"What Does It Take To Be #1?"
Text: Mark 9:35
Introduction-
The title for this sermon today came from a
song I heard my children listening to on the
radio. It is by someone called Nellie, and it
carries the title listed above. As I overheard
some of the lyrics, I noticed that it implied
that no one should want to be anything but #1.
Number 2 was not going to be a winner, or succ-
essful, and Number 3 would be forgotten and never
remembered.
Jesus’ disciples seemed to have a problem
with wanting to be #1. We haven’t escaped that
egotism in our modern day either, even within
the ranks of the church. Ministers politic for
the #1 church in the #1 location with all the
#1 perks and recognition. Within the church
no one seems to want to rush to be the janitor,
or the one to do all the hard work on whatever
committee. Instead, the place of recognition
and honor is sought. We want only the best,
and we want it now.
Jesus, of course, understands what is in
the heart of man. He knows our egos and needs
and wants. He knew He had to try to teach His
followers that that was not His way. Listen to
Mark 10:35-40,
"And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come
unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou
shouldest do for us whatsoever we desire.
And he said unto them, What would ye that I
should do for you?
They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may
sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on
thy left hand, in thy glory.
But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye
ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of?
and be baptized with the baptism that I am
baptized with?
And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said
unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that
I drink of; and with the baptism that I am bap-
tized withal shall ye be baptized.
But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand
is not mine to give; but it shall be given to
them for whom it is prepared."
In Matthew’s account of this incident, it is the
Mother of Zebedee’s children who asked Jesus the
request to sit on His right and left hand in the
kingdom. (Matthew 20:20-23)
Now, Jesus had just told His disciples that He
was going to be beaten and crucified, yet they
were arguing about being #1. How cruel that was
of them to be thinking that way when the Saviour
was about to suffer for the sins of the world.
When He was arrested they all forsook Him and
fled. No one seemed to want to be #1 in following
Jesus to a cross of suffering. But, God’s way
is first the cross, then the crown, and no crown
without the cross.
So, in our chosen text, Jesus stressed to His
disciples that if anyone among them wanted to
be #1, then they should take last place, and
become a servant of everyone.
That completely devastates our ego. We want to
succeed and survive. It’s ingrained in our fallen
nature. So, what must we do to be #1?
I. First of all, IF YOU WANT TO BE #1, YOU’VE
GOT TO BE WILLING TO EXPERIENCE COMPLETE SELF-
DENIAL.
Wow! What a requirement! It’s probably the
hardest thing we ever do in following Jesus,
to deny self and what self wants. We want what
we want, not what God wants in our fleshly
nature. That’s why we have to die daily to
self and selfishness, and let Jesus live in
and through us.
Matthew 16:24-25,
"Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man
will come after me, let him deny himself, and
take up his cross, and follow me.
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it;
and whosoever will lose his life for my sake
shall find it."
II.Secondly, IF YOU WANT TO BE #1, YOU’VE GOT TO
BE WILLING TO TAKE LAST PLACE.
That rubs against our ego also. We don’t want
last place. We want recognition. We want 1st
place. Who cares about being #2, or #3?
In Luke 14:10 Jesus said-"But when thou art
bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room;
that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say
unto thee, Friend, go up higher; then shalt
thou have worship in the presence of them that
sit at meat with thee."
Back in verse 8 Jesus warned "...sit not down
in the highest room;; lest a more honourable
man than thou be bidden of him; and verse 9-
And he that bade thee and him come and say
to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin
with shame to take the lowest room."
What a letdown! What a disgrace! Get up and
go to the place of no recognition, no honor!
But, according to our Lord Jesus Christ, that
is what it is going to be like on Judgment Day.
See Matthew 19:30-"But many that are first
shall be last; and the last shall be first."
I greatly admire Billy Graham, and would love
to be just like him in a lot of ways. I can
even imitate his voice. There have been a
lot of times that I wished that I could be
him. But, God knows best, and He knows who
deserves such a great calling as He has had
in his life. He has been faithful, and good,
and truthful. He deserves to be where he is.
God will decide who will follow him as the
prophet to our nation. We won’t.
The great thing about it is that he is known
to be a very humble man, who loves the Lord,
and wants to do His will. God bless him, and
give him many more years of devoted ministry.
III.Thirdly, IF YOU WANT TO BE #1, YOU’VE GOT TO
BE WILLING TO MAKE YOURSELF A SERVANT TO
EVERYONE.
Our Lord came into this world not to be served,
but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for
many. His objective was not a selfish, self-
centered one, but was for the good of all.
He would die. Those who put their trust in
Him would live-eternally.
Jesus was willing to take the place of a servant,
to wash His disciples’ feet, to set the example
for them to follow.
We need a servant mentality, not a self-glorify-
ing ego.
If we really want to be #1, Jesus has told us
how. It’s there for you. Go for it.
Invitation-Following Jesus is not easy, but it’s
the best way to go. It’s the only way that leads
to life everlasting. Will you go His way today?
