wrath.
o Baptism prior to Church era was to be immersed in suffering
Luke 12:50 I have a terrible baptism of suffering ahead of me, and I am under a heavy burden until it is accomplished.
• People have always understood that the road to the “top” is steep and treacherous.
• This isn’t what Jesus meant at all.
• Greatness, leadership, in the kingdom of God is suffering and service.
What’s Your Position?
• The request really angered the other disciples.
Mark 10:41 When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant.
• We know this feeling.
• We didn’t get elected to class president.
• Someone else was given the promotion when we were obviously the better choice.
• Our kid wasn’t chosen to be lead off batter, etc.
• Jesus contrasts the world’s way of being or gaining leadership with true leadership.
Mark 10:42 So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them.
• But...It’s different when we lead in the kingdom.We lead when we get our hands dirty.
Mark 10:43–44 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else.
• Jesus points them to the ultimate leadership goal:
o Self-sacrifice for the sake of others.
• He rearranges their thinking about his mission (again)
Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
• Near the end he reinforces this by literally getting his hands dirty.
John 13:12–16 After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? 13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. 15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. 16 I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message.
Now Go Get Your Hands Dirty
John 13:17 Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.
