Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
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Scripture
Introduction
What is success for a Christian?
Is it amassing more wealth?
Is it getting the promotion?
driving a better car than your neighbors?
Retiring early?
recognition of achievement from your peers?
Is success defined in our eyes or in the eyes of others.
Some people say that whoever dies with the most toys win.
This is the motto of our consumerist culture, success can be purchased.
In the book “The Abundant Community” the authors make the argument that what has destroyed communities and especially families is that communities and families have lost their function.
We expect the school, coaches, agencies and sitters to raise our children.
We expect doctors to keep us healthy.
We want social workers and institutions to take care of the vulnerable
Instead of taking responsibility for these things, we throw money at them.
This is a life of scarcity rather than abundance.
This consumerist culture, based entirely on “what’s in it for me” leads us to believe that resources are scarce and we have to beat out the other person to get our fair share, thus we have unhealthy competition.
We have the Lombardi’s that say “Winning isn't everything, nor is it the only thing.
"Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing."
Good advice for football, where a score is kept, but is it good advice for life?
or business for that matter?
I was taught in college the the goal of a business is to make a profit and survive.
Is that the only goal of a business?
Jesus tells us this:
Mark 10:42-
Mark 10:
Jesus didn't live in a consumerist culture.
But he did live in a scarcity culture that saw only rich and poor and the people thought that resources were limited, and the only way to success is to get above the other person.
Jesus tells us, that this is not the way of a Christian.
Let’s take a look at what he says, and what it means for our lifestyles.
Background
You may remember that most scholars believe that Mark was written during the persecutions during Nero’s reign.
It was a time when the church resorted to hiding in the catacombs.
They were being rounded up, their property confiscated and many were killed in horrible ways.
Mark wrote to these mostly gentile Christians to show them that they weren't experiencing anything that Jesus had not already suffered.
Mark traveled with both Paul and Peter, but most scholars believe the gospel he wrote was given to him by Peter who was in prison during this time, soon to be crucified by Nero.
This text come shortly before Jesus entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.
We need to talk a little about what leads up to John and James making such a bold request.
Prior to this:
So Jesus has just told the disciples, for the third and last time, about his death and resurrection.
it is obvious they do not get it.
One of the themes in Mark is that the disciples never get it, they are always clueless.
No where is it more obvious then in verse 32-45.
Exegesis
So, Jesus has told them this as they continue their walk to Jerusalem.
it says that jesus was walking ahead of them and the 12 were somewhat behind amazed and afraid mark says.
So where does this bravado of James and John come from?
How do they have the audacity to ask Jesus for such a thing?
can’t you see them talking as they follow, and they run up to Jesus to make this request.
Evidently they know the outrageousness of what they are goin to ask for, so they try to manipulate Jesus.
“Teacher we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.”
That is not a question, that a command.
Who do they think they are.
What would you do if your child comes up to you and asks yo that?
Jesus replies with a question, “What is it you want me to do?” Wait for it . . .
.”we want to sit at your right and left hands when you come into your glory.”
This puts the two of them in such a bad light, that Matthew tells this story differently and has their Mother ask for these positions for them!
Sitting at the right and left were places of honor given by a King.
They person at the right hand was the number 2 person and the one at the left just under that.
I wonder why they didn’t ask for specific seats, don’t you know if they were trying to get a head start on the other ten, they wanted to get ahead of each other.
You know this is not much different than politicians today who promise jobs to those that give them political support.
We live in a tit for tat world, that is why it is so hard for people to believe that God forgives us without having a price to pay, because Jesus was a ransom for many he says here.
In a consumerist culture there is no such thing as a free lunch, there is always a personal cost involved.
Jesus tells them he has no idea who will be on his right and left, that has been prepared by the Father.I have always thought it kind of ironic that the people on the left and right of Jesus were two criminals.
One who cursed and one who asked Jesus to remember him.
You see jesus did have a throne when he arrived in Jerusalem, the throne was the cross on which he was nailed.
Poor James and John, they have no idea of Jesus’s cup and baptism.
But they are eager to jump in the water and drink for that cup aren’t they?
Brave men indeed, who will scatter when the drink and the waters of baptism come.
Be careful what you ask for!
The other ten over hear this exchange and are mad that they didn’t ask first.
The motivations here reflect the sinfulness of all of us.
Success is beating the other person to the punch.
Looking for that edge to get ahead.
Now what comes next turns their whole world upside down.
My followers are different, he says.
if you want to be successful, if you want true greatness, you will love like I do and give up your life for your brother and sister.
You will be a servant, just like I am a servant.
In fact you will be a slave to each other!
Wait, Jesus you mean success is judged nit by the power or fortune or accolades we receive, but by giving our lives as servants to others!? What if I don’t like them?
What if they look different form me? What if they are sick, or in prison, or are a stranger?
Don’t I need to take care of myself first?
I mean that’s what you do on an airplane if the oxygen masks drop, right?
I put it on me first, then my child?
I am here to tell you this morning, the man meant what he said.
believing in jesus is easy, giving up your life, not so much.
Application
This was as radical then as it is now.
You see the disciples wanted to dominate, be in power.
What we want to do now.
Our culture loves winners.
They did too, they did not want a messiah that would suffer and die!
They want a messiah that would answer all their heart’s desires.
And isn’t that what we chase?
We want something that will answer all our heart’s desires?
We want it all and then some.
But the reality of it is, “that jesus bid a man come and die.”
if we follow Jesus we “pledge our selves to drink the cup and accept our baptisms that mean we live and die by the pattern of the cross.
I like how this commentator puts it:
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