GENEROUS: LIVING TO GIVE - MARK 10:45

Christian Standard Bible (Chapter 10) -SUFFERING AND SERVICE

35 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, approached him and said, “Teacher, we want you to do whatever we ask you.” 36 “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked them. 37 They answered him, “Allow us to sit at your right and at your left in your glory.” 38 Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you’re asking. Are you able to drink the cup I drink or to be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” 39 “We are able,” they told him. Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink, and you will be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with. 40 But to sit at my right or left is not mine to give; instead, it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” 41 When the ten disciples heard this, they began to be indignant with James and John. 42 Jesus called them over and said to them, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions act as tyrants over them. 43 But it is not so among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you will be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first among you will be a slave to all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”,

BIG IDEA: JESUS GAVE SO THAT WE MIGHT GIVE!

DO YOU BELIEVE YOU ARE A GENEROUS PERSON? MOST PEOPLE WOULD ANSWER A RESOUNDING, “YES,” AND THEN COMMENCE TO PRONOUNCE ALL OF THE WAYS THEY HAVE DONE STUFF FOR OTHERS...

THIS IS FAIR, BECAUSE IN ESSENCE, THIS IS WHAT GENEROSITY IS...

FOR THE SAKE OF THIS SERIES, I’D LIKE US TO DIG A LITTLE DEEPER INTO THIS CONCEPT...

YOU SEE, I CONDUCTED A SIMPLE WORD STUDY OF GENEROSITY, AND DISCOVERED IT HAD ROOTS IN THE WORD “GOOD” OR “GOODNESS.”

The word “goodness” is the Greek word agathusune, which comes from the word agathos, meaning good. But when agathos becomes the word agathusune, it means goodness in the sense of being good to someone. This word was used to portray a person who is generous, big-hearted, liberal, and charitable with his finances. We would call this person a giver. -RICK RENNER

AWWW, BELOVED THIS WORD (GOODNESS), WHICH IS DOCUMENTED AS A FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT, WAS USED TO DESCRIBED JESUS, AS HE MINISTERED THROUGHOUT ALL OF THE GOSPELS: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how he went about doing good and healing all who were under the tyranny of the devil, because God was with him.(acts 10:38)...

YES, THE EMPHASIS IS UPON JESUS’ SUPERNATURAL WORK, AND YET THERE IS AN INFERENCE UPON THE “DOING GOOD,” WHICH IS THE WORK OF GENEROSITY… JESUS ALSO RAISED RESOURCES, WHICH WERE USED TO MINISTER TO THE PRACTICAL NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE...

SO, BELOVED, THE PURPOSE OF TODAY’S MESSAGE IS TO PRAYERFULLY HELP ALL OF US GET THERE… GET TO THE PLACE WHERE WE LIVE TO “DO GOOD” - TO BE GOOD TO SOMEONE ELSE…GENEROUS!

TODAY’S FOUNDATIONAL PASSAGE FOR THIS SERIES HAS LED US TO MARK 10:45. REMEMBER, I’M ATTEMPTING TO PINPOINT MY MESSAGES TO FOCUS UPON ONE VERSE (NOT JUST TO SHORTEN MY SERMONS, BUT TO CLARIFY MY SERMONS)....

THIS VERSE (MARK 10:45) IS SAID TO BE THE MOTTO TEXT OF ALL OF MARK…IT’S THE CENTRAL THEMATIC VERSE THAT CAPTURES THE ESSENCE OF THE SUFFERING SERVANT - JESUS CHRIST, WHO CAME TO GIVE…IT’S THE CLIMAX - THE KEY VERSE OF MARK…BUT HOW DID JESUS GET HERE? WHAT LED HIM TO DECLARE: FOR EVEN THE SON OF MAN DID NOT COME TO BE SERVED, BUT TO SERVE, AND TO GIVE HIS LIFE AS A RANSOM FOR MANY…

WE GET TO VERSE 45 AS A RESULT OF A QUESTION ABOUT POWER AND AUTHORITY:

Christian Standard Bible (Chapter 10)

35 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, approached him and said, “Teacher, we want you to do whatever we ask you.”36 “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked them.37 They answered him, “Allow us to sit at your right and at your left in your glory.” 38 Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you’re asking. Are you able to drink the cup I drink or to be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”39 “We are able,” they told him.Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink, and you will be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with. 40 But to sit at my right or left is not mine to give; instead, it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”41 When the ten disciples heard this, they began to be indignant with James and John.

AS THEY HOPED FOR JESUS’ MESSIANIC KINGDOM TO BE ESTABLISHED, THEY WERE JOCKING FOR POSITION:

OUR DESIRE FOR POSITION AND POWER WILL ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR DESIRE TO SERVE!

NOW GENEALOGICALLY, IT’S POSSIBLE THAT JAMES AND JOHN WERE JESUS’ FIRST COUSINS! SO, THEY CAME TO JESUS PRIVATELY, AND ESSENTIALLY SAID, “YO SON (SON OF GOD, THAT IS), HOOK US UP!”

TO SIT AT THE RIGHT HAND IS THE HIGHEST HONOR - THE GREATEST PLACE OF INFLUENCE. SO THEY WEREN’T JUST SAYING, “PUT US DOWN!” THEY WERE SAYING, “PLACE US HIGH!”

AS THIS PRIVATE CONVERSATION CONTINUED, JESUS REPLIES, “YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU’RE ASKING…"

38 Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you’re asking. Are you able to drink the cup I drink or to be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”39 “We are able,” they told him.Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink, and you will be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with. 40 But to sit at my right or left is not mine to give; instead, it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”

NOW I WANT YOU TO FOLLOW THE FLOW OF THE TEXT: WE HAVE A PRIVATE REQUEST FOLLOWED BY A PRIVATE REBUKE:

JESUS INFORMS THEM THAT THEY’VE MISUNDERSTOOD THE COMING EVENTS: DESPITE HIS TEACHING ON HIS DEATH, BURIAL, AND RESURRECTION, THE DISCIPLES STILL MISUNDERSTOOD!

JESUS WANTS THEM TO UNDERSTAND THAT “PAIN COMES WITH POSITION!”

THESE METAPHORS OF “CUP” AND “BAPTISM” BOTH SYMBOLIZE “SUFFERING WITH A PURPOSE:”

(((((SKIP SECTION)))))

IN THE OT “CUP” SYMBOLIZED THE WRATH OF GOD: 7 for God is the Judge:

He brings down one and exalts another.

8 For there is a cup in the Lord’s hand,

full of wine blended with spices, and he pours from it.

All the wicked of the earth will drink,

draining it to the dregs.

JESUS WOULD PRAY ABOUT THIS “CUP” IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE:

MATT. 26:36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he told the disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 Taking along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 He said to them, “I am deeply grieved to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake with me.” 39 Going a little farther, he fell facedown and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

40 Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. He asked Peter, “So, couldn’t you stay awake with me one hour? 41 Stay awake and pray, so that you won’t enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

42 Again, a second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 And he came again and found them sleeping, because they could not keep their eyes open.

44 After leaving them, he went away again and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more.

THEY WANTED TO SIT AT HIS RIGHT AND LEFT HAND, BUT COULDN’T EVEN STAY AWAKE WHILE HE PRAYED… “PAIN COMES WITH POSITION!”

IN THE SAME MANNER, TO BE “BAPTIZED” MEANT TO BE OVERWHELMED BY CALAMITY - TO BE OVERCOME BY DEATH…

NOW JESUS DECLARES, “YES, YOU’RE GOING TO “GO THROUGH” LIKE I “GO THROUGH,” BUT POSITIONS, POWER, AND PLACEMENTS ARE DISTRIBUTED BY THE FATHER, SOOOOO….

40 But to sit at my right or left is not mine to give; instead, it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”

WE HAVE A PRIVATE REQUEST (WHICH WAS DENIED) - A PRIVATE REBUKE, AND NOW WE HAVE PUBLIC RAGE!!

41 When the ten disciples heard this, they began to be indignant with James and John.

WE CAN INTIMATE FROM THE TEXT THAT THE OTHER DISCIPLES WERE INDIGNANT (ENRAGED), NOT BECAUSE OF JAMES AND JOHN’S REQUEST, BUT BECAUSE JAMES AND JOHN BEAT THEM TO THE PUNCH!!!

This jealous reaction indicates that they also harbored those selfish ambitions.

THE FINAL PIECE TO THIS SERVANT PUZZLE IS A PUBLIC REDIRECTION:

WE HAVE A PRIVATE REQUEST (WHICH WAS DENIED) - A PRIVATE REBUKE, PUBLIC RAGE!!!

42 Jesus called them over and said to them, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions act as tyrants over them. 43 But it is not so among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you will be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first among you will be a slave to all.

A PUBLIC REDIRECTION: JESUS CALLS THEM ALL TOGETHER. NO MORE PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS - JESUS HAS TO GET THEM BACK ON THE SAME PAGE - HE HAS TO REDIRECT THEM FROM THEIR MISGUIDEDNESS:

I’VE TAUGHT THIS TEXT MULTIPLE TIMES, BUT I THINK I’VE FINALLY GOTTEN THE GIST OF JESUS’ REDIRECTION:

The contrast is not between two ways of LEADING but between LEADING (good or bad) and serving.

JESUS IS SAYING, “STOP LOOKING FOR A TITLE, AND PICK UP A TOWEL!”

DON’T LEAD WITH FEAR!

DON’T LEAD WITH POWER!

LEAD BY SERVING: GET IN LINE TO SERVE!

THIS IS HOW WE GET TO VERSE 45…THE VERY MEN JESUS CHOSE TO BE HEIRS HAD BECOME CONSUMED WITH POSSESSING TITLES AND POWER AND AUTHORITY…THEY DIDN’T WANT TO SERVE. THEY WANTED TO BE SEEN!

AND AS I’VE PREACHED MULTIPLE TIMES, IT COMES DOWN TO MOTIVES…YES: WHY DO YOU DO WHAT YOU DO?

REMEMBER, WE’RE LAYING A FOUNDATION FOR GENEROSITY - FOR DOING GOOD - FOR BEING GOOD TO SOMEONE...

VERSE 45 HAS JESUS DECLARING:

EVEN ME!

I DID NOT COME FOR ME...

MY PURPOSES ARE NOT SELF-SERVING IN ANY MANNER...

I AM THE SON OF MAN, AND YET MY PURSUIT IS NOT FOR ME, BUT IT IS FOR YOU!!!

GENEROSITY BEGINS WITH SURRENDER!!!

JESUS (IN THIS ONE VERSE) IS SUMMING UP HIS MISSION TO EARTH - SURRENDER...

HE SURRENDERED HIS RIGHTS - HIS HEAVENLY PRESENCE...

PAUL IN PHILIPPIANS DECLARES: HE EMPTIED HIMSELF...

BELOVED, THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF GENEROSITY - TO WILLINGLY SURRENDER ONESELF SO THAT THE CONCERNS AND NEEDS OF OTHERS CAN BE FULFILLED…WOW!

THIS GOES AGAINST WHAT THE CULTURE TEACHERS, AND UNFORTUNATELY, WHAT MANY CHURCHES TEACH!

WE HAVE BECOME SELF-SERVING - SELF-CENTERED - SELF-PROMOTING…(OBSESSED WITH SELFIES), WHEN JESUS CALLS US TO BE SURRENDERED!

God is ready to assume full responsibility for the life wholly yielded to Him.

Andrew Murray.

HERE IT IS: GET OUT OF YOUR OWN WAY!!!

TO SURRENDER IS TO REMOVE THE HINDRANCE OF SELF…GET OUT OF YOUR WAY...

SO OFTEN, WE’RE PROMPTED TO DO SOMETHING - ANYTHING - FOR SOMEONE.

BUT WE GET IN OUR OWN WAY…SURRENDER!

AGAIN, THIS IS FOUNDATIONAL…THIS DOESN’T MEAN TO HELP EVERYONE YOU MEET. THAT IS UNPRODUCTIVE AND POOR STEWARDSHIP!

BUT DON’T ALLOW YOURSELF TO CONVINCE YOURSELF THAT YOU CAN’T HELP ANYONE!

GENEROSITY BEGINS WITH SURRENDER...

GENEROSITY REQUIRES SERVICE!

THIS IS THE SEASON OF OUTSOURCING: WHERE WE DELEGATE SERVICE TO OTHER FOLK...

REMEMBER, THE DISCIPLES WANTED TO SIT AT JESUS’ RIGHT HAND, NOT TO SERVE AT HIS RIGHT HAND!

THERE IS ALWAYS A TEMPTATION FOR US TO BE SERVED AND NOT TO SERVE! - The world will estimate your importance by the number of people serving you. God is more concerned with the number of people you are serving.

JESUS’ PRIMARY PURPOSE FOR COMING (IN HIS OWN WORDS) WAS TO SERVE…TO DO GOOD!

DO NOT GET ME WRONG: WRITING CHECKS IS GOOD. SEWING SEED IS GREAT. SHOWING UP IS BEST!

MY MOTHER HAS NEVER HAD A LOT, BECAUSE SHE’S NEVER REQUIRED A LOT…NEVER LIKES A BUNCH OF FUSS…BUT, SHE HAS ALWAYS BEEN SERIOUS ABOUT SERVICE. GROWING UP, I WOULD ALWAYS SHARE A PLACE AT OUR TABLE WITH SOMEONE IN NEED…ALWAYS!

IT WOULD ALMOST BECOME A GAME: GUESS WHO’S COMING FOR DINNER...

BUT SHE DIDN’T STOP THERE: SHE ORGANIZED A HOMELESS FEEDING MINISTRY THAT SERVED OVER 100 PEOPLE WEEKLY...

ONE DAY WE HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT THOSE SHE SERVED, AND SHE SPOKE OF THE WELL-EDUCATED MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAD SIMPLY FALLEN ON HARD TIMES. HOW THEY SIMPLY NEEDED A LITTLE ENCOURAGEMENT…(((THOSE ARE SOMEBODY’S CHILDREN OUT THERE)))!

GENEROSITY REQUIRES SERVICE...

JESUS DIDN’T SEND, BUT WAS SENT! HE CAME TO GET DIRTY - TO SERVE - TO MINISTER - TO DO GOOD...

HERE IT IS YALL: GET IN THE GAME!

WHEN WE LIMIT GENEROSITY TO OUR FINANCES, WE WILL EITHER ATTEMPT TO BUY OUR WAY OUT OF SERVING OR OPT OUT DUE TO A LACK OF RESOURCES...

GENEROSITY REQUIRES SERVICE!!!

YOU CAN BE BROKE AND SERVE!!! GET IN THE GAME!

AND I SUBMIT TO YOU, THAT YOUR WILLINGNESS TO GET IN THE GAME - TO SERVE - TO DO GOOD WILL BE A DOWNPAYMENT TOWARDS A BLESSING! NOW WE DON’T DO IT TO GET! BUT THERE IS A SPIRITUAL PRINCIPLE THAT AFFIRMS OUR SEED SEWN WILL YIELD DIVIDENDS...

ILLUS:

GENEROSITY BEGINS WITH SURRENDER.

GENEROSITY REQUIRES SERVICE...

FINALLY:

GENEROSITY INVOLVES SACRIFICE!

JESUS GAVE HIS LIFE AS A RANSOM - AS PAYMENT - FOR MANY! IT COSTS!!!

SOMETHING HAS TO DIE!

RANSOM IS A TRANSACTIONAL TERM. PAYMENT IS BEING MADE FOR SOMEONE ELSE’S FREEDOM.

EVEN IN JESUS DEATH, RESOURCES ARE AT PLAY.

THIS IS SACRIFICE. IT’LL COST YOU SOMETHING TO BE GENEROUS...

WE CAN’T GET OUT WHAT WE’RE NOT WILLING TO PUT IN...

SURRENDER: I GIVE UP

SERVICE: I’LL GET IT DONE.

SACRIFICE: I’LL GIVE IT TO HIM.

It is said that Cyrus, the founder of the Persian Empire, once had captured a prince and his family. When they came before him, the monarch asked the prisoner, "What will you give me if I release you?" "The half of my wealth," was his reply. "And if I release your children?" "Everything I possess." "And if I release your wife?" "Your Majesty, I will give myself." Cyrus was so moved by his devotion that he freed them all. As they returned home, the prince said to his wife, "Wasn't Cyrus a handsome man!" With a look of deep love for her husband, she said to him, "I didn't notice. I could only keep my eyes on you- -the one who was willing to give himself for me."