How to be a Great Christian

Intro

Read Mark 10:39–40 “They said to Him, “We are able.” So Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared.””

GOAT (goat pic)

Who knows

what that means?

According to CBS sports

does anyone know the GOAT of basketball?

Michael Jordan! (mj pic)

Greatest sprinter of all time?

Usain Bolt! (bolt)

Football?

Tom Brady!

And according to statistics

the greatest soccer player of all time?

Ronaldo! (ronaldo)

When we think of greatness

we think of victory

loud cheering

and applause.

But to God

greatness

is more

than trophies.

In fact it is quite different

than what the world

thinks

and what you think.

One of the biggest causes

of depression

and mental health problems

for teens

is constant comparison.

Comparing grades

comparing physical attributes

and appearance.

Students

I want to tell you

those things

don’t make you great.

I want you to be free

from the unfair

and unhelpful

standards

and expectations

the world gives you.

That’s why

the title today is

How to be a Great Christian.

So that you can please God

rather than man.

1. Be humble (v.35-39a)

As Christians we are to be humble.

James and John however were not being humble.

Look at v.35, Mark 10:35 “Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.””

First we see James and John. They were part of the 12 apostles. However within that 12 apostles,

there were 3 apostles who were even closer to Jesus:

Peter, James, and John.

So for a variety of reasons,

including

that the two brothers

were the closest to Jesus,

felt that they could ask Jesus for anything.

They wanted to use their personal connection,

and leverage that

for their own glory.

They asked Jesus

to receive

the highest honors in heaven.

Look at vv.36-37, Mark 10:36–37 “And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?” They said to Him, “Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.””

Jesus asks

what they want him

to do for them.

And they asked

to be seated on his right

and left in his glory.

What they were really doing

was seeking

their own glory

and honor.

See,

the problem with James and John

was that they were

self-seeking.

And that was because

they lacked humility.

When you are not humble

you seek

what’s best for you

but not others.

And that was James and John.

They were seeking

to benefit themselves

rather than others.

They wanted to attain glory

and honor

for themselves,

because they believed that,

that was their reward for following Jesus.

Many of the Jews in Jesus’ day

especially Pharisees,

expected the Messiah

to defeat all their enemies,

including the Romans,

and expected to dominate the world,

have people serve them

as they sit in positions of high status, honor

wealth,

and prosperity forever.

In other words

they see the Messiah

as a comic book super hero

who would take them to their wildest dreams.

Where the world would bow down

and serve them.

You see

Jesus’ second coming

will be one of power and of judgement

as we see in Revelation.

But the problem

is Jesus’ first coming

was to be of pain,

suffering,

and sacrifice.

And this was taught clearly

in the Old Testament

look at Isaiah 53:4

4 Surely our griefs He Himself bore,

And our sorrows He carried;

Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken,

Smitten of God, and afflicted.

Isaiah taught that the Messiah

is someone

that people would hate

and not esteem

or honor him.

That he would bear grief

and sorrow

and that the Jews

would assume

that he was cursed by God.

This was prophesied

about the Messiah

hundreds of years

before Jesus even came.

But these were the things

that James and John

were unconcerned about.

They were so focused on the fantasy

of the Messiah

who would bring them

victory

glory and honor,

and servants at their beck and call

that they became so self-absorbed.

This is what happens

when you are not humble.

It even twists

how

you see things.

How you read

the Bible.

Even when it clearly teaches

that the Messiah

would suffer

you can’t see it.

Because you twist it

to make it all about you.

When you are not humble

you distort

everything

around you

into your own fantasy.

The sun revolves around you.

It’s about ‘me, me, me’.

Instead of how

can I serve God

and others

it’s what can I get today

at church

and when you don’t like it

or you feel bored

you leave.

People like James and John

who twist

Christianity

into something that’s all about Jesus

Instead

into something all about you.

So Jesus challenged them

on their prideful attitude.

Look at v.38 Mark 10:38 “But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?””

First Jesus says

‘you do not know what you are asking.’

There is a little irony with this statement.

Because in the previous verses

Jesus tells them

that He is going to die

and rise again.

Mark 10:33–34 (NKJV)

“Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.”

The very leader that they follow

is going to die

a very painful death.

And the very next thing they ask is,

‘give us the best honors, and the best rewards’.

When Jesus is about to die

whats on their mind is

“stuff”.

Rewards.

Because they were not humble.

lack

of humility

made them not care

about others.

And not even themselves!

They were so blinded

by their hopes and dreams of glory

that they completely

missed the fact

that following Jesus

means that they

would also have to suffer and die.

The cup and baptism Jesus refers to

is the suffering

and death

he is about to experience.

Jesus is saying

are you ready

to suffer

and die

just like me?

James and John respond in v.39, Mark 10:39 “They said to Him, “We are able.”

‘we are able’.

You know

when your friend

is given an impossible challenge

and say,

‘Nah I’d win’.

‘I’m him’.

And you

just stand there

in awe

of how foolish

they sound.

That’s

what’s going on here.

James and John

are basically saying

is ‘I’m the guy!’

‘I’m him!’

Do you remember

that Jesus

gave these two brothers

a nickname?

Anyone remember?

Sons of Thunder.

Because they were so eager

and passionate.

And here they were

too eager

over

confident.

Not humble.

What’s funny

is that we know

what happened

when Jesus was crucified.

Instead of standing alongside with Him

dying with Him

they ran away

and abandoned Him.

When a time

for them came

to show God’s greatness

they failed miserably.

Did you know

that 50 percent

of men

believe

that on a plane

If the pilots

became incapacitated

that they would be able

to land a plane?

Plane landing

by the way

is done manually

by the pilots.

How foolish is that?

Just as foolish

are when people

challenge

A retired NBA player

This is Brain Scalabrine (brian scal pic)

The NBA usually has around 500 players

in a given season.

This man is always ranked at the bottom 50.

He is arguably

The worst player

in the NBA.

And not looking

physically impressive.

Who thinks

they can beat him

in a 1v1?

People challenge him all the time

to 1v1s.

Because he doesn’t seem very good.

It was so ridiculous

he would even get a TV Show

called the Scallenge.

Where people from rec league players

to D1 college players

would challenge him

and you know what happens?

he would smoke them all.

Not too long ago

a high schooler (tiktok brian)

who was in shape

and above average

in basketball

challenged

an out of shape Brian

and got destroyed

11-0.

Students

be humble.

Look at what Paul wrote,

Philippians 2:4–5 (ESV)

Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,

Philippians 2:8 (ESV)

And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Don’t think

you are better

than what you think you are.

Because not only

do you make a fool

of yourself

it hurts

others.

If you want to be great

be humble.

2. Expect challenges (v.39b-40)

So how does Jesus respond?

Does he say,

’no,

don’t worry

there is no suffering or pain here,

only health and wealth come and join!’

No.

Jesus responds,

Mark 10:39 So Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized;”

Mark 10:40 “but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared.””

Jesus is saying

Christians will also

suffer

like Him.

And that you must trust

in God

to faithfully

reward believers.

In other words

suffering

hardship

and challenges

are to be expected.

And yet

so many people

come to Christianity

with the wrong expectations.

That following Jesus

means a life full

of good health

and smooth sailing.

A happy family

no sadness

and a community

of good friends.

And you know what?

God does

promise those things

in the future

when He restores the world

in a new creation

when Christ returns.

But now

today

there will be hardship

and challenges.

The problem

is that so many people

expect

following Jesus

means they will receive

this perfect

pain-free life

now.

So then

what do you do

when

you believe in Jesus

expecting

the perfect life right now

but

your family

is not getting along?

The youth group

at church

is not

exactly

how you like it?

The people are not

exactly your type?

Doors

are not opening

and teachers

are treating you

unfairly?

And now

when people

make fun of them

for believing in Jesus

and they get mistreated

for their faith

they get mad at God

or question

His existence.

Some even

leave

their church.

So what

is the solution?

Ask yourself

what are my expectations

from God

from church?

Do I expect God

to answer me

at my beck and call

and serve me

whatever I ask

on a platter?

Do I expect church

to provide

the perfect

program for me?

If you have the wrong expectations

about God

about church

selfish expectations

then you need to readjust them

to the biblical expectations

that you must expect challenges.

That life is not about you

but about

following God

even when

it’s not easy.

A man

joined

Planet Fitness

a gym. (planet fitness pic)

Have you heard of Planet Fitness?

Only $10 a month.

He said

that he joined

because

Planet Fitness advertised

‘a judgement-free zone’.

So he went in to the gym

and began

to remove his clothes

and do yoga

naked in the gym.

Obviously

he was arrested

for this sus behavior.

And it was because

he had the wrong idea

of ‘judgement-free zone’.

He thought

it meant

encouraging body positivity.

But what that actually means

is a judgement-free zone

where no one makes fun of you

if you are overweight

or can’t do

certain exercises.

In other words this man

had the wrong expectations

about Planet Fitness.

And he looked like a fool

for doing so.

Students

don’t be like that guy.

Have the right expectations

about following Jesus.

Because if you don’t

the consequences

are far worse

than looking like a fool.

Matthew 7:22–23 ESV

On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

People on judgement day

with the wrong expectations

about following Jesus

will be sent to eternal punishment. And they

are going to look

a lot more foolish

than that planet fitness man

But I also want to encourage you.

That even though

Jesus tells us to expect

a challenging life

He promises this:

John 16:33 (NIV)

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Students if you want to be a great Christian

expect challenges

but have joy

have hope

because Jesus is with you.

Gospel