Descending the Ladder
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Opening:
Opening:
Turn to Mark 10… 35-45
FOLLOWING SUNDAY’S IDEA…
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Setting (Mark 10):
Setting (Mark 10):
Jesus & Co: Traveling towards Jerusalem
Children
Mark 10:15 (ESV)
15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”
Rich Young Ruler
Predicting His own death… (V32-34)
Setting: DRAWING NEAR to JERUSALEM, FINAL TIME— (CH. 11 = TRIUMPHAL ENTRY!)
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Transition ➡ THIS SETTING—JAMES & JOHN (INNER CIRCLE) — COME W/ REQUEST:
Text: Mark 10:35-45
Text: Mark 10:35-45
Thought 1: Request of James & John
Thought 1: Request of James & John
English Standard Version Chapter 10
35 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.”
FUNNY, WILD REQUEST… PRETTY AUDACIOUS, HUH??
Relate: NOT AS CRAZY as IT SOUNDS… WE PROBABLY DO THIS SORT of THING ALL the TIME in PRAYER…
JESUS as SERVANT
GOD AS BUTLER…
**CRAZY THING—THIS = on HEELS of JESUS PREDICTING HIS DEATH!
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Transition ➡ JESUS RESPONDS GENTLY...
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Thought 2: Jesus’ Response & Actual Request
Thought 2: Jesus’ Response & Actual Request
English Standard Version Chapter 10
36 And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?”
English Standard Version Chapter 10
37 And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.”
Answer: THEY WANT to BE a BIG DEAL…
POSITIONS of PROMINENCE… 2ND to CHRIST…
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Transition ➡ JESUS’ RESPONSE:
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Thought 3: Jesus’ Challenge: The Cup & The Baptism
Thought 3: Jesus’ Challenge: The Cup & The Baptism
English Standard Version Chapter 10
DISCIPLESHIP UNDER JESUS WAS HARD.…
One scholar: QUICK to ACCEPT BENEFITS, SLOW to ACCEPT the COST.
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JESUS PREDICTS SUFFERING…
FOR HIM — CALVARY
FOR DISCIPLES — GENERAL PERSECUTION…
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**Exhort: DISCIPLESHIP WAS NEVER PRESENTED as AN EASY THING…
“COUNTING the COST”
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BROTHERS BELIEVED THEY WERE ABLE:
JESUS SAID THEY WOULD…
JAMES - KILLED BY HEROD,, 2ND MARTYR…
JOHN—PERSECUTED & EXILED.
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THEY WOULD SUFFER— BUT EXALTATION WAS UP to the FATHER…
**Theology Point: WE’RE REMINDED of SOME of the DEPTH of JESUS’ HUMANITY…
Illustration: JESUS’ SELF-EMPTYING to a PROFESSIONAL BOXER,, CHOOSING to FIGHT W/ ONE HAND BEHIND HIS BACK.
**WE MUST BE CAREFUL to AVOID:
THAT JESUS CEASED TO BE GOD…
or BECAME GOD at ANY POINT.
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Conclusion:
JESUS DOESN’T GIVE PROMISES
& OTHER DISCIPLES = UPSET.
JAMES & JOHN WANTED to BE the BEST...— EXCLUSION of OTHERS…
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Transition ➡ GREAT BENEFIT to THEIR FOLLY: GREAT ON-RAMP to JESUS’ TEACHING:
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Thought 4: Teaching Climax: Greatness = Service
Thought 4: Teaching Climax: Greatness = Service
English Standard Version Chapter 10
42 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. 43 But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Answer: WORLDLY LEADERSHIP DESIRES PROMINENCE & GREATNESS…
Key Truth: JESUS’ DISCIPLES = DISTINGUISHED:
TO BE GREAT ➡ SERVANT
TO BE FIRST ➡ SLAVE OF ALL.…
Matthew, Mark, Luke: Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary, Volume 1 Jesus’ Third Announcement of His Death and Resurrection (10:32–45)
The slave experienced “civil death” with no legal or human rights. Seneca characterizes a slave as one who “does not have the right to refuse.”
Takeaway: HIGHER YOU WANT to GO… LOWER YOU MUST BECOME.
HARD TRUTH… (Relate) ANYONE EVER SAY, “I’M NOT YOUR SLAVE?” WHEN ASKED to DO SOMETHING…
Illustration: KIDS TAKING SERVICE for GRANTED…
BIBLICALLY—WE’RE to EXTEND OURSELVES in SERVICE to OTHERS…
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(V45) Explanation: CULTURE of the KINGDOM… LOOK @ JESUS EXAMPLE…
45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Challenge: IF ANYONE DESERVED to “RULE” OVER OTHERS… IT WAS JESUS…
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INSTEAD: JESUS = ULTIMATE EXAMPLE of HUMILITY
FORM of GOD ➡ FORM of SERVANT
LEFT HEAVEN’S GLORY ➡ MANGER
LIVED WITHOUT a HOME & EARTHLY GLORY … GAVE HIS LIFE…
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Christ’s Death for Us (P.S.A.):
Christ’s Death for Us (P.S.A.):
SERVED—BY GIVING HIS LIFE…
CHRIST DIED:
ON BEHALF OF
IN PLACE OF
ON ACCOUNT OF.… US.
**NOT JUST as an EXAMPLE**
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He Died As a ransom:
He Died As a ransom:
The Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament λύτρον, ου, τό
Λύτρον is thus the
Ransom: HAS the IDEA of LETTING SLAVES GO FREE...UNCHAINING/UNTYING…
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CHRIST SUBJECTED HIMSELF to SLAVERY—TO FREE US FROM SLAVERY
CHRIST BECAME a CURSE—TO FREE US from the CURSE…
**NOW WE WILLINGLY SERVE OTHERS—IN LIGHT of WHAT HE FIRST DID…
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Bringing it Home:
Bringing it Home:
THIS SELF-SACRIFICING, OTHER-CENTERED LOVE...
… is THE PRE-EMINENT QUALITY of THE KINGDOM…
THE WORLD STEPS on OTHERS to CLIMB the LADDER
THE CHRISTIAN, FOLLOWING in the EXAMPLE of JESUS, COMES DOWN the LADDER in ORDER to SERVE…
IN the CHURCH-POSITION DOESN’T = PROMINENCE
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Connecting to Sunday:
Connecting to Sunday:
WE SERVE… IN LOVE. — THAT = PROPER USE of CHRISTIAN FREEDOM— PUTTING OTHERS FIRST…
13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
Illustration: Luke Watson rolling in sewage
LOWEST I’VE SEEN a BELIEVER GO
& CHRIST WENT LOWER…
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Conclusion:
Conclusion:
LET US BE CAREFUL NOT to SEEK GREAT THINGS FOR OURSELVES,, ALWAYS DESIRING GOD to SERVE US…
WE’RE HERE for HIS GLORY & KINGDOM, NOT OUR OWN.
WE’RE HERE to SERVE OTHERS, RATHER THAN USE THEM.
IF JESUS CHRIST SUFFERED & DIED for MY SINS,, AS a SERVANT… NOTHING is BENEATH ME.
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Discussion Questions:
Discussion Questions:
Good examples from others of lowly service??
Something God has used to humble you?
