Childish Behaviors - Seeking Preeminence

Introduction

Today we enter a very special discourse that Jesus gave. This particular sermon was given to the disciples. I will remind you that we are in the final 6-8 months of Jesus’ ministry here on earth, and the teachings that we see from now on are generally given to the disciples more so than to the general public. Jesus is taking this time to teach, exhort, and equip His disciples for leading the church once Jesus ascends into heaven and gives them the Holy Spirit’s empowerment.

This particular sermon or discourse is brought on by a childish argument that the disciples have, but to understand why the disciples are about to do and say what they are about to do and say, we need to keep in mind the events that have transpired over the last few days.

Jesus has taken three of the twelve disciples, Peter, James, and John, up to a mountain to do who-knows-what. Remember, while we know that they witnessed Jesus transfigure into His glorified state as he talked to Moses and Elijah, the other nine disciples do not know at this time because Jesus told the three that they were not to tell anyone until after Jesus had risen from the dead.

Then, the nine disciples are stumped by this problem of a demon possessed child whom they cannot deliver. Jesus then delivers him, and they make their way back to Capernaum in Galilee. As they made their way back there from Capernaum, there is no way the other disciples are not asking Peter, James, and John what was going on on that mountain, only to be met with either silence or the age-old, “I could tell you, but then I’d have to kill you,” phrase.

Then, when they finally get back to Capernaum, Jesus performs a miracle just for Peter — just for his benefit. This is something that had not been done for any other disciple.

All of this is necessary to consider as we get into the next event.

Dangerous Childishness

Sometime later, as they are out and about, and the disciples are in deep discussion. Turns out, the argument that they are having is deeply childish, not at all mature in any way, sort, or fashion. There is a poem I read this week by an unknown author that goes like this:

To live above, with saints we love

Will certainly be glory.

To live below, with saints we know —

Well, that’s another story!

Author Unknown

So let’s read what this discussion or argument among the disciples was all about. We will be in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke this morning, and we will start off in Luke 9:46

Luke 9:46 KJV 1900

46 Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.

Mark 9:33-34 records it this way.

Mark 9:33–34 KJV 1900

33 And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way? 34 But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.

So, Jesus waits a little while, and then once they are all together back in Capernaum, He asks them, “Hey, on the way here, y’all were having a little discussion. What was that all about?”

Parents, have you ever done this? Have you ever overheard your kids arguing over something really dumb, and then, instead of directly confronting them, you ask them to tell you what they were arguing about?

This is what Jesus is doing, and surprise, surprise, the disciples go quiet because they know that the discussion they were having was very childish. Now, they go quiet for a little while, but as Matthew records the event, it seems that before Jesus spoke up again, at least some of the disciples spoke up and asked God the question that was burning in their mind.

Matthew 18:1 KJV 1900

1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

“Lord, which one of us is going is going to be the greatest once you set up your kingdom?”

Childish Christians Seek Preeminence

It could be that Peter and James and John thought themselves to be the top 3 contenders. It could be that Peter thought himself to be even above that, because he had had the boldness to confess Jesus as the Son of God and Messiah, and that had earned him an accolade from Jesus. Though Jesus did not say that upon Peter the church would be built, but He had said that upon Peter’s confession of who Jesus was would the church be built.

So, among the disciples are starting to catch fire these little embers of envy. And Jesus is going to address these things so that they do not turn into a fire that destroys the unity of this fledgling church, this group of called disciples.

Mark 9:35 KJV 1900

35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.

Jesus sits, and when He does so, we understand that He is taking a teacher’s position, a position of authority. And over the course of the next three or four weeks, we are going to study what Jesus has to say during this particular set of lessons for the disciples and for us.

So we see that here, Jesus addresses this selfish kind of thinking, this “me first” attitude. The disciples probably had in their minds reasons for why they or one of the other disciples should be called the greatest. They probably had reasons why certain disciples should not have that title.

Imagine being in this argument. Peter may have mentioned that he is always with Jesus, and that lately, Jesus has taken him places that the others have not been able to go, and Peter even got his own private miracle and lesson. But if you were of the opinion that Peter should not be called the greatest, you might say something to the effect of, “Yeah, but remember that Jesus also called you Satan just a couple of months ago… so, I don’t think that someone who already has the title of ‘Satan’ can also have the title of ‘the greatest in the kingdom.’” And so, I imagine, the dispute went. In essence, they wanted to know who had caught Jesus’ eye the most, who had impressed Jesus the most. “Surely,” they thought, “Jesus is soon going to set up his kingdom, and one of us will be his right hand man. One of us will be chosen to sit at his right hand because we are deserving, because we have done the most, learned the most, or are the best sort of leader.”

So when Jesus finally addresses it, he tells them something very opposite of what they imagine. “If you expect to be in the preeminent position, named as the greatest in the kingdom, then you will find yourself serving everyone, to include the very lowest.” This meant that since that person would serve all, including the lowest person, then they would be the least in the kingdom of heaven.

This thinking was not natural for the disciples to hear, nor is it for us. Though humility is acknowledged as a virtue now, few people truly believe it to be so. Most of the time humility is only practiced so that others will marvel at the level of humility one might have, or appear to have.

About 300 years before Christ, Aristotle had written in his Nicomachean Ethics, that lofty pride was the crown of all virtues. And to the world, this may seem right, but it is absolutely opposed to everything that Scripture teaches us. Jesus spoke of humility, but ultimately, He practiced it. He humbled Himself by coming to this world in the form of a man. But when you think about it further, he did it in the most humble way — Jesus was born, not to a ruling nation, but a nation that had been passed around from empire to empire, kingdom to kingdom. A nation that had not had full and significant autonomous rule in centuries.

And was He born to an influential family? No. He was born to commoners. Was He born in a major city? No, but in a little town called Bethlehem. Well, perhaps his family moved after His birth to a city of prominence? No again. They moved to Nazareth where the saying went, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”

So Jesus humbled Himself in his coming to earth. And He humbled Himself as He ministered to people, refusing again and again the calls for him to make Himself a king on the earth. No, His ministry, however popular it was, was conducted in humility.

Jesus humbled himself and submitted to corrupt authorities as they arrested Him. He didn’t speak up about the at least 18 laws they broke as they conducted His trial. Jesus submitted Himself to torture and to humbled Himself to death, even the death on a cross, one of the most humiliating ways a person could be put to death.

He lived the humility that He taught, so when He tells the disciples that if they desire to be the first in the kingdom, they must be last, He is saying this from experience.

Notice again the way He says it. Mark 9:35

Mark 9:35 KJV 1900

35 If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.

So let me ask you this — who is the first, who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven? Wouldn’t that be the King? And what did the King of the Kingdom of heaven do? He became servant of all. Let’s read about it and when we do, we will read also about the result of His humility.

We are going to read from two passages right now — Colossians 1 and Philippians 2. Read along with me in Colossians 1:15-16

Colossians 1:15–16 KJV 1900

15 Who is the image of the invisible God [this is talking about Jesus. The word IMAGE means the exact reproduction, so here Paul is saying that Jesus is God, Himself.], the firstborn of every creature: [Here firstborn has nothing to do with time, as if Jesus were a created being, because He is not. Paul uses the word FIRSTBORN to place Jesus in proper POSITION — first, greatest of all — not to say that he was the first of all created beings, but the the greatest, in position, over all creation. This he explains in the next verse.] 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: [So, if Jesus were a created being, then all things that were created could not have been created by Him.]

So in these verse we have Jesus’ position — first, greatest, top. He is number one, there is no one greater. He created everything for himself — to please Him.

But then, though He sat at the top, look what He did.

Philippians 2:5–11 KJV 1900

5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: [After creation, Jesus sat on the throne of Heaven, and it was not a usurpation of the throne for He and the Father and the Spirit are one and are equal in divinity.] 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: [He humbled himself and took upon himself the form of a creature, of something created, and since all creation is there to serve God, He took upon Himself the form of a servant when he took on the form of humanity.] 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore [because of this humbling of Himself whereby he became servant to all mankind] God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: [Jesus is now, positionally, number one again. This is not to say that he was not worthy of worship while He was in human form, nor was he any less God, but He humbled Himself, and became a servant. Now, He is exalted above all, with a name above all names. How? In such a way that...} 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

What does that look like now for the church?

Let’s go back to Colossians 1. We read verses 15-16, now let’s read 17-18

Colossians 1:17–18 KJV 1900

17 And he is before all things [BEFORE there has nothing to do with time, but with POSITION. He is in first place, He is number 1.], and by him all things consist [Meaning that if it weren’t for Jesus, nothing would exist — everything would fall apart.]. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

That in all things He might have preeminence. Preeminence means first in rank or to hold first place.

What were the disciples seeking? They were arguing about who would be preeminent in the Kingdom. But the thing is, the Kingdom of Heaven was never about the disciples. In fact, the Kingdom of Heaven was, and never will be, about us. It is, and has always been, and will always be about the King — King Jesus.

This was a problem that Jesus was correcting in the disciples. But this was not just a problem with these disciples, it is a problem that has plagued and still does, and will continue to plague the church until Christ’s return.

The Apostle John, who would have been a prime contender in this inter-disciple discussion of who among them was the greatest — he was, after all, “the disciple whom Jesus loved” — he learned his lesson. And he learned that pride and a desire for preeminence destroys unity.

Seeking Preeminence Destroys Unity

In fact, in his apostolic authority, he had to address this in a church. The letter of 3 John, only 14 verses long, is written in part to a member of that church warning that one of the leaders is so intent on seeking preeminence that he is harming, not only that local body of believers, but other believers as well. In his letter, John makes it known that he is going to visit and set things right when he gets there.

In two verses, John writes a scathing report about a fella named Diotrephes.

3 John 9–10 KJV 1900

9 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. 10 Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.

Diotrephes loved to have the preeminence. I think that it is safe to say that Diotrephes held a position of authority within the church. it could be that he was the pastor of that church or some other elder. Maybe he was a deacon. Or perhaps he was just very charismatic and outgoing and influential, not necessarily having a formal position of authority. But my guess is that he, whether by being placed there by the congregation or by usurpation, Diotrephes was in a formal position as either a supporting elder/pastor or as the lead shepherd of the congregation.

But he is characterized by loving to have the preeminence. So much so, that when the Apostle John wrote the church a letter, Diotrephes would not admit the letter. He refused it, rejected it.

So, if John is able to visit, he is going to deal with Diotrephes for the things he has done in his pursuit of preeminence. And what things are those? Diotrephes bad-mouths John and others of the church leadership, either messengers from John or the other Apostles themselves. Diotrephes does not allow missionaries or other Christians that are traveling through to visit, lest they take the spotlight, and all those that are welcoming to other Christians, he casts them out of the church. This is one of the phrases that leads me to believe that he has pastoral authority there.

One person, seeking the to keep the spotlight, is singlehandedly destroying a local body and harming traveling Christians that would dare try to visit that church.

Earlier, John commends Gaius, to whom the letter is addressed, for receiving the people whom John had sent and being an encouragement to passing missionaries and Christians. And while Gaius stands as a good example of what a Christian in the church should look like, John does not tell Gaius to start a riot. He doesn’t tell him to go and confront Diotrephes. Instead, John points him to another member named Demetrius. He says, “That man Demetrius has a really good report with all men. He is truthful, and lives out the truth of Scripture.” So John points Gaius toward Demetrius, so that they can strengthen each other, and then tells Gaius, “Gaius, I have a lot of things to tell you, but I am not going to do so by letter. I hope to be on my way to you, so, talk to you soon.”

The Childish Pursuit of Preeminence

The childish pursuit of preeminence destroys churches all across the world. And the reason I believe it happens is because we forget what the church is all about. It’s not about you and it’s not about me. It is about Jesus. It is about completing His mission. It is about giving Him the glory.

Those that seek preeminence will end up sacrificing anything or anyone that stands in their way for that preeminence. It is a unity killer.

On the passage of Mark that we just read, a pastor and Biblical commentator wrote this:

This was a disturbing and potentially disastrous development. These men were the first generation of gospel preachers, and would be the leaders of the soon to be founded church. With so much riding on them and so much opposition from the hostile world, they needed to be united and supportive of each other. The danger revealed here is that pride ruins unity by destroying relationships. Relationships are based on loving sacrifice and service; on selfless deferring to and giving to others. Pride, being self-focused, is indifferent to others. Beyond that, it is ultimately judgmental and critical, and therefore divisive. Because of that pride is the most common destroyer both of relationships and churches. It plagued the Corinthian church, causing Paul to ask, (1 Corinthians 3:3 “3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?” Knowing that pride is the wedge Satan uses to split churches and splinter relationships, the Lord stressed to the disciples the crucial necessity of humility.

Ironically, pride keeps people from obtaining the very honor that they seek. Proud people—even those in ministry—battle for position and seek to promote themselves, but end up forfeiting true honor and often end in humiliation. Honor is reserved for the humble. Like many in our day, the disciples viewed spiritual pride as normal, desirable, and legitimate. After all, pride characterized the most revered men in Israel, the religious leaders, who “[did] all their deeds to be noticed by men.… they broaden[ed] their phylacteries and lengthen[ed] the tassels of their garments. They love[d] the place of honor at banquets and the chief seats in the synagogues, and respectful greetings in the market places, and being called Rabbi by men.”

The Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes, and other religious leaders of the day talked a big game, but when it came down to it, they did nothing unless it pleased or benefited them.

Church, we need to be careful that we not be like the Pharisees. Oh, it’s easy to talk a big game about how much you love Jesus, how much you love the church, how much you want to be a part of the mission of the church, how much you want to connect with the church. All those things are easy to say. But does your life reflect it?

It is easy to say, “I am completely surrendered to Jesus. I will do whatever he asks of me.” But does your life show it?

I want to close with this. This is a questionnaire from a church in South Asia. Before anyone is allowed to get baptized in this church and join the church, they must answer this questionnaire first.

Are you willing to leave your home and lose the blessing of your father?

Are you willing to lose your job?

Are you willing to go to the village of those who will persecute you, forgive them, and share the love of Christ with them?

Are you willing to give an offering to the Lord?

Are you willing to be beaten rather than deny your faith?

Are you willing to go to prison for your faith?

Are you willing to die for Jesus?

And this is not a one-off church that does this. According to what I could find, these are common questions that are asked of those that want to be baptized and join a church in areas such of East, South, and Southeast Asian, the middle East, and various places in the continent of Africa.

And you might say, “Mike, come on, it’s not that deep.” But it is! Not just there, but here! And too many Christians see themselves as the preeminent ones in their lives that, honestly, forget that questionnaire, the softball questions we are missing in the churches like ours here in the United States are

Are you willing to come to church on Wednesday nights?

Are you willing to host a group of people occasionally in your home for a couple of hours after a Sunday morning service and try to connect with them on a personal level, even if that makes you uncomfortable?

Are you willing to be an active part of the discussion during life groups?

Are you willing to give up a few hours on a day of the week, or maybe even a whole day that is not Sunday or Wednesday in order to practice songs, meet with ministry teams, be a part of Good News Clubs, etc.?

And the sad reality is that for many people, the solid answer to any and all of those is a solid “no,” and the reason? Because “I am preeminent. Christ and His church are an addon.” Too many Christians, and let’s not be general here, let’s be specific, too many Christians in this church have a “me first, my comfort first, my preferences first” mentality.

And you can blame personality, you can blame the fact that you are too much of an extrovert or too much of an introvert. You can blame your culture, you can blame whatever church or person caused you pain in the past, but I happen to believe that Jesus is greater than any of our personalities, Jesus is greater than any of our offenses, Jesus is greater than any discomfort that may be felt because “that is just not what I’m used to,” and that our faithful obedience is capable of transcending the limits of our personalities.

Most of you won’t believe it, but in every personality test I take, I come out as 70-80% introverted. Jesus transcends that. That is not to say that social interaction for me is always easy, because it isn’t. It means that the mission that God has given me takes a higher position than my comfort or discomfort. It means what Jesus wants of me takes preeminence over what I want to do. And the times when I find myself the most miserable and the most stressed is when I seek my own preeminence.

Church, it is time we lay this all aside. There is not a thing or a person that is more important than Jesus. Not your house, not your job, not your kids, not your spouse, not your grades, not your car, not your money, not your plans, not yourself, not anything. Jesus humbled himself, became servant to all men, and was exalted so that in ALL THINGS He might be preeminent.

Invitation

So what’s it going to be? Are we going to continue to childishly and pridefully pursue the preeminence, the first place in our lives? Or are we finally going to begin the fight with our flesh, beat ourselves into submission, so to speak, so that Jesus can take His rightful place? And will will we finally see that we are servants of the Lord and of each other?

(Altar call)

With heads bowed and eyes closed, we will have an invitation time. questions.

Is there anyone that would say, “Mike, if i am honest before the Lord right now, I must confess that He is not truly preeminent in my life. There are other things and other people that sit in first place. But God has shown me areas this morning where He is not preeminent in me.” Is there anyone like that.

If you are here and not saved, I want you to know that today, Jesus is calling on you to be saved. He wants to be the king in your life now. But everyone of us is separated from Him because of sin. However, Jesus came to free you from the condemnation of sin and from the slavery to sin. He died on the cross and paid the debt of sin that neither you nor I could have ever hoped to pay. He rose again on the third day, confirming to the world that what He said about Himself was true. And now He offers that salvation to you. But you need to understand to, that when you get saved, you are not only receiving Jesus as you savior, but as your king. The Bible tells us that no man belongs to himself. Those that are saved, those that are Christian, belong to Jesus. Our purpose is to serve him. But He is a loving Lord. God is a graceful Father who seeks for us to give Him glory, but also works things out for our good.

It may seem like an intense relationship to enter, this thing of being saved. And it is. But remember this — before He ever asked that we give our lives to him, Jesus gave His life for us.

Is there anyone that would say, “Mike, I am not sure that I am saved, would you pray for me?”

This morning there is no music that will be played, but I do want to have an altar call. For those that raised their hands (and those that did not), if you would like to talk to me and pray with me, I will be down here and happy to pray with you and for you. I am going to ask that yo do something different right now, I am going to ask that, if you can, will you please stand right where you are.

And in an attitude of prayer, I want you to be praying for our church and for yourself. And if you would like to come forward and use these steps as an altar, or ask me or someone else to come and pray with you, now is the time to do so.