The Life of A Disciple
Notes
Transcript
Introduction:
What does the life of a professional athlete look like?
A lot of times we think about the fame and glory of these people. We see them perform well in their sport and give it up to natural talent. These athletes certainly have talent or they would never make it to the professional level.
However, there is more involved than just showing up on game day and performing well. Olympians train for years for the moment they get to compete. Professional athletes have put hours of blood, sweat, and tears into their sport.
These athletes have gone through the mundane drills that are not so glamorous over and over again to get to the point that when they perform on game day or in competitions, their actions are second nature.
To be a professional at anything requires a life of discipline. If we were to ask what does the life of a disciple look like, we are asking what does it look like to be disciplined as a Christian.
This morning, Jesus is going to give us a few hints at the attitude we have to have if we are going to live the life of a disciple.
17 And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them,
18 “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death
19 and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.”
20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something.
21 And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.”
22 Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.”
23 He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”
24 And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers.
25 But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.
26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,
27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave,
28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Pray
1. A Reminder of the Mission (vv.17-19)
1. A Reminder of the Mission (vv.17-19)
17 And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them,
18 “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death
19 and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.”
Keep in mind that Jesus has just asked a man to give up everything he owns and follow Him.
Jesus is also about to tell the Disciples who are fighting over positions in the Kingdom of God that they must be least if they want to be greatest
Jesus pulls the Disciples aside
Jesus is going to remind the Disciples of the mission. He is about to lead by example by offering His own life for everyone
Jesus tells them again that he will be delivered over to the Chief Priests and Scribes
Jesus foretells the outcome of the trial - He will be handed over
Jesus now adds new info that He will be handed over to the Gentiles (the Romans) - to be mocked and flogged and crucified
Only the Romans could do this
Jesus will be victorious rising on the third day
Illustration:
Application:
Do you know the mission that God has assigned to you?
Are you willing to follow through with it, no matter what it costs you?
Transition:
In light of this ongoing discussion, Jesus is interrupted by a mother’s outrageous request for her two sons.
2. An Outrageous Request (vv.20-24)
2. An Outrageous Request (vv.20-24)
20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something.
21 And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.”
22 Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.”
23 He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”
24 And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers.
The sons of Zebedee are James and John
They were cousins of Jesus
Their mother’s name was Salome
40 There were also women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome.
41 When he was in Galilee, they followed him and ministered to him, and there were also many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem.
She was one of the women that followed Jesus and the Disciples around.
She wants her sons to have positions of authority (the two highest in the kingdom) by asking for them to sit on the right hand and the left of Jesus
They are thinking of a worldly kingdom just like the Romans or any other worldly king had
There is a secretiveness to the request
She may have felt that her position of being a relative of Jesus gave her special privilege to ask Him for favors for her sons
Jesus shows no partiality
Jesus questions if she realizes what she is asking
Jesus is going to drink the cup of God’s wrath
His question is if James and John can drink the cup too
They want the glory of leadership without the sacrifice that comes with it
The result is that the other Disciples see, hear, and become indignant
They are jealous that they didn’t think to ask first
Application:
How often do we get mad at others when they succeed in the ministry in the church?
We might get jealous because they lead a successful ministry or do a better job than us or come up with an idea that we have never thought about.
We are all on the same team and when one member excels, it brings us all up. When one member fails, it brings us all down.
Jesus answered that God has appointed the positions in His kingdom to whomever He wishes.
We should accept the sovereignty of God and realize that no one has a more important role than another
3. An Example of Sacrifice (vv. 25-28)
3. An Example of Sacrifice (vv. 25-28)
25 But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.
26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,
27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave,
28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Jesus calls all of the Disciples aside and immediately addresses the issue before it festers any further
Jesus reminds them again of the sacrifice that He is about to make
Jesus introduces another paradigm shift to the Disciples
If you want to be great in the Kingdom, you have to learn to serve like the least
In worldly hierarchies kings are at the top and servants are at the bottom
Jesus reverses this. In essence He is saying, “Stop acting like Romans!”
Illustration:
Kiss the ring
Application:
What about you? Have you let a position of leadership go to your head?
Have you treated those under you as inferior underlings that should kiss the ring?
Conclusion
Christ is the ultimate example for us
He kept his focus on the mission
He led by serving
He humbled Himself by going to the cross to offer His life as a ransom
How could we be so petty as to argue about our own greatness when the Lamb of God is walking to the slaughter for us.
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe scene
The only problem is that Satan does not own the traitors. God’s wrath abides on them
Jesus offered His life as a ransom for the elect, but the ransom was paid to God alone
His life for ours
His death satisfied the righteous requirement of the Law
Would you scorn so great a sacrifice?
Would you doubt how much He loves you?
Would you devote yourself to serve such a good and holy Master?
