Mark 10:35-45

So, You Wanna Be Great?

Good morning! We have been studying the book of Mark: it’s a book written by a disciple, about discipleship, for us disciples.

And, today’s passage is about greatness. How many of us want to be great at what we do? Don’t we all. I mean, if we are going to put effort into something, we want to make sure its worth our time.

If you are a student, you want to use the intelligence that God has given you to get the best grades you can get, maybe even be the best in your class, to go on and get a great job. If you are working, you want to use the gifts that God has given you to be a productive part of society and do the best you can and maybe get recognized with a promotion.

But, how do we become a great Christian? Well today, we are going to find out. So, please turn with me to Mark 10 and follow along as brother Robert reads verses 35 to 45: 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.” 36 And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” 37 And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” 38 Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” 39 And they said to him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, 40 but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” 41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. 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.”

Let’s review for a minute. Earlier in Mark 10, Jesus said to let the little children come to Him. And, here in today’s passage, the Apostles James and John are acting like little children.

In verses 35-37, they say: “do for us whatever we ask.” Then Jesus says “what do you want me to do for you?” They basically reply with “we want to sit right next to you, we want to be first, we want to be great.” Now, they are asking the right person because Jesus was great at everything He did. He was perfect at everything He did.

But, just a few verses back, the rich young ruler thought he was great, but Jesus said that the first will be last and the last will be first. Evidently, these two just aren’t getting it.

Like, not at all. James and John seem to be jockeying for the pole position. Their motive for these positions of sitting at the right hand and the left hand of Jesus don’t seem to be to make sure that Jesus is waited on hand and foot.

And, just last week, Jesus is telling them in specific detail how He is about to lay down His life for these two. And, their reply is all about themselves.

In verses 38-40, Jesus explains to them that, once again, it’s not about them. They think they knew what they were asking for. You see, Jesus knows what it takes to sit up on the throne of glory because He is about to do it. He is about to lay down His life, and in the process be mocked and spit on and flogged in doing so. And, then Jesus asks the two if they are able to do that. And, they man up and say “WE ARE”. And, Jesus agrees that they will suffer for His’ sake.

Now, in verse 41, the other 10 disciples have had just about enough of James and John. The reaction of the other disciples is that they began to be indignant, which is the same term used for Jesus when the disciples stopped the children from coming to Him. Indignant means that the other 10 disciples were getting angry at something unjust. So, the other ten disciples knew that the motives of James and John were selfish.

Then, in verse 42, Jesus calls the disciples to Himself and explains how the world views greatness. Non-Christians view greatness by climbing the ladder and getting to the top rung and looking down on everybody else. They can’t let other people out-do them! The motivation of a non Christians to be great by getting a better job, driving a better car, having a nicer house. And, then once they get that, they are looking to get the next upgrade to feel better about themselves as they lord it over others.

Can I be fully transparent for a minute? I’m guilty of desiring to have a large cadre of friends with connections. You see, just because my sin is not overt, like showing off a mansion or a Maserati, it’s still a wrong motivation. It would be okay if I used that cadre to connect people to meet needs, but that is what the Church Body is for. My motivation is to get the best seats to the Ohio State Michigan game.

Here is what we need to ask ourselves: Are we giving our lives to Christ or are we just looking for the pole position? Do we want to be great in our own eyes or do we want to be great in the eyes of the living God?

In verses 43-45, Jesus tells us how He views greatness. And, Jesus is saying that how the world views greatness and how Jesus views greatness, it is incompatible. And, the world’s view of greatness will NOT BE SO AMONG YOU.

You see Jesus is saying to these disciples, that to be a great Christian, the way up to the pole position, is actually to go down, in the same manner that Jesus came down from Heaven to give His life away. That the way to find greatness in this life is to seek the happiness of others and to have eternal life, you need to give your life away.

In Paul’s letter to the Philippians 2:3–11 we’re told:

English Standard Version Chapter 2

3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Please don’t misunderstand me brothers and sisters. Don’t bury the talents that the Lord has given you! If you can get the best education you can get, then get it. Celebrate that promotion. Get a nicer house or car.

But, keep in mind that it will not define you as a Christian. In the Christian life, greatness is found in serving and giving away your life. But, wow, doesn’t that go against how the world thinks and acts today?

In verse 43, Jesus tells His disciples that if they want to be great, then they must be a servant. Then in verse 44, Jesus says if you want to be first, you must be a slave. Well, a servant’s time is owned to meet the needs of the person who paid for their time. And, a slave is completely owned to do the will of the person who bought them. And, notice that Jesus uses the word MUST. This means that Jesus is saying if you want to be a great Christian, and if you want to be first, being a servant and a slave is NOT optional, it is a MUST, it’s mandatory.

If you’re a Christian, Jesus owns you and in verse 45 He says that He didn’t come to earth to be served, but rather to serve AND to give his life as a ransom for many.

When you became a Christian did you just want Jesus to boost some things in your life the way James and John wanted to be boosted to the top? I mean, we all just want to do our own thing, don’t we? We want to be our own person. We don’t want to be told how to live our lives!

In Galatians 5:13, the Apostle Paul tells us: “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.”

So, to be a great Christian, we need to serve one another! What does that look like? It is: UNCOMPLICATED, UNANNOUNCED, UNSELECTIVE.

Serving one another is UNCOMPLICATED. It’s simple. You see a need meet it. The Lord’s given you gifts to be great, use them. But, you can also be a great Christian by meeting a need that doesn’t match your gifts. I was told that my gifts are on full display in areas that don’t require much sweat or heavy lifting and are located in climate controlled rooms.

Like everything else in life, we can look to Jesus for the example of being uncomplicated: Jesus was qualified to do miracles like heal people and raise people from the dead, yet He is washing His disciples feet when there was no slave around at the last supper.

Just when you think you won’t be able to meet a need, remember that 2 Chronicles 16:9 tells us “The Lord will strengthen those who are faithful to Him.”

Serving one another is UNANNOUNCED. It’s done in secret. If you’re serving to post what you did on your social media account, then you are no different than what James and John are doing. You don’t need to be only looking for service that is prestigious, fun or flashy. Always ask yourself about your motive? Is it being done so people can compliment you and verbally seat you at Jesus’ right and left side?

William Carey was a Baptist missionary mainly to India. He is known as the Father of the modern missionary movement. He was a Bible translator and inspired many people to become missionaries and the Lord used Carey to bring many people to Christ. You can google him and find out numerous facts about William Carey, you can even learn about the number of schools that were founded because of him.

But, the amazing thing that you may not know about William Carey is his sister, Polly Carey. Polly Carey was an invalid her entire 52 years on earth. While William Carey labored in India, back home Polly Carey prayed for her brother and had friends prop her up so she could write inspiring letters encouraging her brother and those the Lord raised up through him.

She prayed for the translation of the Word. She prayed for the new converts. She prayed they would grow in favor with God and men. She prayed they would learn how to rejoice in everything. She prayed they would live in forgiveness. She prayed they would be rooted and grounded in love. She prayed for William and the Lord’s ministry through her brother.

You see service for the Lord doesn’t necessarily need to be seen by everyone. The Lord sees it and that’s all that matters! This request by James and John, they want to be seen.

In the Gospel of Matthew 6:1-4, Jesus tells us to:

English Standard Version Chapter 6

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

2 “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Finally, serving one another is UNSELECTIVE. We don’t pick and choose who were are to serve. We serve whomever the Lord places in our path. Remember when Jesus said to love your enemies. Well, we can love our enemies by serving them well without distinction. In verse 44, Jesus says that we must be a “slave of all”. What does that look like? Well, when Jesus washed the feet of the disciples, Judas’ two feet were among those.

When we only serve who we want, it’s called a clique. Being part of a clique shows that we are insecure, when we need to be secure in Christ.

A church can become full of individual cliques when we are selective. If I only hang out with people like me, it feeds my insecurities and feeds my pride.

Remember what Jesus said in Luke 6:32-36:

English Standard Version Chapter 6

If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

So, Jesus set the pattern of what service looks like: it’s UNCOMPLICATED, UNANNOUNCED and UNSELECTIVE.

Here comes a difficult question: How do we prevent ourselves from serving out of sense of GUILT or OBLIGATION?

Guilt means that you are serving by thinking in the back of your mind that Jesus has done so much for me, so what am I going to do for Him? Obligation means that you are not serving with joy.

Well, if we have an endless stream of cash flowing into our control, isn’t it is easy for us to give away cash? So, is it possible to get an endless stream of love to motivate us enough to where loving service is just flowing out of us?

Yes there is. Brothers and sisters, we need to understand this simple concept: you need to love Jesus. In verse 44, Jesus said that He gave away His life as a ransom. Kidnappers have ransoms. It is a payment that is demanded for the release of a person held captive. You and I were held captive by our sins. The enemy held us in his grip and would not let go until Jesus gave His life on the cross and said “it is finished” the ransom was paid in full.

So, to experience this endless stream of love, you need to realize the cost that was paid on our behalf. It was too great for us to pay ourselves. It’s like being held hostage and for our release it will cost the life of another person, but that person MUST be a sinless person. Jesus is that Person. Jesus was the perfect sacrifice required for our payment.

TO BE GREAT, YOU NEED TO LOVE JESUS. And if you love Jesus, you will live a life which reflects that of a servant.

You heard people say that if you love your job, you will never work another day in your life. Well, if you love Jesus, serving others will become your life. It’s just like serving your kids because you love them. You didn’t leave them in dirty diapers when they were infants and you sure didn’t walk around spilled milk on the floor. Love motivates us to service.

Guilt and obligation will not change us. Our affections change us. Our affections actually transform us. It’s like a person who doesn’t really care about how they look, until they find a person they really want to be with. When your affection toward Jesus changes, so will your obedient service. Do you love Jesus? If you do, He will transform you.

Brothers and sisters, God’s spoken Word is not just written so we can enjoy history. God’s spoken Word applies to all of us, not just those around the world in full time ministry. Jesus owns all of us, which means He owns our lives and the time that makes up our lives.

But, time is our most important resource, isn’t it? Because it can’t be replaced. And, how we use our time here on earth speaks volumes about who we belong to.

And, brothers and sisters, the Bible is clear: We are all called to share the gospel. We are all called to pray. We are all called to counsel. We are all called to comfort. We are all called to go to hospitals to visit those who are sick or hurting. Being a servant is the responsibility of each and every one of us!

Think about this for a minute. God spoke this world into existence. Then he created man. Then, Jesus stepped into His creation not to be served by His creation, but rather to serve His creation! And, then to voluntarily give up his life and be murdered by being nailed to a cross as a ransom, to pay for us because we were in bondage to sin, so we can enjoy eternal life and live with Him forever in glory.

So, let’s not have a faulty notion of what salvation really is: you can’t say that Jesus is your Savior and rescued you and ushered you into the kingdom of God, but you don’t have to have Him as Lord of your life. You can’t just ask Jesus for salvation and then not give Him your obedience. Do you really believe in Jesus if you don’t really follow His example of service?

If you claim to be a Christian, and you put your faith and trust in Jesus and what He did on the cross, then you are a follower of Jesus. And, if you are a follower of Jesus, then you are to serve and not be served. And, the way we serve the Lord is by serving one another.

Brothers and sisters, we are not slaves building pyramids for dead pharaohs! We are actively serving a living God!

So, ask yourself this question today: are you a great Christian? Are you Jesus’ servant? When you are called home, will Jesus say, “well done my good and faithful servant. Come and see the place that I’ve prepared for you”?

Let’s close in prayer: Lord Jesus thank you for showing us the Truth in your Word. Grant us the opportunity to exercise our faith and affect our personal wants and desires, Lord, that we may respond to Your calling of us to serve You. Come Holy Spirit and change our hearts in a mighty way, so that when we make decisions, those decisions would all be always centered around You. Lord, please help us to not just go through the motions of being a Christian. Allow us to see you as wonderful and as awesome as You are! Allow us to love you more than anything else Lord. Allow the things of this world to lose its lustre and allow us to love You the most. And, we pray this in Jesus’ precious, holy and powerful name. Amen.