Clueless

It’s time for one our favorite segments here at Crossroad: One-point English lesson! Our key word for today is one of my favorites: “Clueless.” What does it mean? The picture is of a detective trying to find clues to a mystery, and not finding anything. He’s “clueless.” He has no idea what happened. Often times when we talk about people being clueless, we mean they have no idea what is going on. They’re like, “What? Huh? What’s are you talking about?”

When I was a kid, I could be pretty clueless sometimes. For example, when I started played the trumpet in my junior high school band, I was clueless in a couple ways. First, I had no idea how to play the trumpet. Second, it never occurred to me what the seating arrangements meant. There were about 12 trumpeters in our band, and I was about number 10. Yet it never occurred to me, “Man, I must be pretty bad.”

During summer vacation, though, I took an optional band class at my school. And it was during those band classes that it finally dawned on me what those seating arrangements meant. Because every week, our teacher would make us compete for our seats. And one day, one guy moved all the way up from about 11th seat to first. He lasted there less than a week, but it definitely made an impression on me. So I started to practice every day. Eventually, I made it all the way to second seat and stayed there the rest of the summer. I wasn’t clueless anymore.

But that wasn’t the only thing I was clueless about. I was also clueless about the Christian life. I’ve mentioned before that I was born in a Christian family, but for the longest time, I didn’t really understand what the Christian life was all about. I had no clue what it meant to be a disciple of Jesus. But I’m not alone. Jesus’ original 12 disciples were the exact same way. For three years they followed Jesus, and they were just as clueless as I was. And we’ll see that in today’s story. Let’s take a look at Mark 10, but as we do, I want you to think, “What is the Christian life about? What should it look like?”

In this passage, we are on the last stretch of Jesus’ life. He is on his way to Jerusalem to fulfill God’s plan for him to die for our sins. And there’s something really striking about this picture Mark draws for us. Take a look at verse 32.

They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. The disciples were astonished, but those who followed him were afraid. (Mark 10:32)

Here is Jesus striding down the road, far ahead of everyone else. And he’s not talking to anyone. Mark tells us the disciples are astonished at Jesus’ attitude, and the others with them are downright afraid. Why? Mark doesn’t tell us, but I get the feeling that they felt something was up. They saw this hardened determination in Jesus’ face, a determination to face something he really didn’t want to. Perhaps one of his disciples finally plucked up his courage, caught up to Jesus and asked, “Hey Jesus, what’s up?” Let’s continue with verse 32.

Taking the Twelve aside again, he began to tell them the things that would happen to him. “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death. Then they will hand him over to the Gentiles, and they will mock him, spit on him, flog him, and kill him, and he will rise after three days. (Mark 10:32-34)

I think that sometimes, we almost view Jesus like a superhero. That he faced all his problems with total calm. But I think it’s clear as we read this and other passages, that Jesus had to steel himself to face the cross. I think we see that attitude in one of the prophesies about him in Isaiah chapter 50:5-7.

The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious; I did not turn back.

I gave my back to those who beat me, and my cheeks to those who tore out my beard. I did not hide my face from scorn and spitting.

The Lord God will help me… therefore I have set my face like flint… (Isaiah 50:5-7)

Do any of these things sound familiar? These words were written hundreds of years before Jesus was born. And all of them happened to him. Jesus was determined to live by every word his Father spoke, even to the point of going to the cross. But it was not something he looked forward to. This was now the third time Jesus shared his heart with his disciples, telling them what would happen. And for the third time, they were utterly clueless.

The first time, Peter tried to argue with him, saying, “That’s not going to happen.” The second time, the disciples started arguing about who was the “greatest.” Look what happened this time. Verse 35.

James and John, the sons of Zebedee, approached him and said, “Teacher, we want you to do whatever we ask you.”

“What do you want me to do for you?” he asked them.

They answered him, “Allow us to sit at your right and at your left in your glory.” (Mark 10:35-37)

Talk about clueless! Picture this in your mind a moment. Jesus had just told them that he was going to get betrayed, beaten, and crucified. And James’ and John’s response was, “Can we sit at your right and your left in your glory?” Now I strongly doubt that this happened in the exact next moment. But still (their response was unbelievable)! They were clueless about Jesus’ emotional state. And though Jesus couldn’t have been any clearer, they were still totally clueless about Jesus’ mission to die.

I really have no idea how they were interpreting his words. Maybe it was something like, “Well, whatever Jesus means, he can’t be speaking literally. This must be one of his parables. Yeah! That must be it! Maybe he’s saying that he’s going to go through a rough time, but after that he’s going to come into his glory. He’s going to free Israel from the Romans and set up his kingdom!”

Maybe their thoughts even went back to what Jesus had said just a little earlier. Peter had asked Jesus, “We’ve given up everything for you. Will we be rewarded?” We saw part of Jesus’ answer in our last message in Mark. Jesus promised that they would indeed be rewarded. But look at the rest of his answer in Matthew 19:28.

Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

I’m guessing that’s what sparked James’ and John’s request. “Hey, Jesus promised we would rule with him. Why not ask for the top seats in his kingdom? After all, we’re part of his inner circle! We deserve those seats!” But look at Jesus’ answer.

Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you’re asking. Are you able to drink the cup I drink or to be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”

“We are able,” they told him.

Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink, and you will be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with. But to sit at my right or left is not mine to give; instead, it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” (Mark 10:38-40)

It really seems that Jesus and his disciples were talking two different languages here. I don’t mean that he was speaking English and they were speaking Japanese. I mean he said one thing, and they interpreted it as something completely different. Jesus asks if they can drink the cup he drinks. James and John are probably thinking he’s talking about drinking the cup of victory at the Messiah’s banquet. But Jesus is actually talking about the “cup” of suffering he will have to drink at the cross. And he’s not going to drink just a little bit of suffering. He’s going to be fully baptized in an ocean of suffering.

Also, when James and John talked about Jesus entering his glory, they pictured Jesus establishing his kingdom (Matthew 20:21). Now, sometimes Jesus talked that way. But other times, he linked his glory with being put on a cross to die. (John 12:23–26)

So when James and John asked to sit on his right and left when he came into his glory, Jesus’ first thought wasn’t thrones for them. His first thought was crosses. And he said, “Guys, you don’t know what you’re asking. Can you really endure the suffering I will?” And totally clueless of what Jesus meant, they said, “We can.” I wonder what Jesus’ face like was when he heard their answer. Amusement? Bemusement? Whatever he felt, Jesus said, “You will indeed endure the suffering I will, but who will be at my right and left is up to my Father to decide” (Matthew 20:23).

Anyway, the ten other disciples heard all this and they got very upset with James and John. And I don’t think they were upset because James and John were being so insensitive to Jesus’ feelings. They were upset because they hadn’t thought to ask for those positions first! And so Jesus has to give them a little lesson on leadership and greatness. Verse 42.

You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions act as tyrants over them. But it is not so among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you will be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you will be a slave to all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:42-45)

What was Jesus saying? He was saying, “Guys, you heard me talking about you sitting with me judging the 12 tribes of Israel someday, and you got all excited about it. But let me tell you something. You are clueless when it comes to what true leadership and greatness is about. True greatness is not about having the power to boss people around. To force them to do what they don’t want to do for your benefit.

“True leadership, true greatness is caring for those you’ve been entrusted by the Father. To care for those God has put into your lives. To desire God’s best in their lives. And to serve God by serving them. That’s what I’m doing. I’m not here to be served. I’m here to serve. I’m here first and foremost to serve my Father. To live by every word that comes from his mouth. To follow his desires and his plans. And my Father’s plan is that I lay down my life for a sinful world. That I pay the price for their sin by dying on a cross. Do you want to be a leader? Do you want to be truly great? Follow my example: Serve the Father. Serve the Father by serving each other and those God puts into your care.”

So what can we get from all of this? What is the Christian life about? Some years ago, there was a famous Christian book that started with these words, “It’s not about you.” In other words, we are not meant to live a life centered around our plans, our dreams, our desires. We are meant to live a life centered around God and his plans.

Recently, I heard someone else put it another way. “It’s not about God’s plan for your life. It’s about your life for God’s plan.” Often times, Christians ask, “What is God’s plan for my life? I often used to ask that myself. It’s not necessarily bad to ask that question. God does have a good plan for your life. But the thing you need to understand is that his plan is not centered around you. His plans for you are part of a much bigger master plan. What’s that plan? To take back the kingdom Satan has stolen.

Now let’s be clear, when I say Satan, I’m not talking about some harmless, fictional, cartoon character. I’m talking about a real life, powerful, enemy of God. One who used to be an angel, but who rebelled against God and has been fighting him ever since. And ever since God created people, Satan has been deceiving them and taking them captive.

This earth is enemy-occupied territory. Did you know that? Satan has stolen territory that rightfully belongs to God. And he has taken millions of people captive. He has taken many of your family captive. He has taken many of your friends captive. He has taken many of your coworkers and neighbors captive. And many of them don’t even know it. They think they’re free. But by their choices, many have wrecked their marriages, wrecked their families, wrecked their relationships. They’ve wrecked their health, they’ve wrecked their finances. They’ve made a total mess of their lives. Others haven’t done so yet, but as you look at their lives, you can see the direction their choices are taking them unless they change. Can you think of anyone like that in your life?

Others you know may have been victims of abuse by their parents or husband or boyfriend. And so their self-esteem is in tatters. Others may have just found out that they have cancer and there is no cure. Others may be struggling with their sexual identity.

But most importantly, all of us know people who have rejected God. Some deny he even exists. They believe he’s just a fairy tale. Others believe he exists, but they are really struggling to believe that God is truly good, and his ways are best. They look at the Bible and what God says, and they respond, “If that’s what God is really like, I want nothing to do with him.” And so the day is coming when they will be judged for their rejection of God. They don’t want him. And so they will be separated from him forever. They’ll be separated from the One who is the source of life, joy, and peace. That’s what hell is. It’s not literal fire and brimstone. It’s living forever separated from everything good, because they’re separated from the God who’s the source of everything good.

That’s the world we live in. We are in enemy-occupied territory. But God has a plan to take it all back. To re-establish his kingdom on earth and rescue people from the kingdom of darkness and bring them into his marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9). To give them true life. A life in relationship with him.

Jesus bought into that plan. When he came into the world, he said, “I have come to do your will, Father (Hebrews 10:5-7).” Contrast that with James’ and John’s attitude. “Jesus, we want you to do whatever we ask.”

That’s attitude is totally backwards. We shouldn’t be saying, “God I want you to do whatever I ask. We should be saying, “God, I want to do whatever you ask.” That’s the Christian life. That’s discipleship. “God, today and every day, I want to do your will. Show me what you’re doing.”

This doesn’t mean that we all have to quit our jobs and go into full-time ministry. What it does mean is that every day, we have a heart that says, “God, I’m not here to be served, by you or anyone else. I’m not at the center. You are. Your kingdom is. And I’m here to serve you and the people that you have put in my life. Show me what you’re doing. How can I join in with you?”

Men, that starts with you serving your wife and children. To love them and look out for their best. That means being a spiritual leader in your home. Setting an example by prioritizing God’s word in your life, head, heart, and hands. Setting an example also in how you prioritize prayer and prioritize church. To show your children what God the Father is like by your example. To show your wife what Jesus is like by loving her like Jesus loves his bride, the church (Ephesians 5:25-33). Some of you have places of leadership in your workplace. Treat the people God has entrusted you with well. Don’t just boss them around. Show that you truly do care for them and want their best.

Men, I’m talking to you right now because too often, I think we men in the church are not examples to this world of what men should be. A lot of people in our society today are clueless about what a man really is. But Jesus showed us what a true man is. He lived by every word his Father spoke. He lived in daily submission to his Father. And when trials and hardship came, he didn’t flinch. He determined to follow his Father, and do all that his Father asked him. He served and ultimately laid his life down for those God entrusted to him. That’s a man. Are you a man?

But all of us, whether men or women, have our own spheres of influence. For many of our friends, family, coworkers, and neighbors, we are the only Christian they know. And they need Jesus. So though we may not be full-time ministers, we should consider every opportunity we have to meet with people as a chance to show them Jesus. We should be praying for people, praying for their salvation. Praying for opportunities to show them Jesus’ love. But we won’t do that if we’re only focused on ourselves. Focused on our own desires. Focused on our own ambitions. On our own problems. Asking God to do whatever we ask, instead of offering to do whatever he asks.

The Christian life is not about us. It is not a self-centered thing asking God’s plan for us. It’s a life centered around God and his plans. A plan to take back the territory Satan has stolen and the people he has captured. To be Jesus’ disciple is get our eyes off of ourselves and onto him, joining in with his plan, asking “What do you want me to do?”

Here are two questions I want you to think about.

1. Who are the people in your sphere of influence? Who are the people God has called you to lead? Who are the people God has entrusted you to touch?

2. How are you doing loving those people?

Honestly, I don’t always do a good job doing what I’m preaching about today. This is one mirror that is hard to look at. Some of you may feel the same way. But as you ask these questions, let me encourage you: don’t get down on yourself, saying, “What a miserable Christian I am.” You are a child of God. And God is not so concerned about your past failures. Rather, he’s saying to you and me, “Here’s my plan. Maybe you haven’t seen it so clearly until now. But now you do. Here are the people I’ve put in your life. Will you join with me?”

Let’s not be clueless anymore. Instead, let’s say yes to God and his plans.