True Greatness is What??

Open your bibles of Mark chapter 9

As a parent of any child knows, there are many things a child must learn as they grow, and so we teach them. We teach them how to use a fork, how to tie their shoes, how to brush their hair, how ride a bike, how to speak politely, how to do pretty much everything positive that they need to learn in life, we teach them, either through direction instruction or by example and they just watch and learn.

But there are some things that all children are just natural at. We don’t have to teach them these things, they figure it out all on their own. I never had to teach my children how to lie. I never had to teach them to how to be mean to each other. I never had to teach them selfishness.

That’s mine, me first, I want the bigger piece, that’s not how I want it, you should do it my way.

All of us naturally have an inclination to pursue that which we believe to be most beneficial to our own selves. And this is not just children.

Us adults can act in all the same ways. Its common in certain circles to mock certain individuals who behave a certain way. I think of the concept of entitlement. Those people are just so entitled. A whole meme genre of examples of all the “Karens” out there, individuals who make a scene, to get what they feel is right even though everyone watching is embarrassed for them. I wanna talk to your manager.

I genuinely feel sorry for all the sweet Karens of the world because of how people use that name these days.

But the root issue extends far beyond the world of “the Karens”.

Selfishness and pursuit of our own agendas, and what we think it right is thoroughly pervasive in our society, and so very often within our own hearts. How we respond at even the slightest inconvenience will often reveal how self-centered we truly are.

If someone does something we don’t like in traffic, we throw our hands up in incredulity that someone would dare to cut us off. When the food takes too long in the drive through we march in there and give them a piece of our mind.

Sometimes this is revealed not only in how we respond to inconvenience, but also in just how oblivious we can be to the needs and interests of others. Our society trains us to be hyper vigilant for ourselves and our own interests that we get tunnel vision and fail to even see the desires and interests of those around us.

There is a man by the name of Zack Hample. He is famous, or rather infamous, for being a fan who has caught more home run baseballs than any one else, and has caught more historic baseballs than another else. To date he has caught more than 12,000 baseballs, and he documents all of them on his website. He has charts of where different players are likely to hit the ball and stations himself strategically, and if laser focused on catching the balls. This all sounds perfectly benign, and yet one television host once called him the “worst man in America” Why? Because in his zeal for catching a ball, Hample seems to show no regard for those around him, including children. There are videos of Hample seemingly knocking children over in his pursuit of baseballs.

From his perspective, he isn’t intentionally tripping or knocking down children. He has said he’s pretty oblivious to his surroundings, he’s just focused on the catching that baseball.

But that’s part of my point right now. He’s so focused on what he wants and what his agenda is that he isn’t aware of his surroundings and the interest of those around him.

And so often that is how each and every one of us operate. What’s best for me, how do I get ahead, how can I establish my own influence, how do I accomplish my goals and objectives, I gotta watch out for numero uno.

Is that how follows of Jesus should think?

In our text today we are going to the see the disciples arguing about which of them is the greatest. Who has the position of preeminence, who is number one.

But Jesus teaches them if they are to be his disciples. If they are to follow him, there is a different way. If they want to pursue true greatness, it is not through selfishness and a pursuit of getting their own way...

The way of discipleship is the way of self-denial, as we saw before. The way of discipleship is the way of servanthood. Whoever wishes to be the greatest, must become the servant of all.

True Greatness is not found is self seeking and self service, but in a self-denying service to others, even those lowest on the social heirarchy

Mark 9:30–37 ESV

30 They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know, 31 for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.” 32 But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him. 33 And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” 34 But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. 35 And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” 36 And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”

This passage is the second of three cycles of Jesus teaching his disciples about the reality of what must come in Jerusalem, followed by a statement or demonstration that the disciples were not really catching on, followed by Jesus doing some teaching about the nature of true discipleship.

From Jesus’ perspective, if you are going to be His follower, then you need to be prepared to live as Jesus would live, and even die as Jesus died if it should come to that.

The first cycle contained the ever famous cost of discipleship passage, if anyone would come after me he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the Gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the world but lose his soul, and what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

Here at Pillar Fellowship, one of our core values is that of life-on-life discipleship. Our aim is to help one another follow Jesus. Part of our purpose statement is to proclaim Christ that ever individual in our reach might hear, believe, and follow. Jesus commissioned us to make disciples, those who follow Jesus. So we put that in our foundational documents, and we hang these verses on the wall to remind us of what we’re supposed to be about.

If we claim to be followers of Jesus, we must actually follow Him.

Our text today contains the second cycle. This cycle is the most compact of the teachings about the impending suffering of the Messiah, but it contains some important information that servers as the backdrop for Jesus’ teaching on true greatness.

1. True Greatness Is Modeled by Jesus

After leaving the scene of casting out the demon from the child, Jesus and his disciples are traveling along, but this time privately. Jesus’ primary ministry focus has shifted from public teaching and preaching, to more private moments of instruction with his disciples. The text says he didn’t want anyone to know, and the reason is given in verse 31.

For, or because, he was teaching His disciples. What is he telling them?

The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.

What must be noted here is that Jesus says the Son of Man, which is Himself of course, will be delivered into the hands of men. The words for “will be delivered” is clearly in the passive voice. We might ask the question delivered by whom? Who is delivering Jesus into the hands of men? This is what is commonly called a divine passive. This is God’s doing. The Father is going to deliver the Son into human hands. They will kill him, but he will not stay dead, he will rise again.

In a moment Jesus is going to go on to teach about what it means to be truly great. This passage really serves as a backdrop to that teaching. Jesus is not going to teach us to do something that he himself is unwilling to do. He is going to die for the sake of others, he is going to be handed over by the Father for the sake the world.

True Greatness is modeled by Jesus, though the disciples have yet to make those connections,

Content-wise this is not all that different from what Jesus said in chapter 8 when he first introduced the concept to them. The Son of Man must suffer many things, be rejected, be killed, and after three days rise again. Peter rebuke him for speaking that way, and Jesus’ counter rebuke was that Peter was not setting his mind on the things of God, but on the things of man, Mark 8:33.

Here, there is not a rebuke by the disciples, but a statement of confusion and a hesitancy to ask about the teaching.

vs 32, they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask.

Why were they afraid? Perhaps they didn’t want to get the Get behind me Satan treatment. Perhaps they are fresh off of an L with the demon possessed child and are feeling a bit sheepish. The text doesn’t specify, except perhaps the follow passages has something to do with it.

The language that the text used for Jesus teaching his disciples in vs 31 was not communicating that Jesus said this once and then they moved on. It said he was teaching them, which communicates that this was ongoing or periodic teaching. He was telling them this information more than once. Mark simply summarizes the content here.

But there were other conversations happening on the trip than just what Jesus was teaching and perhaps the content of those other conversations reveals why they were afraid to ask him about his suffering.

Look at verses 33-34

Mark 9:33–34 ESV

33 And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” 34 But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest.

It seems that the disciples are still setting their minds on the things of man over the things of God.

Jesus was just teaching them that the Son of Man was going to die, and all their could argue about was which of them was the greatest of the disciples!

So we have a principle by way of negative example

2. True Greatness is not Self-Seeking

Before we are tempted to be too hard on the disciples, let’s try to get inside their minds for a moment and understand why they were having this argument in the first place.

In chapter eight, an incredible confession has been made: You are the Christ. You are the Messiah. You are the long awaited anointed one. Jesus confirms that. Yes, that’s who I am.

Then, Peter, James, and John get to experience the transfiguration. They see the glory of the Lord. They see Moses and Elijah. They get a glimpse of Kingdom glory.

Though there are things that they still don’t understand about what Jesus has been teaching, some things are beginning to come together in their minds. To them, Jesus has confirmed that he’s the messiah, which means the Kingdom is coming soon!

They’ve been Jesus closest companions and followers, so who is the greatest among them?

Let’s also consider that they existed in a very different cultural setting than we do. For first century Jews, so much of life revolved around your social status and position. Everyone sought to have the places of preeminence, everyone sought to increase their social credit score every opportunity they had.

So for the disciples to be having this conversation was not out of the norm for the culture of the time. There is a reason Jesus spoke in other places about not being like others who long to have the best places at the feasts and make a public show of themselves. That’s what was happening.

People did what they could to put themselves into a position to advance their social credit.

Jesus is going to say, this is not the way. This is not the pathway to true greatness.

Vs 35

and he sat down, which indicated, okay. this is formal teaching time right now. This is important. listen up.

If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.

If anyone would be first, he must be last. You want to achieve true greatness? Guess what? Seeking to establish your greatness through pursuing greatness itself isn’t the way.

This is a hard pill to swallow. It’s somewhat paradoxical. If I want to be first I must be last? Yes. In God’s economy, he doesn’t look for those who have thrust themselves into the limelight and put themselves on the top of the hierarchy. He looks at those who have humbled themselves to serve others.

This is so contrary to the way the word works. It’s a dog eat dog world. Everyone’s gotta look out for numero uno. If you want something you gotta go out there and grab it for yourself or someone else if take it from you.

You can’t make an omelet without cracking a few eggs, so even if some people get hurt, lost, or left behind, so what, I’m going to do what I need to do to get the job done.

This exists in the corporate world. People trying to climb the ladder often pursue their own agenda instead of what’s best for the team.

This exists majorly in the political realm. This week I watched the GOP debate, and saw the same thing that has existed on those debate stages for both parties for as long as I can remember. Candidates all doing what they can to maneuver their way into the top position with smooth talk or well-timed smack downs of the other candidates. That’s just politics, some say, as if that really justifies the behavior.

But it isn’t just in the corporate or political world where this mindset exists.

Sadly this exists within churches as well.

I’ve been in church business meetings where things have devolved into shouting matches. I seen people try to maneuver and manipulate their way into positions of authority, I’ve been on the receiving end of someone trying using flattery and manipulative speech to influence me toward a certain viewpoint.

I’ve watched the internal struggles of denominations as they deal with their own internal politics and I see this. People jockeying for position in an effort to be the greatest. No one comes out and says that. “I’m trying to be the greatest in the church. I want the position of preeminence.”

But the actions betray it. There is an agenda, and it’s so important I will use whatever tactics are necessary to see it be accomplished.

Jesus says, that’s not what I want for you.

If you are going to be my disciples, if you are going to follow me, if you are going to learn from the master, then it starts with the self-denial I taught you before. The greatest will not pursue greatness, but service.

3. True Greatness Pursues Service

True greatness pursues service.

The word for service was commonly used in the context of waiting and serving tables. Taking orders, making sure everyone had what they needed to enjoy their meal. There is a broader concept there than just serving tables, but that helps us understand the meaning.

This root word for service is the word from which we get the term “deacon”. A deacon, most literally, is a servant. Over time the word eventually took on a more technical meaning in the church referring to the office of deacon, but before that it was just about general service.

You want to be the greatest? You want to be first? You want to have preeminence. Try this: how can I serve you?

Only then will you achieve true greatness.

One of the most important markers for leadership is humility. Elders must be humble men. Deacons must be humble men. Ministry leaders must be humble men. Prideful men make really lousy pastor/elders, deacons, and church leaders.

They might be able to create a following, but in terms of effectiveness for the kingdom, they don’t last. They tend to fade away. Humility is the trait that is most desirable for leadership because it sets the stage for everything else a leader must do and be for those he will serve.

Okay, so service is the way, but Jesus takes it one step further.

4. True Greatness Serves the Lowest

Mark 9:36–37 ESV

36 And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”

This would have hit them in their culture perhaps a bit differently than us in ours.

In that culture, children were considered to be among the lowest on the social hierarchy. Children did not have standing, they did not have a voice, they did not have influence, they did not provide value to the society.

So for Jesus to take a child and put him in their midst and make a object lesson out of him would have been shocking to the disciples.

It’s not only that you must be a servant of all, but you must even be willing to serve children??

At least with serving certain adults you can ingratiate yourself to people who could give you a better position, but there is no opportunity for advancement with service to a child. They have nothing to offer you. No Quid Pro Quo available.

And that’s the point.

Jesus said whoever receives one such child. I believe that by using that language Jesus is not only speaking about literal children, but anyone who would fit into the category of individuals who would have nothing to offer you in return.

If you receive them, and serve them, you are receiving and serving Christ, and not only Christ, the but Father who sent Him.

We don’t have a nursery here at Pillar, partly because, where? Our building is limited, and there isn’t a massive demand to figure that out right now. I’m sure if needed we could turn a back room into a nursery, but that’s beside the point for a moment.

One of the most routinely difficult positions for churches to full are positions for children’s ministry. The Nursery, the children’s Sunday school teachers. No one wants to change the diapers. No one wants be with the kids. I’ve heard people make comments “I’m stuck in the nursery again”

Stuck? With precious children? Stuck? If that is your attitude toward children, how do I know you really have the heart of a servant?

A true servant is willing to do and serve anyone and anywhere there is a need. It may not be your first choice. It may not be your area of gifting. But if there is a need and no one else if filling that need, a servant will be willing to step in for the sake of service. Even if that means changing diapers in the nursery, or scrubbing toilets, mopping floors.

Even if that means serving people who have nothing to offer you, and cannot help you climb any kind of ladder.

If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.

I want to take us to one more text as I conclude.

Philippians 2:3–8 ESV

3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Jesus wants you to be the servant of all. But he isn’t asking you to do something that He hasn’t already done himself. Jesus models this kind of servant for us. This is part of what makes the Gospel so amazing, right? We are the lowest on the hierarchy, and yet Jesus still died for us, he still came to serve us. He was not filled with pride such that it prevented him from serving us lowly human beings, but emptied himself and took on the form of a servant, becoming obedient to the point of death.

If you are a believer today it is because Jesus was willing to serve the least of these. You are the least of these. You are like that child, you have nothing to offer Christ, you have nothing to give, and yet Jesus, without any expectation that you could do anything for him, freely gave himself for you.

The Gospel message that we lowly sinners can be declared righteous before a holy God through faith in what Jesus did on the cross is only made more glorious when we consider how wretched we are and yet while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us!

Praise the Lord! Jesus served even me.

And if we are to be His followers, we should have a desire to follow His example and be a servant to others as well, even those who have no means of repaying us for the favor, even those who in our flesh we would prefer not serve.

If anyone would be first, let him be last of all and servant of all.