JESUS STRIKES AT HIS PURPOSE
MARK 10:32-45
OPENING ILLUSTRATION:
One of golf’s immortal moments came when a Scotchman demonstrated the new game to President Ulysses Grant. Carefully placing the ball on the tee, he took a mighty swing. The club hit the turf and scattered dirt all over the President’s beard and surrounding vicinity, while the ball placidly waited on the tee. Again the Scotchman swung, and again he missed. Our President waited patiently through six tries and then quietly stated, “There seems to be a fair amount of exercise in the game, but I fail to see the purpose of the ball
Purpose in Life
Many years before Abraham Lincoln was elected president, he was a store-keeper in Salem, Illinois. Abe had a rifle displayed in his store that was one of the most beautiful rifles ever made. The barrel was made from the finest steel, the stock from the best walnut wood; and a world-famous gunsmith had assembled the gun. The price was extremely reasonable. Displayed next to this attractive gun was a rack of ordinary Kentucky squirrel rifles. These long-barrel rifles were made from ordinary gun steel, and plain wooden stocks. Yet, the price was higher.
A customer entered the store looking for a new rifle. He was impressed by the fine-looking gun, but was confused as to why it was priced much lower than the less attractive rifles. Abe explained that the good-looking rifle was for show, while the others were for shooting. The pioneer bought the Kentucky squirrel rifle.
A little while later, a rich farmer was decorating a room in his country mansion. He wanted to place a gun over the fireplace mantle with his big game trophies. Abe’s fancy gun was exactly what he needed. The fact that it would not shoot was irrelevant. The purpose of the gun had changed.
TRANSITION: The purpose of Christ has never changed, and Jesus wants us to know His purpose, and in so doing learn our purpose
INTRODUCTION: We pick up the journey of Jesus as He makes His way to Jerusalem, to His appointment with the cross. The situation once again presents itself for Him to explain, again, in clearer detail, His future. Once again, His disciples miss the big picture, receiving something incomplete, t the expense of comprehensive understanding.
Over the last couple of weeks we have learned a little about our walk with Jesus:
ü We learned the importance of getting all the facts in order to have a complete view of what is happening.
ü We learned that the devil is content for us to go off with only partial knowledge, fully aware of the damage that can do!
ü We learned what it means to be a disciple. – Indulgence, Agreement, and Submission.
ü We learned that Jesus believes we have more faith than we are willing to use, and challenges us to let our faith out!
Today, we continue with the thought that Jesus really wants us to understand His purpose, and then in understanding His – we can clearly desire what is best for us.
I THE CLEAR DECLARATION OF CHRIST – 10:32-34
A Action and Observation
1 Jesus is going before the disciples on the way to Jerusalem
a Jesus is leading in suffering
b Jesus will lead in triumph and victory
2 Those following are “struck with astonishment”
a The focus of Jesus
b The determination
Only Jesus could fully comprehend the meaning of the cross
Only the Cross:
ü Was the way to save the world. There was no other way
ü Was the way to please God
Ephes. 5:2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
§ Symbolic of the burnt offering
§ Offered for sin
§ Also offered to express one’s love for God
JESUS WAS DOING MORE THAN SIMPLY MEETING OUR NEED!
ü Assured Christ’s own Joy
Hebrews 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
B Response and Conversation
1 The disciples are afraid – something about Jesus made them fearful
2 Jesus deals with their fear
a Regardless of size
b Jesus never desires that we should fear – Scripture tells us that Jesus did not give us a spirit of fear.
2 Tim. 1:7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
If He did not, then who did – hmmmmm.
c Faith is the ability to trust apart from fear
3 Jesus declares 8 certainties
a He will be betrayed
b He will be condemned
c He will be handed over to the Gentiles
d He will be mocked
e He will be spit on
f He will be flogged
g He will be killed
h He will rise again
JESUS HAS NEVER BEEN CLEARER CONCERNING HIS FUTURE
IF WE DO NOT UNDERSTAND HIS PURPOSE RIGHT, WE WILL NOT UNDERSTAND OUR PLACE IN THE PLAN
II CLOUDY RECEPTION – 10:35-37
ILLUSTRATION: Christians without goals are a little like Alice in the fairy tale ALICE IN WONDERLAND. In a conversation between her and the Cheshire Cat, Alice asked, “Would you tell me please, which way I ought to go from here?” “That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” said the cat. “I don’t much care where,” said Alice. “Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,” said the cat.
A The Importance Of The Issue
1 Clearly seen in the Lord’s intention
2 Clearly seen in the Lord’s Teaching
B The Purpose of the Trip – Not Clearly Understood
1 Cloudy understanding results in unrealistic authority
2 Cloudy understanding results in “wrong ambition”
a The disciples approached in secret
1) Desire to “one up” the other disciples
b Unlimited appeal
1) Wanted Jesus to do before He knew
WHEN WE WANT WHAT WE CANNOT HAVE OR SHOULD NOT HAVE, WE WILL BE SNEAKY
Less than everything cannot satisfy man. - William Blake, poet
3 Motive determines the type of ambition
a Wrong types of ambition
1) Ambition motivated by favoritism
a) Part of the inner circle
b) Jesus’ favorites
(1) Sin of pride
2) Ambition motivated by wealth
a) James and John came from a wealthy family – hired men in the fishing trade
b) Wealth can breed self-centeredness
c) Wealth can breed a want for more
3) Ambition motivated by power or influence
a) Authority not theirs to receive
b) Authority not Jesus’ to give
4) Ambition motivated by social standing
a) Upper class right
b Right type of ambition – love faith and loyalty to Christ
WRONG MOTIVES AND AMBITIONS CAN SPOIL GOOD ACTIVITY
III CONFUSED POSITION – 10:38-45
A Seeking Greatness Without the Heart of Servanthood
B Greatness Comes In Servanthood
C The Purpose Of Christ Was To Serve
1 Lasting greatness is from God
2 Greatness is not found in dominion over others
a 12 out of 12 disciples got this wrong
The glory of God, and, as our only means to glorifying Him, the salvation of human souls, is the real business of life. - C. S. Lewis
3 Greatness is in serving others.
a No greater service to the person seeking real answers than to introduce them to Christ
b No greater service to the follower of Christ than to be a servant.
“More men fail through lack of purpose than lack of talent.” - Billy Sunday
What was Jesus purpose? To be great for God the Father as a servant.
What is our purpose? – To be great for God as a servant!
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