The Measure of Greatness

Scripture reading: Mark 10:32-45

Response hymn: Hymn 434 – All the way my Savior leads me

Conclusion: World’s path of greatness leads to death. God’s path of greatness leads to life. We will rise.

Introduction

Hallelujah.

This morning, we come to our 18th study in the Gospel of Mark. And based on Mark 10:32-45, as the elder read, I’d like to share a message with the title, “The Measure of Greatness.”

In today’s passage, Jesus and the disciples are on the road to Jerusalem. And much like the disciples, we are on the road to Jerusalem. Not the earthly Jerusalem in the middle east, but the heavenly city, the New Jerusalem.

And like the disciples, none of us are perfect. We’re wrestling against different sins in our lives, and we’re all works in progress. And in the Gospel of Mark, we see them competing with one another over who’s the greatest. Again and again for a total of three times.

Once after Jesus’ transfiguration (Mark 9:34). Once on the road to Jerusalem in today’s passage. And once in the Upper Room, on the last night of Jesus’ life (Luke 22:24).

But the problem wasn’t that they wanted to be great. The real problem was that they followed the world’s definition of greatness.

The world says that in order to be great, you must perform better than the rest. In order to be great, you must have a higher position than the rest. In order to be great, you have to do what you want and impose your will upon the rest.

But what we’ll see is Jesus turns this definition of greatness upside down. As a continuation on His teachings on discipleship, Jesus shows us what true greatness is, not in the eyes of the world, but in the eyes of God.

Greatness is not about performing better than others, but about our willingness to lift others up (v.32-34)

Mark 10:32–34 ESV

And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him, saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.”

In Mark 10:32-34, Jesus and His disciples are on the road to Jerusalem. And how are the disciples feeling? Mark says they are amazed, but they’re also afraid.

They’re amazed because Jesus is walking with such determination. He’s walking ahead of them. His mind is set on the mission in Jerusalem.

And remember, the disciples at this point still reject the idea of a suffering Messiah. They believed that Jesus was a political Messiah who would overturn the Roman regime and usher in a new age of Jewish sovereignty.

But Mark also says that they’re afraid. They’re afraid because of the battle that lies ahead. That it might not go their way. That they and their Messiah wouldn’t overcome the competition.

See, when our idea of greatness is based on comparison, fear becomes a constant companion. Fear of mediocrity. Of being average. Of not standing out.

This fear and anxiety isn’t a good thing. It traps us in an endless cycle of having to prove our worth and our value over and over again. It’s exhausting.

The American singer Madonna said this in an interview with Vanity Fair Magazine on 1st April, 1991:

“My drive in life is from this horrible fear of being mediocre. And that’s always pushing me, pushing me. Because even though I’ve become somebody, I still have to prove that I am sombody. My struggle has never ended, and it probably never will.”

Do we have know this fear?

Now, Jesus sees them with this mixed bag of emotions. And how does He respond?

“You’ve got high hopes for me? You’re afraid we’ll lose? Don’t worry, I’m going to die.”

Does that make sense?

This isn’t the first time or even the second time He’s telling them of His death. But the difference is that this time, He gets into the details. He lists the things that will happen to Him.

Mark 10:33–34 ESV

saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.”

The Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests, He will be condemned, and delivered over to the Gentiles. He will be mocked, spat on, flogged, and killed. It’s a list of sufferings He’s going to go through.

If I were among the disciples, I might ask, “How is that supposed to comfort me?” But the point is in His determination to suffer. He’s not going to walk any other path except the path of suffering. That’s why He’s walking ahead of the disciples. He’s determined. Why? Because His suffering will bring us healing. His death will bring us life. His humiliation will exalt us from our sinful estate, and into glory.

Greatness isn’t about comparing our talents and abilities with others. It’s about our willingness to lift people up. That is what it means to be truly great.

I pray that we will strive to become truly great, by lifting others up.

Greatness is not about having a higher position than others, but how we use our position to benefit others (v.35-40)

Now, after this, the disciples James and John come to Him with a special request.

Mark 10:35–37 ESV

And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.”

Last week, we learned about Jesus and the rich young ruler. Matthew’s Gospel records that after meeting him, Jesus told the disciples that in the new world, they will sit on twelve thrones alongside Himself. That’s in Matthew 19:28.

But James and John, decide that it’s not enough. Even among the twelve thrones, they wanted the best ones, the highest positions, right beside Jesus.

And so they come to Jesus. “Jesus, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.”

There’s this thing that children do when they really want something. They go to their mommy or daddy and say, “Dad I have something to ask of you. But before I say it, I want you to say yes.” “What is it?” “I need you to say yes first.”

See, they know they’re being cheeky. Matthew 20:20 reveals that they even asked their mother to make the request. Who’s their mother?

Matthew 27:55-56 says that the mother of the sons of Zebedee was at the foot of the cross. John 19:25 identifies her as the sister of Jesus’ mother. So they even used their family ties as leverage for a better position.

Why? Because they believed that the higher the position, the greater the person.

The world is a world of positions. From the moment we are born, we are born into a position. A certain social class, skin color, country of origin. A lot of it depends on who our parents are, but it also depends on how we perform.

And the world promotes to us the joys of winning the rat race, of climbing the ladder into a higher position and a higher status. That’s how the world defines greatness.

How does Jesus respond? Again, He talks about His suffering.

Mark 10:38–40 ESV

Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” And they said to him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”

Here, Jesus compares his impending suffering and death to drinking a cup and being baptized.

The cup is an Old Testament image of the wrath of God against sin (Ps. 75:8; Jer. 25:15). But drinking a cup with someone symbolized sharing in that person’s suffering (Ezek. 23:31).

On the other hand, the baptism Jesus refers to isn’t the baptism we do in church, but a metaphor of being physically submerged and overwhelmed by God’s judgement (Ps. 42:7; 69:1-2).

Jesus asks them, “Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” And the two brothers reply, in a severe overestimation of their faith, “We are able.”

Were they able? Why were they following Jesus in the first place? This passage shows us that they wanted the highest positions in heaven. Why? Was it to benefit others? If that were the case, why would they make the request in secret?

And what happened at the Garden of Gethsemane when the soldiers came for Jesus? Were they able to drink the cup of suffering?

Mark 14:50 ESV

And they all left him and fled.

Mark 14:50 says “They all left Him and fled.” They abandoned Him. They decided they could live without such great positions if it meant they could live.

On the other hand, Jesus the Son of God had the highest position and the highest authority. And how did He use that authority? He used His authority to be born as a human, take our sins upon Himself, and die in our place.

John 10:18 ESV

No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

As sinners, we were in the lowest position. But Jesus took our place and gave us His place, so that we would share in His status as sons of God. It is He who taught us to pray the Lord’s Prayer, beginning with “Our Father.” Not “His Father,” not “Jesus’ Father,” but “Our Father.”

Galatians 3:26 ESV

for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.

And more than that, He shares with us His inheritance. We are co-heirs with Christ.

John 1:12 ESV

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

Romans 8:17 ESV

and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

And even today, Jesus still uses His position and authority for our benefit. His authority gives weight to our prayers. He taught us to pray in His name right? Because when we pray in His name, our prayers are wrapped in an envelope with His name on it. And the Father receives them as the precious words of His one and only Son.

True greatness isn’t about having a higher position than others, but about using our position to benefit others.

Let us think about this.

What are some things God has blessed us with? What are the positions God has given us? Let us follow Jesus’ example in seeking to benefit others rather than ourselves.

Philippians 2:3–5 ESV

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 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,

Greatness is not about imposing our will upon others, but doing the will of God (v.41-45)

Mark 10:41–45 ESV

And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Now Jesus gathers the twelve disciples and gives the main lesson.

He talks about two ways in which people exercise their authority. There’s the way of the world, and the heavenly way.

The Gentiles lord their authority over others, and their great ones exercise authority over them. They impose their will upon those under them.

And in contrast to the way of the world, Jesus says “it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.”

A servant is one who works to benefit someone other than himself.

A slave is someone who does the work of the lowliest position.

And the main point is that both servants and slaves never seek to fulfill their own ambition or purpose. They only seek do the will of their master.

How is it considered greatness for us to do someone else’s will? It’s only great if that person is deserving of our obedience.

A soldier is great if he’s able to obey his army officer’s orders.

A horse is great if it’s able to follow the directions of its rider.

A watch is great if it’s able to tell you the time accurately. Imagine if a watch decides to do it’s own will and point its hands anywhere? You’d throw it away right?

But army officers have flaws. Horse riders have flaws. All people have flaws. And you would agree that sometimes it’s not wise to obey our fellow human beings one hundred percent of the time.

But God is the almighty, all-loving, and all-knowing Creator God who brought us into existence and loves us enough to send His only Son to die for our salvation. God deserves our absolute obedience, for Isaiah 55:8-9 says that His ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts.

Isaiah 55:8–9 (ESV)

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

So greatness isn’t about imposing our will on others, but doing the will of God almighty.

We remember the 12 spies in the wilderness, sent to spy out the land of Canaan. Ten of them were afraid and anxious, Why? Because their concern was more about their own safety and well-being, their will. On the other hand, Joshua and Caleb were more concerned about doing God’s will, whether they lived or died.

And we see this in Jesus and the disciples. Jesus was willing to obey the Father’s will, even unto death.

Mark 14:36 ESV

And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

On the other hand, eleven disciples ran away, and the twelveth betrayed Him for money.

The poet Robert Raines wrote a poem entitled “I am like James and John.” I’d like to read this for us.

“I am like James and John. Lord, I size up other people in terms of what they can do for me; how they can further my program, feed my ego, satisfy my needs, give me strategic advantage. I exploit people, ostensibly for your sake, but really for my own. Lord, I turn to you to get the inside track and obtain special favors, your direction for my schemes, your power for my projects, your sanction for my ambitions, your blank check for whatever I want. I am like James and John.”

Will we run away? Will be exchange obeying God’s will for worldly gain?

I’d now like to conclude.

Conclusion: Let us walk the path of greatness

Several years after the incidents in Mark’s Gospel, James becomes the leader of the church in Jerusalem. But in 44 AD, he becomes the first of the twelve disciples to be beheaded for his faith by Herod Agrippa I (Acts 12:1-2). He walked the path of suffering, and his suffering was painful, but quick.

John, on the other hand, was probably the last of the disciples to die. He experiences years of persecution, and is eventually exiled to a prison island for a life of prolonged loneliness. He is said to have died of natural causes during the time of Emperor Trajan, from 98-117 AD. He too walked the path of suffering, but his suffering was a slowburn.

The two brothers dedicated their lives to serve the church, in obedience to the Father’s will. They no longer pursued the greatness of the world, but greatness according to God’s definition, as seen in Jesus Christ.

Let us no longer pursue greatness as the world sees it. Rather, I pray that as a church, we will pursue the greatness of Jesus Christ and fulfill His mission to reconcile the world to God. Amen?

So are we able to drink the cup of our Lord? This path is a path of suffering. But I’d like to share a piece of encouragement from today’s passage.

As we saw in Mark 10:33-34, Jesus lists the sufferings He would go through, and in specific detail.

Mark 10:33–34 ESV

saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.”

He would be delivered to the chief priests, condemned to death, He would be delivered to the Gentiles, and they would mock Him, spit on Him, flog Him, and kill Him.

This is the omniscient all-knowing God who knows the sufferings we go through each day. And He knows it in specific detail. He knows our list. He knows the struggles and hardships we go through each day, week in and week out, and He knows it intimately.

Psalm 56:8 (ESV)

You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?

But here’s the thing. Jesus’ list didn’t end there. After listing the seven sufferings, He concludes it with this: “After three days He will rise.” (Mark 10:34).

Because Jesus walked the path of greatness, that last line is now attached to the bottom of all of our lists. Amen? So let us walk the path of true greatness, with determination, knowing that at the end of this path, we will rise.