Jesus, Servant Leadership
The Suffering Servant • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction
Introduction
I know it must come as a big surprise that we are continuing our study in the Gospel of Mark. So if you want to get ready, go ahead and turn in your Bibles to Mark chapter 10.
Beginning with our passage today, Jesus sets His path towards the Crucifixion. You might remember where we left Jesus. He and His disciples were somewhere in the regions of Perea or Judea moving back and forth on both sides of the Jordan River, but they had not yet come to the city of Jericho.
When we come to our passage today, we read:
They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him.
The disciples and the others following them are filled with emotions as Jesus begins to lead them to Jerusalem.
There are four things we want to notice in this verse.
First, as they head towards Jerusalem Jesus is leading the way—a traditional Rabbi would lead from the front. This may have indicated His determination.
As they travel, the disciples are “astonished” Gk—amazed or surprised. They are amazed that Jesus is leading them towards Jerusalem.
The rest of the crowd is afraid—same Gk word translated terrified (Mk 6:50)—The people may be afraid because Jesus has told them what was going to happen to Him at the hands of the religious leaders.
On that point—this is the third time Jesus has talked about what was going to happen. He talked about it the first time in Mark 8:31, the second time in Mark 9:31, and now today we’re looking at the third time.
Jesus Predicts His Death
Jesus Predicts His Death
The last part of verse 32 says, “Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him.” Now in verse 33, Jesus begins to explain in plane clear terms:
“We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.”
The Son of Man—the way Jesus refers to Himself—will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law—scribes.
He will be condemned to death.
He will be handed over to the Gentiles who will:
Will mock Him
Will spit on Him
Will flog Him
And will kill Him.
But three days later the Son of Man will rise from the dead!
To put it mildly, Jesus could NOT have said things any planer. So the disciples’ worst fears are being predicted!
Yet, the disciples still don’t get it! My human logic would says, “Don’t go to Jerusalem.” But, the disciples do not understand that going to the cross is actually Jesus’ purpose!
James & John Have A Request
James & John Have A Request
Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.
James and John move close to Jesus and ask Him to do whatever they ask of Him. Jesus doesn’t agree to their request, but does ask what they want Him to do.
They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”
Can you believe it? They just heard Jesus tell them that someone was going to betray Him. He was going to be tried, and condemned to die. He was going to be handed over to the Gentiles and they are going to mock Him, spit on Him, flog Him, and kill Him. And now these two ask Jesus to give them special position when He is in His glory.
It sure seems like at least two the disciples are not understanding what Jesus is saying—and these are two of Jesus’ closest disciples!
Look at Jesus’ response.
“You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”
First, you don’t know what you are asking!
Second, “Can you drink of the cup I drink? or be baptized with the baptism I am baptised with?
Look at their response to Jesus! Honestly, I cannot believe the brash response that James and John give.
“We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”
James and John believe they can (and will) follow Jesus no matter what! But Jesus has two things to say to them.
First, they will drink of the cup Jesus will drink, and they will be baptized with the baptism that Jesus is baptized with.
But it is NOT for him to grant them the ability to sit on His right and left.
As you might guess, when the other ten heard what James and John had asked of Jesus, well, they weren’t happy. Look at verse 41.
When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John.
The others are indignant—Gk angry! So Jesus does a bit of “damage control.”
Servant Leader
Servant Leader
Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.
Jesus gets the disciples together and begins to teach them:
You know that the Gentile rulers rule (with an iron hand) over the people.
The high Gentile officials show off their authority over others.
KEY—It should NOT be that way with the disciples.
Instead, the greats in Jesus’ hierarchy are servants—“diakonos” which is the same word that we get the office of deacon. It can mean: servant, minister, deacon, or messenger.
Whoever wants to be first in the kingdom must be the slave— “doulos” which is a slave by choice, but denotes subservience. They must be subservient to all.
Jesus is the perfect example of someone being a diakonos of others, and a doulos of all. And Jesus reminds His disciples that this is His purpose.
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.”
Now to drive the point home, Mark gives us a demonstration by Jesus preforming a miracle.
Blind Bartimaeus
Blind Bartimaeus
Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
So Jesus and His disciples come to Jericho, and as they, Jesus and His disciples are leaving the city; a large crowd are now following. As this large group leaves the city, there is a beggar. It was not uncommon for beggars to line the road and beg for small gifts to survive. One beggar hears the commotion and begins to ask what is going on. He can’t see what is going on because he is blind! So he begins to ask those around him, what’s going on, and they tell him that Jesus of Nazareth is coming down the road.
Bartimaeus has obviously heard of Jesus. He had heard of the miracles that this Rabbi had done. And he would love to have a miracle in his life! So he begins to cry out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Look at the next verse.
Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
As he cries out, everyone around him begins to tell him to “shut-up!” But he didn’t! He began to yell all the louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
I love Jesus’ response.
Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.”
When Jesus hears the man crying out, He stops! The blind man’s consistent crying out—louder and louder moves Jesus! And Jesus STOPS! Jesus stops because this man called out to Him. Crying out for His mercy!
After He stops, Jesus calls for the man to come to him.
The people around Bartimaeus—most likely the same people who had told him to shut-up—now tell him to cheer up! And they tell him to get up, because the Son of David is calling him.
Now look at this blind man’s response!
Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.
Jumping to his feet, this blind man comes face-to-face with Jesus.
“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”
Jesus ask the man what he wants from Jesus—what is it he wants Jesus to do for him?
The man’s response may seem obvious, but he tells Jesus, “I want to see.”
I love Jesus’ response. Look at verse 52.
“Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.
Jesus doesn’t touch the man. He doesn’t do anything to the man. And all He says, “Go, your faith has healed you.” All Jesus does is speak to him, and we read, “Immediately”—Gk, at once; right away; instantly—no sooner did Jesus speak the words and the blind Bartimaeus could see!
So What
So What
Do we understand Jesus’ purpose? In our story today, Jesus is heading to Jerusalem—
He is headed to the cross so that He can provide a way for everyone to come to the Father!
He is headed to demonstrated His love for us.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Do you see His purpose for your life?
Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
We need to rejoice in being a servant to all.
Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.
We need to be excited—responsive—when Jesus calls us.
I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
We need “Life Changing” faith.
We live by faith, not by sight.
