"Servant Leadership Vs I Want To Be Great”

Jesus Holy Name September 22, 2024

Text: Mark 9:33-35 Redeemer

“Servant Leadership vs I Want to Be Great”

Jesus has been busy. He has been transfigured on a mountain before Peter, James and John (9:2-8), and he has healed a boy with a spirit when his disciples were unable to (9:14-29). He has fed 5000 with 5 loaves of bread and two fish. Then He calmed a storm and walked on the water. He has worked miracles in Galilee and in Gentile territory (Sidon and The Decapolis)

There can be no doubt by now in Mark’s gospel that Jesus is no ordinary rabbi. Yet still the disciples are confused because Jesus heard them arguing about petty issues of rank and status.

I’m reminded of the 1999 study by Simons and Chabris called “The Invisible Gorilla Study”. This study is also known as the “invisible Gorilla Study.

Participants were required to watch a video of students passing a basketball during a game. They were asked to count the number of passes. During the video, a person in a gorilla suit walked on to the court, and through the action, but when questioned about what they saw. Only 44% of the participates noticed…. 56% never saw the Gorilla.

The study showed that people can be blind to aspects of a situation even when those aspects are within their field of vision.

This is the problem with the disciples in this Gospel text. They failed the Invisible Gorilla Study, They have been with Jesus for two years, seen thousands of miracles. This is the 2nd time Jesus told them that He was going to Jerusalem where He would be arrested, and killed, then after three days He would rise from death. “They did not understand what He meant and were afraid to ask.” What a bunch of knuckleheads.

We probably should not be too hard on the disciples because we all have unchurched friends who do not understand how Jesus can be more than a “great teacher of morality”. The concept of Jesus being God in human flesh and blood, whose death on a cross removed the guilt our broken commandments from the “eyes” of our Creator, is not normal in a culture that depends on “self-improvement”. The simple act of placing our faith in Jesus, who rose from death and the grave goes against the grain of “earning your own” way.

The first reason Jesus came to earth was to live a perfect life, never giving in to the temptations of Satan, nor the human desire of selfishness. He did this so that by His death on the cross, all who believe in Him would be spared from the judgment of God against our broken commandments.

Then in the mystery of God’s grace, God transfers to each believer the “holiness” of Jesus. This is why the Apostle Paul can write: “We have been justified by faith…” “..reconciliation with God has come to each believer by faith, presenting us holy in His sight, and free from accusation, without a blemish on our record.” (Colossians 1:22)

Mark writes: They came to Capernaum and when Jesus was in the “house”, He took them aside to teach them about His 2nd mission…. He taught them about “the culture of the those in the kingdom of God.” Leonard Sweet in his book “Jesus Manifesto” explains the words of Jesus when He said: “The kingdom of God is in your midst. I like the Lutheran phrase: “What does this mean?” the words of Jesus mean: “I’m standing here. I am the kingdom incarnated. Not only in what I do, but in who I am.” (Jesus Manifesto Sweet p. 107)

Then Jesus gives an illustration of what it means to be a servant. If you want to be first, you must choose the last position and be a servant.” This is “kingdom culture.” Being last and servant of all is not what we human beings usually strive for. That’s not the greatness to which we nor the disciples aspired. That’s what the disciples were arguing about. They don’t understand greatness any more than we do.

So, on this Sunday, we hear about servanthood…but then Monday rolls around and what changes? In the world in which we live and work, Monday greatness is about being number one, a winner, a success. It’s about power, control, wealth, fame, reputation, status, and position. Have you ever seen the losing super bowl team dancing around Monday morning with two fingers in the air shouting, “We’re number two, we’re number two?” Probably not.

Jesus is not saying that we should not or cannot be great. Jesus is not saying we should not have ambition. He never says that.

What does it mean and look like for you and me to be great in today’s world? That’s the question.