True Greatness
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· 13 viewsJesus is the greatest because he served sacrificially for the good of others and the glory of God.
Notes
Transcript
Introduction:
In 2001, a bestselling book was released entitled “Good to Great”, by Jim Collins, a Stanford university business analyst. This was THE business management book to read back then. The question asked in the book is “how can a good company become a great company?” In other words, what characteristics made these companies profitable and have increasing profits year after year?
A great company was one that experienced a turn around in which it financially outperformed the market trend by at least three times for a fifteen year period.
Collins and a team of researchers spent five years studying eleven corporations that went from being good companies to great companies. And in their study, many of these companies were led by great leaders. And what was fascinating was that what was found in these leaders was completely unexpected.
“We were surprised, shocked really, to discover the type of leadership required for turning a good company into a great one. Compared to high profile leaders with big personalities who make headlines and become celebrities, the good to great leaders seem to have come from Mars. Self-effacing, quiet, reserved even shy—these leaders are a paradoxical blend of personal humility and professional will. They are more like lincoln and socrates than patton or Caesar.”
“The Level 5 Executive builds enduring greatness through a paradoxical blend of personal humility and professional will” Collins
Humility and ability.
If that is true in the corporate world, how much more so in the spiritual world?
The greatest people are the most humble people.
The greatest Christians are the most humble and lowly people.
The greatest people in the world are the greatest servants in the world.
The greatest person who ever lived was the greatest servant who ever lived.
Question: How does Jesus redefine greatness? What are the characteristics of great people in God’s eyes? If Jesus were show us what makes a great Christian, what would He say?
Proposition: In our passage today, we will look at three ways Jesus redefines greatness, so that we can strive to be great Christians in God’s eyes.
I. Kingdom greatness is defined by sacrifice for the benefit of others.
II. Kingdom greatness is defined by service to the needy.
III. Kingdom greatness is defined by rejoicing in the truth wherever it is found.
Recap:
Last week, you remember that the disciples failed to cast out a demon-possessed boy. Jesus was coming down the mountain into the valley only to find his disciples arguing with the religious teachers about their failure. The religious leaders were seeking to discredit Jesus and his ministry. And Jesus healed a man’s son from the crowd and taught his disciples that they could not cast out the demon except by the power of God and prayer. Jesus will continue his journey to Jerusalem and continue to teach his disciples important lessons on discipleship along the way.
Last week he taught about the necessity of prayer in the Christian life, this week he will show us the necessity of humility in the Christian life.
“At every stage of our Christian development and in every sphere of our Christian discipleship, pride is the greatest enemy and humility our greatest friend” John Stott
Humility is rightly assessing yourself before the holy character of God. It is a true knowledge of God and a true knowledge of self. If you understand God’s holiness, then you will begin to understand your sinfulness. And if you understand your sinfulness, you will see your need for God’s grace which will humble you to the core.
Scripture Reading:
They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know, for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.” But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.
And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”
John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. For the one who is not against us is for us. For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.
First way Jesus redefines greatness is by showing us...
Mark 9:
I. Great people sacrifice themselves for the benefit of others (vv. 30-32)
I. Great people sacrifice themselves for the benefit of others (vv. 30-32)
They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know, for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.”
Mark
The disciples were probably at Caesarea Philippi where Jesus was transfigured before them. They three made their way down the mountain only to find the disciples arguing with the scribes about their failure to cast out a demon possessed boy.
Jesus was teaching his disciples important lessons about what it means to follow him on the way. And again, now they are making their journey to Jersualem and they passed through Galilee.
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to Mark The Second Passion Prediction (9:30–32)
Each of the three passion predictions occurs in the context of this expression (8:27; 9:33–34; 10:32), signaling that Jesus has turned his focus away from Galilee and set his face (so Luke 9:51) toward Jerusalem.
Jesus is concluding his ministry in Galilee and is set to go to Jerusalem. He did not want anyone to know. Again, Jesus commands his disciples to not saying anything until he accomplished his mission.
For the second time, Jesus gives his prophetic prediction about what will take place in Jerusalem. He would be delivered, they will kill him, and he will rise after three days.
Jesus already referenced this earlier in .
And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.” And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him.
And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
:
The word delivered is translated “handed over” or “betrayed” The same word is used of Judas who handed Jesus over to the religious authorities. From a human perspective, Jesus would be delivered or handed over by the hands of men.
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to Mark The Second Passion Prediction (9:30–32)
The Greek word for “betrayed” can also mean “handed over.” The passive voice of the verb conceals its subject. It looks like a “divine passive,” i.e., a reference to God without using God’s name (for fear of defiling it). If it is a divine passive it conveys that God is handing over his Son to humanity. The verse reflects the language of the Servant of Yahweh in Isa 53:6, 12 (LXX) and hints that Jesus will die for the sins of others. “It is just this meaning that Christian proclamation finds in Christ’s death: His incomprehensible fate is for the benefit of the very ones at whose hands he died, and that benefit is in accordance with God’s salvific will for humankind.”3
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to Mark … and the Second Misunderstanding (9:33–37)
In all three passion predictions, Jesus speaks of the necessity of his rejection, suffering, and death; and following all three the disciples voice their ambitions for status and prestige. Jesus speaks of surrendering his life; the disciples speak of fulfilling theirs. He counts the cost of discipleship; they count its assets. The disciples have yet to learn that the rewards of discipleship come only as a consequence of following Christ on the costly way to Jerusalem.
But from a divine perspective, this would be the plan of the Father in the Son’s redemption for sinners.
Jesus referenced himself as the Son of Man. The glorious figure in Daniel’s prophecy from . But this glorious One would be humiliated and cursed and crushed for man’s sin.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
yet he opened not his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so he opened not his mouth.
By oppression and judgment he was taken away;
and as for his generation, who considered
that he was cut off out of the land of the living,
stricken for the transgression of my people?
And they made his grave with the wicked
and with a rich man in his death,
although he had done no violence,
and there was no deceit in his mouth.
Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him;
he has put him to grief;
when his soul makes an offering for guilt,
he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days;
the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.
Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;
by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,
make many to be accounted righteous,
and he shall bear their iniquities.
Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him;
he has put him to grief;
when his soul makes an offering for guilt,
he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days;
the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.
He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
It was the will of God to give us the Son of God to accomplish our deliverance from God’s wrath upon our sin. This is the heart of Christianity.
The disciples as have seen did not get it. Whether they were just plain dumb or ignorant or even in denial, they could not conceive of a suffering Messiah. Because the implications were that if our Master would suffer, they would probably suffer in the same way.
And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to Mark … and the Second Misunderstanding (9:33–37)
In all three passion predictions, Jesus speaks of the necessity of his rejection, suffering, and death; and following all three the disciples voice their ambitions for status and prestige. Jesus speaks of surrendering his life; the disciples speak of fulfilling theirs. He counts the cost of discipleship; they count its assets. The disciples have yet to learn that the rewards of discipleship come only as a consequence of following Christ on the costly way to Jerusalem.
You remember, Jesus already stated this would happen to him. They saw Peter get rebuked and called Satan. Who would want to be called Satan! So no one wanted to be that guy and ask the obvious.
They could not comprehend a suffering Messiah.
Luther talked about a Theology of Cross and a Theology of Glory.
That is what Christians are used to hearing today. The Christian life is all about prosperity. All about healing. All about success. All about being victorious. The church should always be growing and successful. This is a theology of glory.
A theology of the cross on the other hand, Luther explained that when God came to save us, he did not save us through the way of glory. He went the path of a suffering servant. As a man of sorrows. Luther said “Christ is hidden” in our sufferings because the Savior we follow is a suffering savior.
The Reformers understood that the pathway to heaven is filled with trials and tribulations, sufferings, and even death for faithful believers.
And those who follow him would follow in his footsteps.
Christian—Realize the Jesus you follow is a Suffering Servant. We enjoy talking about the benefits of salvation and the glory of heaven. But realize this, that walking with Christ in a fallen world and faithfully serving Christ in a hostile world will include suffering.
Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,
As we will see, the disciples were just clueless in regards to what following Christ entails. They would learn along the way.
Greatness is redefined by Jesus in terms of self-sacrifice. The world seeks self-preservation, Jesus calls for self-denial and sacrifice if we would follow Him. You remember the conditions of discipleship? You must lose your life to find your life? You must deny yourself and take up your cross and follow Him.
The greatness people in history have been those marked by sacrifice. And we know that Jesus was the greatest example and display of that.
Non-Christian—The Cross will always be a stumbling block to the unbeliever. But only when the Holy Spirit grants you eyes to see, that the most shameful symbol of the ancient world was the greatest display of the glory of God in atoning work of Christ. The Greeks could not conceive of a mighty God dying or serving. They had a theology of glory and honor. Not one where glory and honor is achieved through shame and suffering.
Applications: the road to glory is paved with suffering. Jesus repeated this. We must repeat this. We say stupid things, it is easy to be spiritually dull..
Transition: Greatness is not only redefined by Jesus in terms of sacrifice, but also lowly service....
II. Great people serve the helpless (vv. 33-37)
II. Great people serve the helpless (vv. 33-37)
And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?”
Now they are in Capernaum. You remember that Peter, James, and John were from Capernaum. This is where they had their fishing business. Capernaum was on the Northwest shore of Galilee.
And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” In other words, what were you arguing about? What were you debating about?
But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest.
But they kept silent. Jesus caught them.
Just like how we catch our kids fighting sometimes in the morning, they were caught in doing something stupid.
Jesus JUST explained to them that he would be betrayed, killed, and rise again.
And they were silent because of their shame and their embarassement. We are like the disciples in so many ways aren’t we? I’m going to suffer. Lord, why have you blessed me yet? I’m going to the cross. When are we going to rule?
The disciples were like children who were only thinking of themselves, rather than thinking of one another and most importantly their Master’s suffering.
The Argument (v. 34)
Who is the greatest?
I’m sure Peter and James and John were involved in the discussion. Peter may have said, “I was on that mountain with Jesus. I am the one who often speaks first.” James and John may have also said something like that. We are the worthy ones, we are the ones who were picked to see the glory of Jesus on the mountain. What about you? You were stuck in that valley. We are Jesus’ special chosen ones.
It seems so petty that they were discussing these things. They were comparing themselves with others. Pride loves to exalt self. It loves the glory.
We want the prestige, not the suffering. We want the reward, not the work. We want the glory, not the shame.
It seems pathetic
We are all born Pharisees. We all naturally think far better of ourselves than we ought. We all naturally imagine that we deserve something better than we have. It is an old sin.
Ryle, J. C.. J. C. Ryle's Expository Thoughts on the Gospels . GLH Publishing. Kindle Edition.
Yet Christians debate over petty things ALL the time. Who is the greatest preacher? Who decorate
Christians do this all the time. It is a shame, but even pastors do this. It is so settle and can sound spiritual, but they can measure each other by one’s successes.
You go to a pastor’s conference. The first questions people ask are what’s your name? What’s your church? And often the third question is the real question: what is the size of your church? How many members you have? How many members you had baptized last year? How is your financial giving.
And pastors begin to size each other up by how big their congregations are and how big their offering is. Often wanting their egos to be stroked. It is shameful, but true.
And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”
But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest.
Now Jesus sits down. He takes the posture of a Rabbi or teacher. In other words, class is in session. The Master is going to speak. He summons the twelve and he says to them,
If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant all.
Jesus often speaks in paradoxes. These are not contradictory statements, but what appears to be contradictory statements, are in fact true when explained and studied further.
If you want to be first, you have to be last of all and servant of all.
You want to know what true greatness looks like? Be last of the line. Be the servant of all.
The word servant is where we get deacon from. The simple meaning of servant is table waiter. One who served tables or served food to others.
And if you want to put your service to the test, how well do you do in serving the least? In serving those who are helpless and needy and have no social status. So Jesus gives an illustration...
The Illustration of Service
And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”
In the ancient world, children were looked down upon. It is not like we in the West who pamper and cater to our children. In the ancient world, children had no status, no dignity, no rights, and no privileges in society. One commentator:
The New International Greek Testament Commentary: The Gospel of Mark A Radical Lesson on Status (9:33–37)
The child represents the lowest order in the social scale, the one who is under the authority and care of others and who has not yet achieved the right of selfdetermination. To ‘become like a child’ (Mt. 18:3) is to forgo status and to accept the lowest place, to be a ‘little one’ (Mt. 18:6, 10, 14; 10:42). Mark does not use the same terms as Matthew, but the latter’s fuller version rightly draws out the implications of Mark’s child analogy.
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to Mark The Second Passion Prediction (9:30–32)
Each of the three passion predictions occurs in the context of this expression (8:27; 9:33–34; 10:32), signaling that Jesus has turned his focus away from Galilee and set his face (so Luke 9:51) toward Jerusalem.
In fact, some children were abandoned in the ancient world. They were utterly helpless.
And Jesus is saying, whatever you do for the lowly, the least, you did for me. Whatever you did for those who cannot pay anything back to you, you did for me.
Child can also refer to a new believer. If you receive a child or new believer, you receive me, and you receive the Father who sent me.
In other words, when you serve the lowly, the despised, the oppressed, the one who has no reputation, you serve Christ.
Do you see how radical that was?
In a world where we want to serve those who have position or power, Jesus is saying serve those who have no position or power. That is greatness!
Greatest is serving the least and most unlikely people who can not repay you.
Christian: Does that describe you? Who are the least or overlooked in the church? Is that elderly? The shut ins in our church? Sierra View? Who are those who need help, but cannot repay you with anything?
Church: What ministries are the least likely to be served? Clean up of the building? Audio ministry? Taking care of babies? Taking care of toddlers? What ministry is needed, but no one wants to do? Jesus is saying great people are those who run to those people and those ministries.
Deacons and Elders: And those of us in leadership, the heart of Christian leadership is service. We don’t get a title just because we want honor or prestige, but because we want to serve. Elders are servants of the Word, while Deacons are servants of the physical needs of the church so that the Word can continue to grow in the church.
The Senior Pastor’s Title Should be Lead Slave. Lead Servant.
The men who are willing to be last of all, and servants of all, for Christ's sake, are always few.
Ryle, J. C.. J. C. Ryle's Expository Thoughts on the Gospels . GLH Publishing. Kindle Edition.
Do you want to be a leader in the church? Well, how are you serving? Who are you serving?
If you want to be great church, fill the bathroom toilet paper. if you great in church, take out the trash. If you want to be great in church, fold and pass out programs. if you want to be great in church, say hi to the lonely and isolated. if you want to be great in church, serve the babies by changing their diapers. If you want to be great in the church, serve the elderly who have no means of transportation. Serve those who cannot help themselves and cannot repay.
Church: Choose men who are already serving without grumbling and serve in joy because they want to please their Master.
Membership: If you are not a member of a local church, I would encourage you to commit to a local church. Commit to a local church not only because of how it benefits you, but how YOU can benefit other through your gifts and service. Every believer has been given a spiritual gift. And you can’t serve in isolation. You serve in community. We would love to have lunch or dinner with you to explain what membership means at CFBC.
To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
Non-Christian—Greatness is not climbing up the ladder, but going down the ladder to help others up the ladder. Jesus redefines greatness. If you want to be great in the world, step over others so you can get to the top.
If you want to be great in God’s eyes, come down the ladder to help those who can’t climb the ladder and push them up. That is true greatness.
And friend, that is what Jesus did for you. He came down the ladder to rescue you from the pit of hell to lift you to the heights of heaven if you repent of your Sin and place your Faith in Him.
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Jesus was the greatest of all because he was the last and servant of all.
Mothers: What do you do? I’m just a mom. You are not just a mom. You are raising souls. You are doing ministry when you are serving your family. When you are serving needy children. You are doing great kingdom work even if it doesn’t feel like it in the moment.
Childcare workers: Thank you for serving our children so we can listen to the Word. Your ministry is not just blowing bubbles for our kids or changing diapers, but it is great work in the eyes of God even though it doesn’t feel like it. You are allowing tired parents to have a break and listen to the Word of God so that they could be encouraged to love their families better. Thank you.
Members who serve the Elderly. And there are some of you who serve the elderly in our church. From driving them to church, to visiting them or helping them get their medicines. Thank you. That is what is great in the eyes of God.
Members who make sure everything prepared Sunday Morning: Everything prepared, ushers, bulletins out, ladies who cook, men and women who greet others, those who prepare the mics, and sing, that is greatness. Greatness is service to the least.
And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
Matthew 25:
We go up in the Christian life by going down. If we wanna be first, we must be last. If we want to be great, we must serve the least.
If you want to be great church, fill the bathroom toilet paper. if you great in church, take out the trash. If you want to be great in church, fold and pass out programs. if you want to be great in church, say hi to the lonely and isolated. if you want to be great in church, serve the babies by changing their diapers. If you want to be great in the church, serve wherever there is a need.
Jesus was the greatest example that.
Pastor Ed—He always used to say to me, “Take care of the church.” “Serve the Lord with all humility of mind”. Those words are so precious to me. Because that’s how Jesus defines greatness.
Applications: pride is dangerous, ask others to speak into your life, leaders must be examples of service, pastors are lead servants, do not show partiality to the insignicant, welcome all, welcome Jesus, the great will show the least, serve the Lord with all humility of mind.
Transition: Greatness is defined by sacrifice, service, and finally rejoicing wherever the truth is found...
III. Great people rejoice in the truth wherever it is found (vv. 38-41)
III. Great people rejoice in the truth wherever it is found (vv. 38-41)
John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.”
Before John became the Apostle of Love, he was the Apostle of anger. How would you like your nickname to be “Sons of Thunder?” Or Son of Hellfire and Brimstone? In Luke’s Gospel, we read that John and His brother wanted hell and brimstone to come down on the Samaritans for rejecting Jesus.
But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”
In this scene, an unknown exorcist is casting out demons in Jesus name. He was doing a might work in Jesus name. He was probably a believer. A person who was preaching in the name of Jesus. Who was casting out demons in the name of Jesus.
John says, “we tried to stop him, because he was not following US!”. Notice what he didn’t say, “We tried to stop him, because he was not following YOU!” He says, “He is not following US!”
In other words, he is not part of our group. He is not part of our clique. He ain’t baptist! He ain’t a fundamental baptist! And if he ain’t part of our group or clique, then we do no want to have anything to do with him.
But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me.
Notice what Jesus said, Do Not Stop Him. If he is doing a work of my name, he is probably for us. If he is for us, he is probably not against us.
There is a similar story in the OT. Moses calls for 70 elders to the Tent of Meeting. God’s spirit will also be upon this people. He gathered the 70 and Spirit of God came over these men. But there were two remained in the camp who also prophesied.
Now two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the Spirit rested on them. They were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp. And a young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” And Joshua the son of Nun, the assistant of Moses from his youth, said, “My lord Moses, stop them.” But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!”
Numbers 2
Men of all branches of Christ's Church are apt to think that no good can be done in the world, unless it is done by their own party and denomination. They are so narrow-minded, that they cannot conceive the possibility of working on any other pattern but that which they follow. They make an idol of their own peculiar ecclesiastical machinery, and can see no merit in any other.
Ryle, J. C.. J. C. Ryle's Expository Thoughts on the Gospels . GLH Publishing. Kindle Edition.
Are we so arrogant to think that God can’t work through other local churches? That God can’t work through a Calvary Chapel or a Presybeterian Church or an Episcopal Church that preaches the same gospel?
Jesus is saying He is for me. Leave him alone. Let him keep doing the work of God.
For the one who is not against us is for us.
He is on the same team! You should be rejoicing that He is serving in my name and doing mighty works in my name!
The Promise of Reward
For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.
If you serve the least in Christ Name, God remembers the good deed no matter how insignificant it may seem. God remembers the smallest act of service to to His people.
God remembers the refilled toilet paper. He remembers the stapled bulletins. He remembers the clean up in the Children’s room. He remembers the lollipop given to my kids in Christ’s name.
God will honor our faithfulness. And for those living in a hot climate, a cup of cold water even though it seem insignicant went a long way for those who received the cup of water.
The New American Commentary: Mark 10. The Question about the Independent Exorcist (9:38–41)
The lesson for the church today is that tolerance, acceptance, and recognition should be extended to other denominations and to persons of other theological persuasions.
Daily Study Bible Series: The Gospel of Mark (Revised Edition) A Lesson in Tolerance
Intolerance is a sign both of arrogance and ignorance, for it is a sign that a man believes that there is no truth beyond the truth he sees.
Our culture means that tolerance means all beliefs are equally valid and you can’t disagree with me.
What we mean by tolerance is that we may differ in beliefs, but I will die for your right to disagree with me.
Tolerance for other believers means that if they are preaching the truth, even if we disagree on secondary matters like baptism or how we do evangelism, we will still rejoice wherever Christ is preached.
Biblical Counseling Conference.
If you asked me, one of the greatest encouragements I receive is all the churches represented. Churches who are doing great gospel work even though they are not in are circles.
We are arrogant when we think God only works through us and only through our local church.
We must repent of schism and division. We may differ over secondary issues, but we must rejoice if the gospel is going forth from other churches. We should celebrate God’s work in other pastors and other Christians and other churches.
The question has been asked: if you have been praying for revival in your church, and it happens in the church down the street, did God answer your prayer?
Yes! Whether the gospel is heard from heard from First Baptist of Hacienda Heights, or Covina Presbyterian Church, or Reformed Church of Los Angeles, we should rejoice!
CFBC—This is why we regularly pray for other churches in our pastoral prayers and prayer meetings. We want to underscore the fact that the gospel is bigger than our local church. We want to rejoice in what God is doing in Story Church in Rancho, or Echo Church in Chino Hills, or Pillar Bible Church in Long Beach, or Community of Faith Bible Church in Los Angeles. We can’t fulfill the Great Commission by ourselves. And we must have a spirit of Christian tolerance and charity for other believers.
Church, not only we should rejoice over gospel work in other churches, but we should pray for other churches and support churches as we are able.
Christian—Jesus says if you love the least of my disciples, you loved me. You say you love Jesus, but has that been demonstrated in showing love to Christ’s people? You can’t love Jesus if you don’t love the local church. Love the church. Commit to the Church. Grow with the Church. And rejoice when the Lord adds to the Church.
Paul was a great example of this:
Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.
Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.
Philippians 1:
Applications: pray for other churches, rejoice in other churches success, pray big prayers beyond our walls, rejoice in revivals outside of our church, do you serve God’s people, be a member of a local church, find ways to serve, christian celebrity, online platform, more followers, more retweets, be discerning, repent of intolerance
Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.
Yes, and I will rejoice,
How have you shown kindness to the least? Jesus will not forget your work.
Summary:
Summary:
True greatness in the kingdom is sacrificial service in the name of Jesus that serves the least for the glory of God.
Great people in God’s eyes are those who:
Sacrifice themselves for the benefit of others
Serve the helpless and needy and lift them up
Rejoices wherever the truth is found and proclaimed
The greatest person who ever lived was Jesus Christ. He the Greatest, become the least by becoming a man.
And in becoming a man, he died to serve the helpless and needy sinner so that God would be glorified in His redemption by lifting us up from the pit of Hell.
Jesus is not against ambition or aspiring to greatness. He is against a worldly aspiration for greatness that desires to rule, rather than serve, that serves the powerful than serve the weak, that is intolerant of others who proclaim the same truth we proclaim.
Conclusion:
The worldly wants to rule, the godly man wants to serve
The worldly wants to receive, the godly man wants to give
The worldly wants to preserve His life at the expense of others, the godly wants to lose his life for the good of others
Conclusion:
Do you want to be great in God’s eyes? Then look to the example of Jesus Christ, the greatest Servant who ever lived, whose death achieved for us the ability to be great the way God defines greatness.
Pride “It is a soul ruining sin” J.C. Ryle
The worldly wants to rule, the godly man wants to serve
The worldly wants to receive, the godly man wants to give
The worldly wants to preserve His life at the expense of others, the godly wants to lose his life for the good of others.
True greatness is defined by sacrificial love that will serve the helpless for the glory of God.
Do you want to be great in the kingdom?
Give yourself to Jesus who gave Himself to you.
Give yourself others who cannot help themselves.
Give yourself to exalting the truth of the greatness of Jesus so that God would be glorified in all things.
The greatest are the servants of all who give themselves sacrificially to the helpless for the glory of God.
Notes:
“True humility is not self-depreciation and humiliation, but an attitude of unselfishness and self-forgetfulness which seeks the welfare of others. Humility and service are not only the passport to greatness in Christ’s kingdom but also the very essence of greatness in His Kingdom” Hiebert
“As a servant loses his identity by serving others, he takes on the identity of his master”
“There is a spiritual unity between the humble believer, Christ the sent one, and the Father who commissioned Him.” Hiebert
We are all born Pharisees. We all naturally think far better of ourselves than we ought. We all naturally imagine that we deserve something better than we have. It is an old sin.
Ryle, J. C.. J. C. Ryle's Expository Thoughts on the Gospels . GLH Publishing. Kindle Edition.
Ryle, J. C.. J. C. Ryle's Expository Thoughts on the Gospels . GLH Publishing. Kindle Edition.
There is rich encouragement here for all who devote themselves to the charitable work of doing good to neglected souls.
The worldly wants to rule, the godly man wants to serve
The worldly wants to receive, the godly man wants to give
The worldly wants to preserve His life at the expense of others, the godly wants to lose his life for the good of others
There is rich encouragement here for all who devote themselves to the charitable work of doing good to neglected souls.
Ryle, J. C.. J. C. Ryle's Expository Thoughts on the Gospels . GLH Publishing. Kindle Edition.
There is rich encouragement here for all who devote themselves to the charitable work of doing good to neglected souls.
Ryle, J. C.. J. C. Ryle's Expository Thoughts on the Gospels . GLH Publishing. Kindle Edition.
Ryle, J. C.. J. C. Ryle's Expository Thoughts on the Gospels . GLH Publishing. Kindle Edition.
Ryle, J. C.. J. C. Ryle's Expository Thoughts on the Gospels . GLH Publishing. Kindle Edition.
Ryle, J. C.. J. C. Ryle's Expository Thoughts on the Gospels . GLH Publishing. Kindle Edition.
Ryle, J. C.. J. C. Ryle's Expository Thoughts on the Gospels . GLH Publishing. Kindle Edition.
“Treat well those who have no standing in this world (children, lepers, AIDS victims, the mentally impaired, the physically disabled, the aged), and you will receive an audience with My Father!”
Greatness is cross-shaped.
Greatness is service-minded.
Greatness is child-like.
Greatness is charitable.
“Treat well those who have no standing in this world (children, lepers, AIDS victims, the mentally impaired, the physically disabled, the aged), and you will receive an audience with My Father!”
Akin, Daniel L.. Exalting Jesus in Mark (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary) (pp. 194-195). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
Akin, Daniel L.. Exalting Jesus in Mark (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary) (pp. 194-195). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
Die to seal, serve others, and care for those who no one cares for.
We want our lives to count. We do not want to fail to achieve the goals we pursue in our lives. The last thing we want to do is to come in last. We are not satisfied with mediocrity. We dream of glory, of winning, of reaching the pinnacle of success, success, of getting to the top, of attaining greatness, of being the best.
Sproul. Mark (Saint Andrew's Expositional Commentary) (p. 230). Reformation Trust Publishing. Kindle Edition.
Leadership means welcoming those who are insignicant and have no worldly prestige.
Sproul. Mark (Saint Andrew's Expositional Commentary) (p. 230). Reformation Trust Publishing. Kindle Edition.
Sproul. Mark (Saint Andrew's Expositional Commentary) (p. 230). Reformation Trust Publishing. Kindle Edition.
Leadership means welcoming those who are insignicant and have no worldly prestige.
Expression of love to to Jesus disciples is expression of love to Jesus.
They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know, for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.” But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.
And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”
John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. For the one who is not against us is for us. For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.
I. Greatness is sacrifice (vv. 30-32)
I. Greatness is sacrifice (vv. 30-32)
They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know, for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.” But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.
II. Greatness is service (vv. 33-37)
II. Greatness is service (vv. 33-37)
And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”
III. Greatness is tolerant (vv. 38-41)
III. Greatness is tolerant (vv. 38-41)
John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. For the one who is not against us is for us. For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.
Applications: pray for other churches, rejoice in other churches success, pray big prayers beyond our walls, rejoice in revivals outside of our church, do you serve God’s people, be a member of a local church, find ways to serve, christian celebrity, online platform, more followers, more retweets, be discerning, repent of intolerance
Numbers 11:
Now two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the Spirit rested on them. They were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp. And a young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” And Joshua the son of Nun, the assistant of Moses from his youth, said, “My lord Moses, stop them.” But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!”
And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.
Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance,
Real greatness means caring about people—not the people who are regarded as “important” but simply people, such as the (unimportant) child.
Real greatness means caring about people—not the people who are regarded as “important” but simply people, such as the (unimportant) child.
Garland, David E.. Mark (The NIV Application Commentary Book 2) (p. 375). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
The New International Greek Testament Commentary: The Gospel of Mark A Radical Lesson on Status (9:33–37)
The child represents the lowest order in the social scale, the one who is under the authority and care of others and who has not yet achieved the right of selfdetermination. To ‘become like a child’ (Mt. 18:3) is to forgo status and to accept the lowest place, to be a ‘little one’ (Mt. 18:6, 10, 14; 10:42). Mark does not use the same terms as Matthew, but the latter’s fuller version rightly draws out the implications of Mark’s child analogy.
Garland, David E.. Mark (The NIV Application Commentary Book 2) (p. 375). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to Mark The Second Passion Prediction (9:30–32)
Each of the three passion predictions occurs in the context of this expression (8:27; 9:33–34; 10:32), signaling that Jesus has turned his focus away from Galilee and set his face (so Luke 9:51) toward Jerusalem.
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to Mark The Second Passion Prediction (9:30–32)
The Greek word for “betrayed” can also mean “handed over.” The passive voice of the verb conceals its subject. It looks like a “divine passive,” i.e., a reference to God without using God’s name (for fear of defiling it). If it is a divine passive it conveys that God is handing over his Son to humanity. The verse reflects the language of the Servant of Yahweh in Isa 53:6, 12 (LXX) and hints that Jesus will die for the sins of others. “It is just this meaning that Christian proclamation finds in Christ’s death: His incomprehensible fate is for the benefit of the very ones at whose hands he died, and that benefit is in accordance with God’s salvific will for humankind.”3
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to Mark … and the Second Misunderstanding (9:33–37)
In all three passion predictions, Jesus speaks of the necessity of his rejection, suffering, and death; and following all three the disciples voice their ambitions for status and prestige. Jesus speaks of surrendering his life; the disciples speak of fulfilling theirs. He counts the cost of discipleship; they count its assets. The disciples have yet to learn that the rewards of discipleship come only as a consequence of following Christ on the costly way to Jerusalem.
We want the prestige, not the suffering. We want the reward, not the work. We want the glory, not the shame.
We want the prestige, not the suffering. We want the reward, not the work. We want the glory, not the shame.
Theology of the cross and theology of glory.
What makes Christianity humbling is we stand on the work of another.
Class is in session. Class is starting.
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to Mark … and the Second Misunderstanding (9:33–37)
Greatness in God’s economy is not reserved for the gifted and privileged; rather, it presents itself to every believer in the common and simple tasks of serving others.
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to Mark … and the Second Misunderstanding (9:33–37)
” Disciples are thus not to be like children, but to be like Jesus who embraces them.
And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
The New American Commentary: Mark 10. The Question about the Independent Exorcist (9:38–41)
The lesson for the church today is that tolerance, acceptance, and recognition should be extended to other denominations and to persons of other theological persuasions.
Daily Study Bible Series: The Gospel of Mark (Revised Edition) A Lesson in Tolerance
Intolerance is a sign both of arrogance and ignorance, for it is a sign that a man believes that there is no truth beyond the truth he sees.
Daily Study Bible Series: The Gospel of Mark (Revised Edition) A Lesson in Tolerance
Intolerance is a sign both of arrogance and ignorance, for it is a sign that a man believes that there is no truth beyond the truth he sees.
New Testament II: Mark (Revised) Overview
The text teaches that discipleship grows first by a downward, lowly movement, as a tree seeking roots, in order then to reach skyward (AUGUSTINE). Be ready to receive the lowly neighbor as if sent by Christ (TERTULLIAN). The disciplines of humility are most pertinent to those most prone to vanity (CHRYSOSTOM). Childlike innocence is characteristic of those who dwell in the kingdom of God (SHEPHERD OF HERMAS).
Tolerance means today that all viewpoints are equally true or valid regardless of whether they are actually true or valid.
Tolerance means treating those who hold contrary beliefs with respect and friendship-John Dickson 167
Do not imagine that if you meet a really humble man he will be what most people call ‘humble’ nowadays: he will not be a sort of greasy, smarmy person, who is always telling you that, of course, his is nobody. Probably all you will think about him is that he seemed a cheerful, intelligent chap who took a real interest in what you said to him. If you do dislike him it will be because you feel a little envious of anyone who seems to enjoy life so easily. He will not be thinking about humility: he will not be thinking about himself at all.” C.S. Lewis.
Humlity “is honestly assessing ourselves in light of God’s holiness.” Mahaney