Serve Like Jesus
Notes
Transcript
Notes:
Notes:
Youth Group is going great
New Series. Serve. Serve Like Jesus.
Opener:
Opener:
The Preacher’s Notebook: The Collected Quotes, Illustrations, and Prayers of John Stott Billy Graham Will Slow down in Heaven
At Urbana ’76 Billy Graham developed a leg clot. In March 1977 he wrote me: “The clot in my left leg has disappeared, but I still am suffering from an inflammation of a vein, so am on rather heavy medication, plus I must wear the Jobst stockings, and of course as always the doctors say ‘slow down’—which I intend to do in Heaven, the Lord willing!”
Main Text:
Main Text:
32 They were on the road going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking on ahead of them; and they were amazed, and those who followed were fearful. And again He took the twelve aside and began to tell them what was going to happen to Him, 33 saying, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and will hand Him over to the Gentiles. 34 “They will mock Him and spit on Him, and scourge Him and kill Him, and three days later He will rise again.” 35 James and John, the two sons of Zebedee, came up to Jesus, saying, “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 They said to Him, “Grant that we may sit, one on Your right and one on Your left, in Your glory.” 38 But 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 They said to Him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you shall drink; and you shall be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized. 40 “But to sit on My right or on My left, this is not Mine to give; but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” 41 Hearing this, the ten began to feel indignant with James and John. 42 Calling them to Himself, Jesus said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them. 43 “But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; 44 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. 45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
Point 1 | Jesus Came to Die
Point 1 | Jesus Came to Die
Predicts His Death
Predicts His Death
Jesus tells them point blank he is going to die. He is predicting his death and the manner of his death:
33 saying, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and will hand Him over to the Gentiles. 34 “They will mock Him and spit on Him, and scourge Him and kill Him, and three days later He will rise again.”
This is the third time in the Gospel of Mark he has done this! See Mark 8:31 and 9:31. Not only does he predict his death. He predicts His resurrection. This is an audacious thing to say is it not? He is not just some con-man making vague predictions: “You will die”. We will all die. There is no risk in that prediction. But notice the specificity.
Place: Jerusalem.
Who: The chief priests and scribes handing him over to the “Gentiles”.
What: mocking, spitting, scourging, and murdering Him.
If he would have just predicted all of that we could have said, “He was a prophet.”
But of course the most audacious thing he predicts is the humanly impossible: His resurrection.
His arrest, mistreatment, and death would have been enough to vindicate him as a prophet, but his resurrection vindicates much more about Himself. He is much more than prophet.
On a mission to Die
On a mission to Die
To me what is more interesting than the fact that He had such a divine awareness of what was going to happen is the WHY behind it. Notice verse 32 again, “They were on the road going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them.” It’s like He is trying to get himself killed. He is on a mission to die. But Why?
45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
“To give His life a ransom for many.” This is probably an illusion to Isaiah 53:11 where it says, “My servant will justify the many as He will bear their iniquities.” This is actually a very popular verse for new testament authors to reference: Romans 5:19; Hebrews 9:28.
What does that mean to “give His life a ransom for many.”
The word “ransom” here according to Darrell Johnson means to, “release from captivity by payment of price.” Leon Morris argues “this was the common word used in the culture around them to describe someone paying a price to free property from mortgage, animals from slaughter, and people from slavery.”
In the Old Testament this idea was at work to. The firstborn could be redeemed for a price. A Jewish person who had sold themselves into slavery could be redeemed.
Jesus was going to “give His life a ransom for many!” He was going to offer His life [the price] to redeem the many.
God is the one the ransom is paid to. He exiled and sold Israel into bondage for their sin and He is the one who redeems her. In Isaiah 43:14 he is called YHWH their Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. He is both book ends here. While it is true the cross of Christ sets us free from the dominion of the devil it more importantly pardons you from the WRATH of God.
What was the cup Jesus would ultimately drink? It was the cup of the wrath of God against sin. We sometimes are comfortable speaking of someone laying down ones life for another. Because of the Gospel’s influence this has permiated our culture in many ways. You see these redemptive themes woven into stories, movies, books etc. But what makes us uncomfortable is a God who would demand payment for sin. But if we really want to understand the necessity of the cross and thus the LOVE of God we better understand this aspect of the cross.
God is LAW did you know that? Some people reading Paul might come away with the idea that Paul philosophically was opposed to Law. Doesn’t he pit grace against law and spirit against law. He does pit it against the Law as a way for man to earn salvation through obedience to a standard. But if you read carefully even when He is talking about the Spirit for example He will say things like
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.
Did you hear that? The LAW of the Spirit of life.
The cross works to pardon sinners infalibly because it is law. You see if I default on a house payment and the bank comes after me and I beg for mercy and the bank goes okay you know what its okay don’t worry about it.... I may be happy for the moment but what actually stops them from changing their mind. What stops them from going oh no we are in trouble now lets call in everybody who owes us! But you see if someone at the bank doesn’t just go “it’s okay” but instead takes money out their own personal account and pays off my house there is nothing on earth that could cause me to default now. The house is paid for. Its accounts are justly settled.
This is what the cross does. It justly settles our account with God by God. He is the Just and The Justifier! This is why in:
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
You see notice it doesn’t say He is mercificul to forgive. That would actually sound more natural. Just to fogive? Forgiveness is grace isn’t it? But He is just to forgive because the price had already been paid!
Jesus knew what He was doing friends. He was on a mission to serve by becoming the very least. he was going to become the sin bearer. Think of all the times throughout the Gospel Jesus is going “your sins are forgiven”. What He is really saying is “I got it. I will pay the price. I will redeem you. I will ransom you.”
Jesus is more than a helper. You see a helper can be someone stronger or weaker than you. A helper can stand above you and pull you to new heights. God does that to. The Holy Spirit’s ministry really does do that does He not. But to be a servant means to get lower than the person you are serving and push them up. It doesn’t just take kindness it takes humility. And we see this on full display with Christ.
Now I want to say this. Wayne grudem points out that everytime Jesus predicts His suffering and death it is immediartely followed up with discipleship. In other words not only does Jesus say He is going to die. He is saying they, his disciples, are in someway going to follow in His foot steps.
When Peter confesses Jesus as the Son of God and Messiah Jesus then predicts His suffering and death. Peter rebukes Jesus, Lord this will never happen to you. Of course Jesus says the famous words, “Get behind me Satan for you have interest of man and not God.” but if you keep reading he essentially says not only am I going to die so will you! Anyone who wants to be my disciple must deny themselves take up their cross and follow me!
That same thing is happening here.
Point 2 | Imitate His Death
Point 2 | Imitate His Death
Jesus took your place. He paid the price so you wouldn’t have to. He suffered the wrath of God. and if you put faith in Him that grace will be applied to you. But listen to me carefully. Having been a blood bought Christian you are now called to follow Him. To live as He lived. To walk as He walked. And you are called to deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Jesus!
This means you have to serve others just as Christ served you. On the one hand you will never have to do what Christ did. He was the atoning sacrifice for sin that can save your soul. On the other hand, you are called to follow Him, lay down your life, serve others with that very love He has poured out in your hearts!
Lets look closer at our passage:
35 James and John, the two sons of Zebedee, came up to Jesus, saying, “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 They said to Him, “Grant that we may sit, one on Your right and one on Your left, in Your glory.”
In the account in Matthew 20 we learn it was actually their mother that asked the question. In other words they got sweet ol’ mom to do their dirty work for them. This is rotten. It is no wonder it says in verse 41, “the ten began to feel indignant.” They got angry. This is manipulation right? “Do for us whatever we ask of you.” Their interests was in themselves.
It is kind of funny though. Did they really think this was going to work. This is like calling dibs or shotgun on the passenger seat for a road trip. I don’t think that works with the Kingdom of God sons of Zebedee.
But here is the thing even though they had selfish ambition Jesus did not. And in fact they were not only blind by trying to put themselves first. They were viying for power and control. They wanted to RULE. They were also blind to the nature of Jesus’ mission. and I love Jesus response?
38 But 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?”
Do you really want to be on my right and on my left? Because those two guys were on crosses as well. Do you really want to drink my cup? Because my cup is a cross. My baptism is a death. I’ve not only come to serve but to do it unto death. On the one hand no one can drink His cup and no one can receive His baptism. Because only He is the atoning sin offering. Only His shoulders are that big.
But on the other Jesus doesn’t leave this with just being a rebuke. He doesn’t leave it hear. He actually says my cross is your example to follow. You see the Christian isn’t just called to imitate His life… you are called to imitate His death!
39 They said to Him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you shall drink; and you shall be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized.
Jesus is consistent with this message throughout the Bible:
34 And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. 35 “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.
18 Now when Jesus saw a crowd around Him, He gave orders to depart to the other side of the sea. 19 Then a scribe came and said to Him, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.” 20 Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” 21 Another of the disciples said to Him, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.” 22 But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and allow the dead to bury their own dead.”
37 “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 “And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 “He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.
Self denial, self denial, self denial.... is at the heart of this. Putting God and others first. Christ died for us while we were yet sinners. He wasn’t doing his freind a favor. He was laying down His life for His enemy. It was pure, undefiled, unyielding LOVE. If Jesus was just concerend with His own self interests He would have stayed in the Glory He had before the world was. He would have just stayed in heaven. The incarnation, him coming down to be among us would be the greatest act of humility ever if He didn’t go further still and lay down His life.
So James and John were selfish. It caused disunity in the group. No doubt the others were so upset by this because they were selfish also. and Jesus calls them together and says:
42 Calling them to Himself, Jesus said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them. 43 “But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; 44 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. 45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
This is still true in our day. People use authority for selfish gain. Now that isn’t socially acceptable in our culture today but it still happens. But there are much more social acceptable ways of saying this that our culture accepts whole sale. Let me read a few to you all:
“love yourself”
“take care of yourself first.”
“make yourself your number one priority”
“Don’t push aside the needs of yourself for the needs of others”
“know that you are enough”
Are there elements of these that can be true. There are. But as a guided philosphy there is not an ounce of truth. If these would have been Jesus motto we would all still be in bondage, captive to or sins.
Using authority for our own personal gain is not the Christian way. Manipulation is not the Christian way. We are called to something more.
----------------------------
Point 3 | Be Slave of all
Point 3 | Be Slave of all
Now it is not enough to NOT have a misconstrued distored worldy, godless worldview. We must have a view that embrace what Jesus teaches right here in Scripture:
43 “But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; 44 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all.
Slave of all. Modern Society loves many principles of the Christian tradition it just wants the cup cake size. It wants a communion cup serving of service.
One eteranlly wise internet sage said this:
“research shows that just two to three hours per week, or about 100 hours a year, can confer the most benefits—to both you and your chosen cause. The important thing is to volunteer only the amount of time that feels comfortable to you. Volunteering should feel like a fun and rewarding hobby, not another chore on your to-do list.”
That is not what Jesus call you to here. There is no way to water this down. This is the call of The Gospel. The call is to serve. The call is poor out your life just as Christ poured out His life.
Paul, the apostle, lived this out:
17 But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all.
In chapter one he said his imprisonment in the cause of Christ have turned out for its greater progress! Then in verses 21 and 22 you see this:
21 For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus. 22 But you know of his proven worth, that he served with me in the furtherance of the gospel like a child serving his father. 23 Therefore I hope to send him immediately, as soon as I see how things go with me; 24 and I trust in the Lord that I myself also will be coming shortly. 25 But I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my need; 26 because he was longing for you all and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick.
In other words His motives were loving God and loving others at the expense of his own well being and will and desire.
Now you might be saying to yourself well thats just Paul. He was special. Paul though tells the Philippians in the same chapter:
to conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel (vs 27) and to strive for its advancement!
he says
29 For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, 30 experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.
Turn to your neighbor and say welcome to the club. This is what it means to be a Christian. We are on mission. and are motives are outside of ourselves.
43 “But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant;
Paul continues this messaging in Philippians 2.
he tells them to regard one another as more important than themselves and to follow Christ example who did that very thing by humbling Himself to the point of death on the cross.
You see Jesus is a good leader. ANd He didn’t just tell us how to live. He lived it Himself. In fact He really became the servant of all. His very life was given for all. In many ways He moved a mountain and he is calling to move a wheelbarrel. But we liev in society that wants us to pick up pebble.
Friends quit listening to this world on how it should tell you to live! It will constantly say its about you, you, you.
I have said this before but I will say it again. the greatest commands are positive injunctions. Love God and Love others. They are not prohibitions. To be a Christian is to be a DOER. To be a Christian is to be a servant of all! It is better to give than to receive. If you lose your life you will find it. The last shall be first!
And Jesus lived this and calls us to come follow him.
45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
The Preacher’s Notebook: The Collected Quotes, Illustrations, and Prayers of John Stott Quotations on Service from History
• Francis Xavier: “Yet more; oh, my God, more toil, more agony; more suffering for Thee.”
• David Brainerd: “I declare, now that I am dying, I would not have spent my life otherwise for the whole world.”
• The Moravians’ Declaration: “God’s place of service for me is my home, not, my home is God’s place of service.”
David Brainerd was a contemperory of Jonathan Edwards, John Wesley, and George Whitfield. Those men influenced millions in their life time. Brainerd led about 47 people from an American Indian tribe in Deleware to faith in Christ half of them children. He died at the age of 29 from an illness. and said this, “I declare, now that I am dying, I would not have spent my life otherwise for the whole world.” He who loses His life for Christ’s sake finds it. He who becomes the servant of all. He biography would be penned by Jonathan Edwards and go on to inspire missionaries like William Carey, David Livingstone, and Jim Elliot.
The Moravians who were led a major evangelistic revival effort around the world. Known for their zeal in evangelism and sacrifice and were respondible for leading John Wesley to true faith in Christ had a declaration: “God’s place of service for me is my home, not, my home is God’s place of service”. In other words having been redeemed by the ONE who came to serve. They understood they were saved for a purpose to serve not to be served. So just as the Son of Man did not come to be served they realized they were not saved to be served. They were on mission.
Harriot Tubman was raised in chattel slavery in Eastern Maryland but she escaped in 1849. The amazing thing about her, as you all probably know, is that she returned 19 times risking her life with at one point a $40,000 reward on her head (which is a ton of money back then). She was never caught. But she credited God for all of this but also in his guidance every step of the way on their journey out of the south. Her motto became, “I can’t die but once.” But she truly lived. He who loses their life for His sake finds it.
I share these stories with you to say while Christ is the ultimate example there have been multitudes of Christians who have responded to His example His call to come and follow Him. Don’t let our modern day soft cutlure set the pace for what it means to live for the Lord Jesus Christ. Follow Him. Believe everything he has to say.
Stand and pray.