The Greatness of Servanthood
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Introduction:
If you have your Bibles let me invite you to open with me to the book of Mark chapter 10…
Lets begin reading in verse 32 and we are going to read all the way to verse 45.
32 And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him, 33 saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. 34 And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.”
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.”
Lets Pray
Following Jesus may mean something very different then what you think it means.
If there is one thing we have learned about Jesus thus far in this Gospel of Mark series it is that Jesus is not necessarily interested in meeting your expectations for him.
He is not interested in conforming to the mold of human opinion, intuition, or presuppositions about him.
The pharisees thought he should act and teach in a certain way.
The disciples thought he should act and teach in a certain way.
The disciples thought he should have particular priorities and values in his ministry.
They had it all mapped out for how the savior of the world should accomplish his purpose.
They had it all mapped out for how the Lord of all should lead his people.
In the Gospel of Mark, The repeated disposition of even Jesus’ closest disciples stands as a warning to us.
You can be very close to the ministry of Jesus....
you can hear very clear teachings of Jesus....
and you can continue on imposing your own opinions of what Jesus should be like rather than listening to what Jesus actually says.
Do not impose on Jesus your own idea of what being a Jesus follower should mean.
Your opinions…, your intuitions…, your presuppositions…, they are all broken.
They are corrupted by the sin within you and they are more influenced by the sinful culture around you then they are influenced by the divine will and words of God.
Jesus gets to set the terms on his own ministry, and on what following him will look like for all Christians and more specifically what following him will look like for you.
Jesus’ teachings were counter cultural.
They ran against the mainstream not with it.
Jesus taught contrary to the culture on marriage and sexuality.... sin and death… wealth and poverty… strength and weakness…, hypocrisy and righteousness.
We do not set the agenda… We follow the agenda setter.
In Mark chapter 10:32, Jesus has very clearly set an agenda that the disciples are uncomfortable with.
32 And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him,
Since Mark chapter 9:30, Jesus has been moving in a particular direction.
And here in verse 32 that direction is clear.
Jesus is described here as “walking ahead“ of his disciples
Imagine a road which leads to the big city of Jerusalem… home of the temple, home of the high priest, and the Sanhedrin, and home to the most influential Pharisees, and Sadducee’s In the world.
and here is Jesus walking down that road ahead of his disciples leading them to this city…
And Mark says that the disciples, trailing behind Jesus… are amazed… in Fact… they are afraid.
They had experienced mild opposition in smaller towns and villages throughout the region, but now they were going to the place of power.
The opposition would be different and certainly more intense in a place like Jerusalem.
The disciples are amazed that Jesus would be leading them in this direction… and they are a little fearful…
they are uncertain what awaits them…. But Jesus is 100% certain Of what awaits him.
33 saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles.
34 And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.”
I think the thing we are supposed to notice in this third prophecy from the lips of Jesus Is the detail with which Jesus describes his future… and the intentionality with which he pursues this end.
It is very obviously Jesus‘ intention to go to Jerusalem, be arrested, condemned, mocked, spit upon, flogged, and killed.
This is not a cosmic accident… it is the plan of God.
If you are a note-taker… I encourage you to write this down.
Truth #1 King Jesus Pursued the Cross
Truth #1 King Jesus Pursued the Cross
Jewish literature and language utilizes repetition as the way in which something is emphasized as supremely important.
This is why the angels circling the throne of God in Isaiah 6 cry out, “Holy, Holy, Holy”
It is the repetition in threes that communicates to the reader that God is perfectly and completely holy.
But here Mark has shown Jesus predicting three times that his plan was crucifixion… he was marching toward the cross… and he was leading his disciples in this direction.
But along the way his disciples refused to take Jesus’ words literally.
They refused to believe that Jesus the most honorable one… could ever die in the worlds most humiliating and shameful way.
Everything they have learned about Jesus thus far has indicated that Jesus deserves the place of highest honor.
He deserves the throne that is above every throne.
From the beginning of the Gospel of Mark his greatness has been put on display for the world to see.
The gospel of Mark begins with these words.
1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
John the Baptist says this about him.
7 And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.
When he was baptized, the skies literally opened up, and the booming voice of God the Father declared this.
11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
From there Jesus began his ministry.
He exercised authority over demons, diseases, disabilities, and death.
When he spoke he taught with unheard of authority.
27 And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.”
Thus far Jesus has shown himself to have authority to forgive sins and promise eternal life.
He has exercised his rule over the wind, and the waves, and the metaphysical world by multiplying bread for thousands.
By all extensive purposes Jesus deserves to sit on the highest throne over all the Earth.
Yet here he is pursuing Roman crucifixion.
In an honor shame culture, this was especially unthinkable…
The shock factor lies within the fact that Jesus would deserve so much honor, yet willingly go to a place of such shame.
In fact, the shocking nature of it is emphasized in Mark 10:45.
I think you could make a pretty good argument for Mark 10:45 being the theme verse for the entire gospel of Mark.
In it you find the shocking paradox that the disciples were struggling to grasp.
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.”
“EVEN” the Son of Man
The title is taken from a prophetic vision described in Daniel 7 which foretold of Jesus’ coming.
13 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.
14 And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.
This is who Jesus was and its what Jesus rightfully deserved.
Jesus came from the clouds of heaven…
He is the King over everything with all dominion, glory, and a kingdom which stretches to all peoples, nations and languages.
He is the King over a Kingdom that will never end or be destroyed.
And he is a King who stepped off of his throne in heaven… and into a broken world… to die the death his rebellious people deserved to die.
Verse 45 says that Jesus came to give his life in this way as a “ransom”
This means that Jesus literally came to pay the price that his sinful subjects deserved to pay.
He purchased you and I back with the price of his own blood.
That is why he came.
That is why he was going up to Jerusalem and walking ahead of his disciples…, leading the way to his own crucifixion.
Truth #1 King Jesus Pursued Crucifixion
Truth #1 King Jesus Pursued Crucifixion
So for a third time in Mark, Jesus articulates his cross-centered intentions.
And for a third time, his disciples show themselves to entirely misunderstand what following Jesus will entail.
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.”
Jesus is walking a head of his disciples... taking his final steps to the city in which he will suffer and die a most painful death…
And his disciples come bee bopping up from the back of the group with a request.
Remember that it was James, John, and Peter whom Jesus had taken up the mountain in Mark chapter 9.
It was James, John, and Peter who saw Jesus transformed before their very eyes. His clothes had become radiant, intensely white,
They knew experientially the extent of Jesus’ glory and power.
And they wanted in on the power,
They wanted a part of the kingly rule to come,
They wanted in on the authority that was to come.
They envisioned a day where Jesus took his place as King of Kings over all the world…. And they were happy with Jesus being center stage….
But they wanted to know how they too could have a seat of glory.
They wanted to know how they could sit at the right hand or at the left hand of the one who reigns as King over all things.
They wanted what all people want.
They wanted power, honor, authority, recognition, and praise.
They wanted greatness with all its benefits.
We can find ourselves rolling our eyes at this point over the foolishness of James and John… but are they not requesting what all people seek?
Jesus comments in verse 42 on the human instinct to grasp for power, authority and glory…, and then to Lord that power over others to their own detriment .
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.
Truth #1 King Jesus Pursued the Cross
Truth #2 Sinners Pursue the Throne
Truth #2 Sinners Pursue the Throne
This is how the world works.
We do the exact opposite of what Jesus was doing.
Jesus’s rightful place was on a throne over the universe… He stepped off a throne he did deserve to take a cross he did not deserve.
WE on the other hand try to climb on to the throne that we do not deserve, and Jesus saves us from the death we do deserve.
People strive for more authority, more power, more influence…,
and then they use that authority, power, and influence to rule over, or lord over others In a way that builds themselves up Even if its at the expense of the people they are ruling over.
Jesus used his authority to be a blessing of salvation to his subjects.
He used his authority to serve.
We use our authority to be served.
We see this in all of life.
We see it in the news right now.
We are watching the power hungry decisions of a Russian dictator ordering the shelling of civilians and imprisoning his own people.
He is using is authority to serve his own purposes at the severe expense of others.
But on a smaller scale we see it in the rule of bad bosses…, abusive spouses…, negligent parents… glory seeking pastors…
We see it in our own hearts as we gossip about someone else so as to make ourselves seem more praiseworthy.
We all want to sit at the place of honor.
We all want to be praised for our greatness.
James and John are asking a very natural question…. Jesus will you place us at the place of honor?
After all, James and John were a part of Jesus’ inner circle.
Jesus had chosen to take them up the mountain to see the transfiguration.
They were among the 12 chosen disciples whom Jesus had handpicked.
they seem to think that This is where all this is going…
They seemed to assume that following Jesus would be the pathway to achieve their own pursuit of their version of greatness.
They seemed to think that Jesus’ version of greatness was their version of greatness.
So rather then listening to Jesus… they projected upon Jesus what they wanted him to do and say.
How often do we do the same?
Have you ever projected upon Jesus what you wanted him to say rather than listening to his word.
so what is Jesus’ response?
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.”
When the disciples asked for glory they did not know what they were asking.
When they asked for a Christ like enthronement they did not understand what that would entail.
Jesus ask them, “Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?”
Jesus was going to drink a cup.
This language was borrowed from the Old Testament. To drink a cup was to take on suffering and judgment.
More specifically Jesus was going to drink the cup of God’s wrath for sin.
He was going to drink down all of God’s hatred of evil.. all of God’s punishment for rebellion… All of the curse of sin..
He was going to be baptized in it.
The word baptize in the Greek literally means to be immersed in something… to be overwhelmed entirely by something.
This was Jesus’ pursuit of crucifixion.
He was about to take on himself the most overwhelming force… God’s wrath on human sin.
He was going to be clothed in a purple robe, but one of mockery that would stick to his bloodied back.
He was going to wear a crown, but one made of thorns
He was going to be high and lifted up, but on to a cross under the inscription… King of the Jews.
The disciples obviously don’t understand the extent of what Jesus is about to do.
Because this is their reply, “we are able”
Now Jesus actually does affirm that they will in fact one day face a similar fate.
We learn in the book of Acts that James was martyred for his faith.
John would later right the book of Revelation after undergoing severe persecution and being exiled to the island of patmos.
They were going to follow the footsteps of their King one day, whether they understood at this point or not… but it would not be to sit on the right hand or left hand of Jesus like they were asking for now.
Jesus denies their request and seems to imply that the God the Father has already pre-determined who will be enthroned on his right and left.
Some commentators actually believe that Jesus is referring here to the thiefs hanging on the crosses to his left and right. Later in Mark we will see that the cross of Jesus’ crucifixion functions like an enthronement that the world didn’t expect.
But whatever the case, Jame and John stand corrected in their aspirations for greatness.
Their understanding of greatness is not Jesus’ example nor is it his teaching on greatness.
In verse 41... the other ten disciples get involved in the discussion
41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John.
This is actually a somewhat comical moment…
The disciples get mad at John and James because it becomes obvious to them that James and John are trying to earn the favored spots with Jesus.
They are trying to sit on thrones that are more important than the other 10 disciples so they are indignant with their request… and now Jesus as the opportunity to correct all of them in their faulty views of greatness, power, authority, and glory.
Look with me at verses 42-44
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.
Truth #1 King Jesus Pursued Crucifixion
Truth #2 Sinful People Pursue Thrones of Greatness
Truth #3 Kingdom People Pursue Servanthood
The rest of the world may be striving for greatness and lording it over others by way of platforms and power...
but Jesus speaks with authority in verse 43… “It shall not be so among you”
Jesus followers WILL see the world differently.
Jesus followers WILL have different priorities, different aspirations, different guiding principles.
Jesus followers WILL see servanthood as the pathway to true greatness.
They will see humility as the doorway to exaltation.
They will see the last place as the pre-requisite for first place.
They will see crucifixion as the precursor to resurrection.
Do you see this as the way of Jesus?
Do you see acts of selfless, sacrificial, unrecognized service as the essence of being a God-glorifying Jesus follower?
Do you see submitting to others as glorious?
Do you see giving up your rights and privileges for the good of another as a privilege in itself?
Authority and power are not evil things in and of themselves… They are only evil in the hands of evil men.
Authority and power are wonderful things…, when they are wielded like Christ.
Christ has all authority and power over all things and he used that authority to serve.
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.”
What would it look like for you to follow the example of our Servant King?
The word for serve in this passage is actually a familiar word to us.
In the Greek, it is the word deakonos from which we get our word deacon.
Servanthood is so important to the kingdom of God… that God designed the church to have a particular office within the church called the deacon.
In Acts 6, the church became overwhelmed by the need to care for impoverished widows.
The need was so overwhelming that it would prevent the Apostles from serving the church with their teaching ministry and prayer....
So they searched the congregation for servants.
They searched for the people who would give of themselves sacrificially for an area of service that was anything but glorious.
They searched for the people would aspire to a different kind of greatness… a Christ-like kind of greatness.
Seven men gave themselves to the humble, not-so-glorious ministry of organizing and carrying out food-distribution for the widows.
And when they did… when the right kind of servanthood was not just stumbled into but it was pursued within the church. This is what happened.
7 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.
Later in 1 Timothy 3.... Paul gives further instruction on just how important it would be for the church to have lead servants… servants who could serve as an example to the whole congregation both in their godliness and their ministry.
13 For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
Do you see the connection between Paul’s teaching here and Jesus teaching in Mark 10?
43 But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,
Deacons are the men and women in the church who sacrifice their time, and talents, their energy, to carry out particular and perhaps not so glorious ministries that would otherwise overwhelm other members and that would otherwise overwhelm the pastors and keep them from the ministry of teaching the word...
One of the things that has burdened me in broader evangelicalism even here in our own church is how few people aspire to the office of deacon.
It is easy to find people who will take on responsibility and who will make great sacrifice for a teaching or leadership platform… Its more difficult to find people who will take on the responsibility, and the burden to serve in the less glorious Christ-like ways.
I want to challenge you this morning to pursue sacrificial servanthood for the glory of God.
Let me close with four quick takeaways:
Be an Ambitious Servant
We often think of service and servanthood as something we sort of stumble into.
We think of serving as a thing that we will do when we are asked because we are Christians.
But I want to urge you not to consider servanthood as a thing that you do if you are asked… but think of it as a thing that you pursue…
Think of it as a thing you chase after.
I long for our church to be a church full of ambitious servants.
Aspiring servants.
Servants who want to be God-honoring, Christ-magnifying, servants even in the most menial of tasks.
Servants who watch for opportunities to give of themselves and their gifting in the life of the church and in the ministries of the church.
I was recently blessed by Zach Huhner.
He noticed that I was driving the bus on Wednesday nights for the children after community kids… and he called me and asked… Brandon would you like me to just take care of that every week? I can take charge over that.
Its not a glorious ministry… Its a commitment… It takes away from one of his evenings every single week.
But he serves… and as he serves the church multiplies.
In fact, the young man we are baptizing today… is a young man that we first started picking up on the church bus when he was in elementary school five years ago… If someone had not sacrificed and committed to a not so glorious ministry five years ago… I do not know that we would be celebrating his salvation this morning.
Embrace Sacrifice
We often project on Jesus what he would and would not have us do based off of what we want him to prioritize.
We are a lot like the disciples in the gospel of Mark.
We have selective hearing.
But Jesus is very clear that following him will involve sacrifice.
If you don’t expect that and embrace that… you will be surprised by it when it comes .
You will think that something has gone wrong when Jesus doesn’t lead you into more and more comfort.
And you will walk away from faithfulness when the going gets tough.
Embrace sacrifice knowing that every ounce of it is eternally worth it.
Keep an Eternal Perspective
The Kingdom of God is a Kingdom of wonderful reversals.
Jesus humbled himself and became the lowest of servants..
But Jesus is now exalted in the place of highest honor.
Every unnoticed act of service will be exalted on the last day.
Jesus himself will commend you and reward you in the joy of his presence forever and ever.
41 For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.
Trust and Rejoice in the Sacrificial Service of Jesus
He gave his life to ransom your soul.
He came to serve in such a way that would provide you with salvation.
Exalt him to the highest place for he descended to the lowest place on your behalf.
I want to close now by reading Paul’s instruction based off of these principles and then we will pray together.
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.
Lets Pray
Takeaway #1