The Way of Jesus - Mark 10:32-45

Intro

So something you may not know about me is that I’ve had several jobs in the service industry.

Here’s something else you may not know.

Guess what the least favorite shift is for folks in the service industry?

Sunday lunch…

Any one wanna venture a guess why?

Church folk that’s right.

The church crowd is notorious for being the most demanding,

the most impatient,

AND on top of that the worst tippers.

I could share countless different stories of my experience as both a College student and when I was a lay pastor but also worked in the industry.

But I’ll share one very particularly memorable story and it comes from my time as a McDonald’s cashier when I was a freshman in college.

I worked one Sunday afternoon.

I came in after church clocked in and got to it.

It was packed and we were slinging burgers and mcchickens left and right.

There was a women’s bible study that had meet there for their Sunday afternoon Bible Study.

Now apparently this crew had a reputation that I knew nothing about.

Sure enough the lady who was leading the group that was smiling and chatting that look at her sandwich, sighed and sauntered up to the counter with her sandwich.

She came up to me, “Yes ma’am how can I help you.”

She looked at me as though I was the absolute scum of the earth.

“I said no Mac sauce, what does this look like to you?”

Of course I said, “Ma’am I am sorry, let me get that fixed for you.”

She shoved the sandwich forward on the counter and it flipped on to me getting mac-sauce all over my shirt.

Without blinking she just said, “In the future I expect you to get it right the first time. I deserve better service.”

My co-worker came over with her new sandwich handed it to her and as she walked away he slapped me on the back cause he knew I was a Christian in Bible College and said, “Phew she’s just like Jesus!”

Reading our passage this week that scene has played through my head.

I deserve better service.

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Over the Summer Redeemer has been looking at the gospels to see how do we live like Jesus.

We’re in the gospel of Mark which is fast paced always looking at what Jesus does, moving quickly.

(Blessed by RC Sproul and Josh Lindstroms thoughts on this.)

This is just past the halfway point and now we see Jesus’ face is set towards Calvary.

He is marching to the cross with purpose.

Today we get what many would say is the purpose statement of Jesus, the focal point of the gospel of Mark.

We see the way of Jesus.

As I heard my co-workers sarcastic voice in my head, “Just like Jesus.”

I wonder if you and I know what it means to look like Jesus…to walk in the way of Jesus.

This interaction with the disciples and specifically James and John has much to teach us about the way of Jesus vs human self-centeredness.

We are called to serve as we follow in the way of Jesus.

So let’s unfold this as we go through our passage looking at the way of Jesus.

And it starts with suffering.

Let’s see first:

I. The Way - The Suffering Servant

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, 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. And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.” (Mark 10:32-34)

Jesus again has his face set on what is before him.

He knows what he has to do, what his heart and mind are set on

He is leading the way to the suffering he will endure.

Meanwhile behind him are his followers who are a mix of emotions.

Jesus had just had a stark interaction with a very wealthy young man that ended with a scandalous teaching moment.

Now they are heading to Jerusalem.

There is a sense of anticipation mixed with an uneasy feeling of what was going to happen.

Many of the disciples had an idea of what it should look like for the Messiah to lead them.

Perhaps visions of revolution filled their head.

But to this point Jesus had surprised them left and right.

What was going to happen in Jerusalem?

Jesus doesn’t hesitate to tell them.

He tells the twelve plainly, “We’re going to Jerusalem, I will be arrested by the Jewish leaders, condemned to death, they will deliver me to the Romans, they will beat me, ridicule me…

Then they will kill me. But after three days I will rise from the dead!”

This is the clearest most detailed foretelling of his death that Jesus has given.

He plainly tells them the road ahead.

The way in which he is headed is a way of suffering.

I wonder if the suffering servant poetry Isaiah is going through his mind.

But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. (Is 53:5)

As we follow Jesus we are to see the example of what Christ has done for us.

In Mark 8… we see that when we follow Jesus, we pick up a cross.

Some of us need to be reminded that the way of Jesus, is a way that follows after the suffering servant.

We have to dismantle the false gospel that following Jesus is a life of abundance and prosperity of earthly gain.

Peter writing to Christians who know that following in the way of Jesus leads to hard moments and suffering says this:

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed (1 Peter 4:12-13)

The abundance, the prosperity we are given is not a flush bank account…it’s a risen king. (PAUSE)

Jesus’ face was set towards Calvary.

He knew the cost.

Jesus knew, and He knew fully.

He considered the cost even when others misunderstood.

Friend, this morning the call is to fix our gaze on Jesus.

God sovereignly and providentially has laid out the road He will walk, the plan He will accomplish.

It is no different with us.

God orchestrates the steps of our lives, down to the final detail, the last breath of life.

There are no accidents, no surprises with our God.

Can I say to those of you who are suffering and questioning, how? Why?

Remember Joseph’s words, “What you meant for evil, God used for good.”

Nothing is wasted.

Jesus knew that in the moments of his crucifixion, the very disciples following him now would look on with horror as they scattered.

They would question, they would say this is the worst possible thing that could have happen.

All the while God’s redemption plan of rescue is unfolding.

As we seek to serve others, friend it may well be difficult.

We may have moments of tragedy and hardship but our God can use it to purpose a plan we couldn’t even fathom.

God wants to infuses life’s hardest moments with purpose.

Family and friends may misunderstand.

They may wonder why you’d be willing to serve, why you’d be wiling to suffer…

“You want to follow Jesus? Ministry ? Are you kidding?

What a waste of talent and education!

Missions? Have you lost your mind?

Do we need to get you on medication and into counseling?”

Redeemer, God has a plan for your life

crafted to the last detail,

the last breath,

the last beat of your heart.

Jesus was sent to serve.

He sends us to serve.

Count the cost!

As we follow the way of Jesus we see the suffering servant, but we see his disciples still deeply misunderstand.

They are still looking for their glory.

But the way of Jesus wasn’t one of ease and earthly glory but one of humble service.

So we see second:

II. The Way - The Humble Servant (35-41)

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.” And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” 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?” 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, 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.” (Mark 10:35-40)

No sooner does Jesus give the message with such detail that he is headed to the cross…than two of His inner circle come with a totally different idea.

They come to Jesus and like a little kid they said, “before I ask, I need you to say yes.”

They ask for glory…

Their request reveals their complete lack of comprehension of what Jesus has just said.

It also reveals their selfishness.

Jesus had promised the 12 apostles that they would sit on 12 thrones with Him in the kingdom ( Matt 19:28).

That, however, was not enough.

They wanted the two most honored thrones!

Their request is for the best seats in the house, in the kingdom.

Their request reveals:

First their superficial understanding of what it means to follow Jesus, to be His disciple;

Second their inflated opinion of their own importance,

Which is something those who are called-to-lead can easily fall victim to.

Third their wrongheadedness on how God measures greatness (cf. Mark 9:34-36).

Their desire is really, if we’re honest, what many of us want.

The idea of being a servant goes against our human inclinations.

You see we usually have a high view of ourself.

We often expect to be served.

Our culture is built around this, we wake up bossing Siri and Alexa around.

We value the seat of honor.

We want to be noticed. To be appreciated.

We crave it.

James and John didn't want to hear about the cross, they just wanted to hear about the crown.

They were looking to a future glory, where they would be right beside Jesus as he shines in glory as the Messiah.

They wanted to be on his right and left.

At the time of our Lord’s greatest glory, there were indeed men on His right and left.

They were not two apostles on thrones; they were two criminals on crosses!

(PAUSE)

Jesus responds to the two brothers, the sons of thunder

He is gentle but firm,

gracious but direct in His response.

He compares His approaching suffering and death to drinking a cup and experiencing a baptism .

These are interesting and powerful metaphors.

Drinking a cup with someone speaks of sharing in that person’s fate, experiencing his destiny.

The cup was also a common picture of the wrath of God in judgment

And the baptism he referred too meant going down beneath the waters of death so that sinners may be forgiven.

The cup, the baptism…the suffering on the cross was a divine appointment!

The brothers hear this and just say, “Yeah we can do that.”

Their all-too-quick answer shows they did not understand.

Again they’re thinking revolution, glory.

They think…Sure it’s gonna be hard Jesus but we can take it.

Jesus reveals that they are indeed gonna face a similar destiny (v. 34).

Suffering was going to mark their lives,

James would be the first martyr of the church.

John would be the only disciple not martyred and left alone on the island of Patmos.

As far as who would be on his right and left… It wasn’t up to Jesus, he would submit to his Father’s will on who would be on his right and left.

Now this is a moment where we zoom out a little bit and realize…we can be this way.

We are so focused on what we want, when we want it.

We go to the Lord with our ambition, our own desires.

Think of how messed up we would be if God gave us our every request.

These disciples are thinking of themselves only.

Look with me at Philippians 2

We will start at verse 3:

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (3-11)

Jesus will demonstrate true glory through humility.

The motivating factor is love.

This is a moment where we see human self-centeredness vs the humility of Jesus

Humility is the way of the kingdom.

James and John have a kingdom in mind, it’s the kingdom of self.

Their desire for power and dominance focuses their attention to self.

This kills love…because love by nature is not focused on self.

Someone that has helped me to understand the humility of Christ is Henri Nouwen.

Nouwen was a respected professor at Harvard and he left to work with those who are developmentally disabled.

Speaking of power and leadership this is what Nouwen says,

What makes the temptation of power so seemingly irresistible? Maybe its that power offers an easy substitute for the hard task of love. It seems easier to be God than to love God, easier to control people than to love people, easier to own life than to love life. Jesus asks, “Do you love me?” We ask, “Can we sit at your right hand and your left in your kingdom?”

We are not humble like Jesus.

We do not love like Jesus.

The way of Jesus is humble.

Humility is the work of God that makes all other good things in Christianity possible.

Faith. Would anyone depend on Christ as a needy, weak, and sinful person, if God hadn’t made them humble?

Worship. Would anyone earnestly make much of the worth of God, instead of craving to be made much of themself, if God hadn’t made them humble?

Obedience. Would anyone surrender their autonomy and submit obediently to the absolute authority of Scripture, if God had not made them humble?

Love. Would anyone seek the good of others at great cost to themself, if God hadn’t made them humble?

And on and on it goes.

James and John believed in Jesus but they understood wrongly the values of Jesus

They took his words as cause and opportunity for personal advancement.

“This is our shot! We’re gonna be at the top.”

They were blinded by their own ambition.

Does that ever happen to you?

Do you ever seek to use Jesus for your own personal advancement?

A little test.

If God were to answer all the prayers you’ve been praying as of late, who would be the beneficiary?

If every prayer you pray has you being the big winner if it comes back the way you want.

If that is the case then I would suggest friend that perhaps you are using God a little more for you than you are conscious of the pain and suffering and hurt that’s around you and lifting those concerns up before the Lord too.

Would that we loved like Christ.

That we were humble like Christ

Now friends, something we try to remember at Coram Deo…the kingdom of God is low, slow, and hidden.

The way of Jesus is being the suffering servant, the humble servant.

And finally we see

III. The Servant of All (42-45)

And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. 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. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:41-45)

The other disciples were indignant.

Now they weren’t frustrated with James and John because they were acting selfish and missed what Jesus said.

They were mad cause they had their own ambitions.

Remember it wasn't long ago they were arguing over who was the greatest.

They were mad James and John got their first.

This is like when a co-worker asks for a holiday off and then you go and they say, “Oh sorry we’re pretty strapped and need all hands on deck.”

Now, our culture would say self-promotion is great.

There are seminars on building your brand.

But in the kingdom, in the way of Jesus it couldn’t be more wrong.

Jesus points to the dominating leadership in the world and says, that aint it.

They may dominate and exercise their power, but if you want to be great, be the servant of all.

The preeminent virtue of God’s kingdom is not power, not even freedom but service.

You want to be great, do you wanna do something great for God?

You want to please and honor Jesus with the whole of your life?

The be the servant of all.

Do the grunt work.

Take out the trash.

Think of others.

Jesus reverses all ideas of what greatness is.

He turns everything upside down.

There is a voice in our head from our fallen sinful nature that can whisper persuasively, “The Lord takes care of those who take care of themselves.”

Just enough truth to deceive us

And just enough heresy to derail us

(PAUSE)

Jesus has told us He will die in Jerusalem.

Now He tells us why.

Jesus makes a promise no other religious leader in the world has made or could make.

He came to serve you and me not just as our example

but as our ransom!

Let me say this you can’t earn this.

You can’t pull yourself up, muscle your way through, or spend enough to earn your salvation.

Christ friend serves you. He gives his life for you.

Ultimately our Christian service exists only to draw attention to this source-

to our crucified and risen Lord who gave Himself as the ransom for all.

When it comes to humility and suffering Jesus does not only teach; he leads the way.

He serves and calls you and I to follow him.

Is there anyone that you think you are better than?

You’re not.

Rather Jesus would call you to place yourself beneath them

To be their servant

There's no one that Jesus loves less than you

What would it look like in Johnson City if you lived with this kind of service and humility?

If you went out of our way to serve our waitress

If we genuinely cared and loved the overwhelmed workers navigating the post pandemic labor crunch.

What if instead of demanding to be served we simply served.

I think people would start to see Jesus.

Verse 45 is the theme verse for all of the Gospel of Mark

The story has been marching towards these words

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many

Those two words, For Even should sit with you…haunt

For even the Son of Man Jesus Christ God in the flesh for even he did not come to be served

Why would I ever think I’m entitled to it?

The God of the universe

The sovereign Lord in whom all things are held together he came down to serve

But yet here am I and…I look down on somebody it's ridiculous

and if you look down on somebody it’s ridiculous too

Even Jesus came to serve and make no mistake about it his entire earthly life was grossly unfair and grossly unjust

He was in glory being worshiped as he rightfully should be and he put on flesh and put himself in the arms of the people he made

People who would mock him, spit on him

Who flogged him and killed him

Those people were being kept alive by his spirit

Redeemer…he did that for you.

The pull of our world is to push us back to the kingdom of self.

When I was a kid and would play in the pool, one of the games we’d play was who could sit at the bottom of the pool the longest.

Whenever you’d do that it took considerable effort because your body wanted to float up.

That’s what the pursuit of following in the way of Jesus looks like.

We have to be intentional about staying low.

Because on our own, the pull of our flesh and the culture we are in will constantly want to pull us up.

We have to fix our gauze on Jesus.

For those who may not know Jesus this is the difference between Christianity and every other religion. (Riff - God serves us)

The question we must ask ourselves is, whose kingdom do I want?

Whose way do I want?

How can I be like Jesus? How can I love?

Be a servant

My prayer is that we could showcase Jesus to others.

That we could live out the gospel.

Let’s pray

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The elements are located at tables around the back of the room.

We ask non-Christians to keep their seats and think about what they've experienced during the service.

If you'd like to talk with someone about following Jesus, they can head over to the prayer team corner.

Remind the rest of the church that after taking communion, they can also meet with someone from the prayer team.