RECALCULATING GREATNESS

RECALCULATING GREATNESS

Matthew 20:17-28

I was asked a couple of days ago about what I thought of Vladimir Putin.

I believe that he put Greatness into his GPS but had not updated his navigational system to factor in world changes since the fall of the Soviet Union.

My message today is about updating our GPS.

The failure to update worldly notions of greatness with the revelations of the Kingdom of God has had nasty impacts upon the landscape of world history.

Human history has had many scary dictators.

In the Bible, there were the likes of Ahab and Jezebel, and King Herod.

Attila the Hun; Genghis Khan; Queen Mary I (aka Bloody Mary); Joseph Stalin; Adolf Hitler; Idi Amin (the Butcher of Uganda who allegedly commanded the murder of 100,000 to 500,000 people)

But here’s the thing.

We are wired for Greatness. We are wired by the Creator for Greatness (Genesis 1:26)

All people yearn for greatness… we desire Significance (Importance and Impact).

In Matthew 20:17-28, Jesus makes his third Prediction of his upcoming Suffering and Death.

I. Recalculating Greatness, Jesus exposes our Ignorance of the Costs.

“You do not know what you what you are asking.

Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?”

What I like about GPS is that it lets you what it’s going to take to get to your destination—the distance you must travel, the time, and the traffic.

Do you know what’s funny? We want to set our own cost.

As the Proverb puts it, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps” (Proverbs 16:9).

As human beings, we will never stop making plans, but perhaps a lesson for us is flexibility and a humble acknowledgment of the sovereignty of God.

People often give up something for Lent. In Louisiana where I pastored for ten years, Madi Gras was all the rage. It culminated in “Fat Tuesday”, the day before Lent.

Madri Gras was a carnival of fleshly indulgence before the Holy Season of Lent.

Is this really what Jesus had in mind?

Jesus said, “…whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

Notice, we have watered down the crosswalk to this giving up something. The desire to sacrifice something saves someone from the death of self. Just because I sing, “All to Jesus I surrender”. But truth be told, we don’t expect or want the Lord of all to claim our all...at least not just yet.

Jesus told James and John, “You want this greatness? You can’t handle the costs of the greatness that your momma is asking for?”

This ignorance of the Cost of Greatness reminds me of a taste of glory that I experience.

When I was a poor student at HU, I stayed with a member of the church during the summer break. He surprised me by giving me the key to his Mercedes Benz convertible. I was doing the slow ride through HU, but unfortunately, most of the students were away for summer break…no one noticed. God has a sense of humor. Joe Whalen in all his glory and…no one took note.

I proposed to the owner that if he ever felt the love of Jesus, he could give me the car. He laughed and told me “You couldn’t afford this car if I gave it to you.” When he told me how much a regular service (oil change and tune-up) costs, I realized that he wasn’t joking.

The same with believers. We want the cake of greatness, with the chocolate icing of public glory. Yes, thank you!

But we are unprepared when our credit card gets declined—our card limits never cover the costs of the tests, trials, and temptations that come.

II. Jesus Recalculated TPO

TPO—Trying to Please Others Syndrome (or daddy).

Too many parents seek to live vicariously through their children.

Have you heard the joke of mothers bragging about their sons

Four Catholic ladies are having coffee together, bragging abouthow important their children are.

The first one tells her friends, "My son is a priest. When he walks into a room, everyone calls him "Father."

The second Catholic womanchirps, "Well, my son is a Bishop. Whenever he walks into a room, people say, "Your Grace."

The third Catholic woman says smugly, "Well, not to put you down, but my son is a cardinal. Whenever he walks into a room, people say, "Your Eminence."

The fourth Catholic womansips her coffee in silence. The first three women give her a subtle "Well...?"

Reluctantly she replies, "My son is 6'2", weighs 300lbs, and has tattoos all over his body. Whenever he walks into a room, people say, "Oh, My God."

The mother of James and John was living vicariously through her two boys. Perhaps she herself had TPO. In a world where a woman had no significance apart from her father, husband, or sons, she tried to get the approval of others through her boys.

Jesus Recalculated Greatness and thereby delivered James and John from TPO (TPM)

How many of us need to recalculate our significance. Perhaps you have sought the approval of your mother or father, spouse or lover, your boss or coworkers.

TPO can become a debilitating disease. TPO and the pursuit of greatness often compensate for insecurity and feelings of powerlessness. TPO is often the ugly secret of the bully. Behind his or her big frame or big mouth is a tiny mouse. III. JESUS SET GREATNESS IN TERMS OF THE KINGDOM

· He Acknowledged the Greatness of His Own Destiny

· He Acknowledged the Potential for Greatness / Significance in all Believers

· He had to Recalculate their Understanding and Desire for Greatness

RECALCULATING GREATNESS

Recalculating Worldly Greatness to the Pursuit of Greatness in the Kingdom

of God

Position of Greatness vs. Performance of Greatness

(“We have this treasure…”)

“Your Gift will Make Room for You”

Lord it over their Subjects vs. Serve their Brothers and Sisters

· Value only those they Like and Those who Share their Values

Disciples are called to Value those who God Values (even those who are Different)

My Needs Matter Most vs. The Needs of Others Matter Most

(It shall not so among you)

Serve out of your toolbox Our Greatness as Disciples of Jesus is Performative, it is Impacting, Adding Value to the Lives of Others.

Your gift will make room for you when you add value to others.

Your Significance and Greatness are demonstrated by how well serve out of our toolbox.

I will not serve well on the Cricket Team or Football or the Regiment Marching Band The Good Samaritan is Our Example of Great. We all are to carry the oil and wine of the Fruit of the Spirit but operate differently in the unique toolbox of our Gifts.

Then some prove themselves great through service.

What is in Your Toolbox? I believe it should contain:

1. Light

2. A Message of Hope

3. Tools that add Value to Others (Gifts of the Spirit)

4. A First Aid Kit (The Fruit of the Spirit)

Remember the Good Samaritan. He had a First Aid Kit in His Toolbox.

Significance = Adding Value to Others / Serving Others = Meeting their Needs

We called to Point to True Greatness.

Don’t look at me. Look at the One who showed True Greatness.

“Greater Love has no one than this, that a man should lay down his life for his friends.”

I’m a Cross bearer, but don’t look at me. Look at the One who paid the price for us all on Calvary.

The Power is not mine to brag. It is the Greatness of Christ and Christ alone who gifts you and me.

We are all in the service of the Kingdom sent out to meet the needs of others.