Descending to Success - Mark 10:32-45

Mark 10:32-45 Descending to Success 2020-01-26 Christ descended to raise us up, so we could serve to raise up others It was about 2am. I was driving up Hwy. 35 toward our home at the end of our summer vacation, and our car was running on fumes. Nowhere to get gas at that time of night. We had left West Yellowstone that morning, spent a little leisurely time in Billings, and there decided to push all the way through to home. Our last fuel stop was Spokane, and my calculations had us arriving home with enough fuel - not a lot, but enough. I’m not sure if it was the headwind coming through the Gorge, but my calculations had me uncomfortable. My family was asleep, dreaming of bison and geysers, and I had just finished listening to the audiobook of Ernest Shackleton’s Endurance. As I considered running out of gas on the side of the highway, running a few miles home at 2am to retrieve a gas can seemed like a small thing when compared with what Shackleton and his crew experienced over the 2 years of their Antarctic expedition. Shipwrecked when their ship became trapped in ice, having it sink 10 months later, surviving on seal meat and blubber, taking lifeboats to Elephant Island, then a 16 day journey of around 800 miles across open ocean to South Georgia island, only then to have to make a harrowing journey across the island to a whaling station. Shackleton’s advertisement for team members on the journey read, “Men wanted for hazardous journey, small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful. Honor and recognition in case of success.” The spots were filled quickly. To be a team member on Shackleton’s crew, and the drive for recognition and honor, as uncertain as it was, was enough to draw men to risk their lives. Scripture Passage: Mark 10:32-45 Determined to succeed (suffering precedes glory) (v.32-34) 1. v.32 “And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. And they were amazed…” - Isaiah 50:6–8 “I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting. But the Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame. He who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who is my adversary? Let him come near to me.” 1. The disciples, those closest to him, were amazed at the resolve Jesus had and the determination he displayed. The rest of the crowd that accompanied Jesus, those that weren’t as close as the disciples, were afraid. Mark doesn’t give us any details as to what it was they feared, but it’s not presented as a good fear, like the fear of God, a reverence or awe. They were afraid that they were going to have to go through some sort of suffering, either right alongside Jesus, or suffering because Jesus is removed. 2. vv.33-34 “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over…and kill him. And after three days he will rise.” - Jesus knew exactly what was ahead for him. He knew God’s will, and he was determined to accomplish that will, even though it meant incredible and intense suffering. 1. It’s important to understand that the events of Jerusalem weren’t a surprise to Jesus. It was his love for us and our need for redemption that compelled him to press on and endure the great suffering that awaited him. So great is the love of God for you! Descending to redeem (service is the way to greatness) (vv.35-45) vv.35-41 Confusion about greatness 1. vv.35-37 “And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him…” - Jesus has just laid out the clearest instruction so far of his death and resurrection. As they get nearer to Jerusalem Jesus sheds more and more light on this for his disciples. And even now, with this greater revelation, they respond as if the words were never spoken. 1. As a parent, perhaps you’ve experienced something like this. You pull your child in close and look them right in the eye, in a calm and caring tone, with great heaviness you communicate something to them of great significance. You’re looking for them to respond with proclamations of how your words have forever changed the course of their life, to hug you and thank you and go off skipping and singing your praises. But instead, after a few moments of silence, they say, “Can I watch cartoons now?” Or maybe you’re a teenager and you’re trying to convince your parents of how badly you need that new video game or pair of shoes or piece of sports equipment, how it will give your life real meaning and significance. It seems everything is going really well and you think they might say yes. But instead, after a moment of consideration, they say, “Go clean your room.” 2. v.38 “Jesus said to them, ‘You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?’” 1. First, notice that these two disciples were so off-base that they didn’t even know what it was they were asking. Somehow they had become so dull of hearing, or so selfish in their thinking, that their focus was entirely on selfish glory and they missed the suffering that precedes it. 1. This is a gentle reprimand by the Lord. Have you had an experience where you were praying fervently for something, then through greater revelation or hindsight you realize that you didn’t even realize the consequences of what you were asking for? For example, if God had answered the ministry prayer for Natalie and I years ago, we’d be in Austria and Pillar Bible Fellowship likely wouldn’t exist. This, then, is a call to humility in our prayer, of listening in our prayer, not making our demands and then going our way. 2. Next, notice what it was that they were involuntarily and unwittingly signing up for. A cup and a baptism. 1. Matthew 26:39 “And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”” 2. John 18:11 “So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”” 3. The cup and the baptism that Jesus was anticipating were both of suffering. For Jesus it was suffering for the sins of the world, taking the wrath of God poured out against sin. For the disciples, they would experience a cup and baptism of suffering, similar to Jesus, but to a much lesser degree and not for the purpose of atonement. James would be beheaded and John would be exiled to Patmos, but those do not compare with what Jesus suffered for us. 3. v.41 “And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John.” - This likely wasn’t a righteous anger, but rather more of an upset because they felt James and John were getting the upperhand. vv.42-45 Instruction about greatness 4. v.42 “And Jesus called them to him and said to them…” - The rulers of the Gentiles lord it over and exercise authority over others. That is, they dominate and overpower. Like schoolyard bullies they intimidate and force their way. Our human, fleshly way of leading shows itself in a myriad of ways. Maybe we’re bigger and stronger, so we bully our way and run over those who get in our way. A forceful word or a sideways look and others bend to our will. Maybe we’re not bigger and stronger, so we use our wits to try to manipulate people and situations in order to get our way. We weave emotions in, we keep a calculated distance or insert ourselves into certain circles that will work to our advantage in getting our way. Regardless of the method or approach, the common denominator is the same, which is self trying to get self’s way - my kingdom come. 5. v.43 “But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant…” Jesus presents a picture here that seems full of contradictions. To be great is to be a servant, and to be first is to be slave of all. Like saying the highest score on the test gets the lowest grade. Mark 10:31 “But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” Paradoxical statements. 1. Ultimately, our aim shouldn’t be to get anyone onto our agenda, but our work and labor should be toward getting people on God’s agenda. That’s real leadership, and the domineering and controlling type of leadership won’t be able to accomplish this. What Jesus is talking about is shepherd leadership, servant leadership, where the leading isn’t by shout of command from above, but by a word from alongside, whether that be a word of exhortation or encouragement. Where words are fortified by loving deeds of service. 6. v.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.” - The greatness of the Son of Man - Daniel 7:13–14. Suffering and service and sacrifice precede glory. 1. Jesus came as more than an example. A high and holy example can be inspiring, but it can also be crushing if you can’t follow that example. But Jesus came also as our Redeemer, bringing us into right relationship with God. And through his death and resurrection, by faith in his name, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and can serve in the power which He supplies. 2. This is where Romans 8 becomes critical. In vv.8-18 Paul shows that those in the flesh cannot please God, but that we have the Spirit of God, the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead. The Spirit empowers godly living, overcoming the flesh, assuring us of our position in the family of God. But Paul is also deliberate in communicating that suffering precedes glory. Conclusion: Service is hard, and it will involve suffering. But it’s not a road traveled alone, and it’s not a deadend. We walk this road in the company of brothers and sisters, under a great cloud of witnesses, and with its destination being in glory. Jesus has ransomed us, redeemed us, enlisted us, and empowered us to serve him. y l i m Fa Table Talk GOD’S TRUTH January 26, 2020 Christ descended to raise us up so we could serve to raise up others Key Verse Family Discussion ?s “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45 (ESV) 1. Do you like to play board games? Card games? Field games or the like? To win, what do you need to earn? What position do you need to possess? Are you most satisfied when you are the winner of the game, the best on the team, top in your class? By whose standard do we strive for these positions? 2. Is earning the most points and being in first place the way Jesus describes success? Is, “Work your way to the top!” a godly goal? How is the world’s view of success different than God’s? What should our goals look like to be successful Christians? 3. Who should we most want to please? ING AD TABLE RE Go d’s ther into r u f s id r k Lead yo u Word... ; s 6:19-20 rinthian o C 1 ; 5 43-4 k 10:31, 2. Mar -8 ns 2:3-10 nians 2:4 Philippia Thessalo 1 ; 8 :3 ans 8 3. Ro m Scripture Memory: Mark 10:31 “And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” - Deuteronomy 6:6-9 (ESV) www.pillarhoodriver.org