Serving Unto Death (Mark 10:32-52 September 20, 2015) - Amazon S3

When Judas and the leaders of the Jews arrived to arrest Jesus all the disciples –including these two sons of Zebedee – fled and left Him to suffer alone. They turnedfrom suffering for the kingdom.But Jesus had a plan for these men.The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I ambaptized, you will be baptized.The time will come when they will suffer for the kingdom.I am fairly sure that if they had any inkling of the suffering that lay ahead they wouldnever have spoken so rashly.These men wanted kingdom glory – and they will get it – but it will come at a greatcost.They will join the fellowship of Jesus’ suffering.James became the first martyr of the church.John suffered many years of imprisonment and exile.They became templates of serving the church through tremendous personal suffering.I suspect that when James faced his executioner and saw the sword that would endhis life he thought of Jesus’ words.I suspect that in the years of cold hungry imprisonment and exile – knowing his fellowApostles had died – John would have thought often of Jesus’ words.I and suspect they wished they and not been so eager to declare their willingness tosuffer.It is not an easy thing to serve – even unto death – but Jesus strengthens us in ourhour of need.At this point in their lives – James and John didn’t really know what they were seeking.In the same way we have to be careful what ask for.Praying a prayer like:Lord use me in your kingdom.Father, glorify Yourself through my life.They are good prayers – but we often think of leading people to Jesus, growing a bigchurch, raising a godly family – Jesus thinks in terms of suffering greatly.

If you ask for greatness or kingdom glory – be careful – God may just grant yourrequest as He did for James and John.Verse 40:But to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those forwhom it has been prepared.We know that James and John will have incredible places of honour in the kingdom.Listen to Luke 22:28–30 where Jesus said to the disciples:You are those who have stayed with me in my trials, and I assign to you, as myFather assigned to me, a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table inmy kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.They will sit at Jesus’ own table in the kingdom and they will sit on thrones judging thetwelve tribes.But as to whether James and John will have the preeminent places of glory, thatprivilege is for God the Father alone to award.It may well be one of the Apostles. It may well be a martyr or servant we have neverheard of.But rest assured it will be for those who suffered much for the kingdom.Verse 41:And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John.Why do you think they were indignant?I am pretty sure that they weren’t indignant because this was such a crass statementto make when Jesus is heading to his death.I think they were ticked that the brothers tried to lock up the top spots in the kingdom– spots their earlier argument about who was the greatest showed they wanted forthemselves.The story is told that one day Abraham Lincoln was walking down the street with histwo small sons who were both crying loudly. A neighbour passing by inquired, “What’sthe matter, Abe? Why all the fuss?” Lincoln responded, “The trouble with these lads iswhat’s wrong with the world; one has a nut and the other wants it!”The ten wanted the nut for themselves.But Jesus sets the whole lot of them straight. Verse 42:

And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who areconsidered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exerciseauthority over them.”In the world – the rulers – the great ones – the hoi megaloi – lord it over their subjects.They use their power for personal gain not to benefit those under them.History is littered with brutal dictators who fought, bribed, deceived their way to the topand once there used every means possible to stay there and showed little concern fortheir people.During the reign of Louis XVI of France a famine hit the land and the common peoplewere starving and calling out for bread. On hearing of this his Queen, Marie Antoinette:Was supposed to have replied:Let them eat cake.It is hard to know if she actually said it – but that type of comment from a King orQueen would not shock. It is how the world’s great ones think.They are in it for themselves – not for the people.Verse 43:But it shall not be so among you.In the upside down kingdom – the great ones are never in it for themselves.Instead – verses 43-44:But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoeverwould be first among you must be slave of all.The greatest King of all – the King of Kings and Lord of Lords – did not count equalitywith God a thing to be grasped but emptied Himself – taking the form of a servant –and humbled himself unto death – even death on a cross.And because of this God exalted Him and bestowed on him the name that is aboveevery name, so that every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under theearth and every tongue confess His glory.The implications of this verse for you and I are staggering.

Wordly GreatnessRulersFirstServantsSlavesLastThe structure of the world in the time of Jesus looked like this:A few rulers at the top – then servants – and right at the bottom a heap of slaves.Servants had a status above slaves.Servants had to obey the rulers – but they had a position in the family.Not slaves. The most menial of tasks, the hard, hot, dirty work was reserved for slaves.But when the kingdom of God comes everything changes.The entire order will be reversed. Notice what Jesus said:If you want to be shown as great become a servant. Find ways to serve. But:If you want to be first – not just great – but first – become a slave to all.Become the lowest. Take the worst positions and tasks.And serve everyone – even enemies.Now what I want you to get your heads around is this – you want kingdom greatnessnot worldly greatness.The great ones of today – Obama, Turnbull, Queen Elizabeth – their greatness is sotemporary. In terms of eternity their greatness is less than a heartbeat.But the kingdom of God is forever.When God the Father unveils the great ones of the kingdom – it will be forever.Those who served and slaved in this life – the mere heartbeat of time – are thenglorified for all eternity.Choose kingdom greatness.He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannotlose.

However, I know this is really hard to wrap our heads around.Ask a bunch of ten year olds – what do you want to be when you grow up?You will hear – I want to be an astronaut, I want to be Prime Minister, I want to be aBronco, I want to be a model, I want to be a movie star.No one says – I want to be a servant – let alone – I want to be a slave.Even Christians – we say – I want to be an Elder or a missionary or a mum – I don’thear – I want to be a slave for Jesus.Our world embeds its notions of greatness – and they are hard to shake.Part of having our minds renewed is flushing these notions and replacing them withJesus’ teaching on true greatness.Seek to serve. Ask to be a slave.What does this mean practically?When we think of serving we think of serving one another.And there are verses that tell us to serve each other.Galatians 5:13:Through love serve one another.1 Peter 4:10:As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another.In John 13 Jesus wrapped Himself in the garb of a servant and washed the disciple’sfeet and said – you must do as I have done to you.We must serve each other.We have to find ways to serve in the home. There are jobs in every house no onewants to do – you do them. Dads – we are particularly bad at this and we need to finda way to serve our families.In the church – there are jobs that no one wants to do – the cleaning – the serving –the visiting – and the Pastors and Elders have to find a way to lead in these areas.But in the context the serving is more than just serving each other – it is finding a wayto advance the kingdom in ways that cost – even unto your life.Look at verse 45:

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give hislife as a ransom for many.If anyone has the right to be served it is Jesus – the Creator – the King.But Jesus did not come as a King – He came as a servant.He did not come to serve – but to be served.And He served His people by giving His life as a ransom for many.More than that remember that the Ones He served in this way were enemies. Theynailed Him to the cross.And at one time we were enemies – but He loved us while we were yet enemies.If we are to be like Jesus we are to serve – even unto death – and this includes friendsand enemies.That is what makes you great.In the Old Testament – a ransom needed to be paid to free a slave. The ransom paidtheir debt and set them free.Every one of us has a debt we cannot pay. We have sinned against God and our livesare under the wrath of God.And it gets worse. Listen to Psalm 49:7–8:Truly no man can ransom another, or give to God the price of his life, for theransom of their life is costly and can never suffice.Because we have all sinned – because we all owe this debt – not only can we notransom our own lives – but there is no one to ransom us to pay the debt we owe to aholy God.No one that is until Jesus.His life is holy. His life is an acceptable sacrifice. His life is an acceptable ransom.His death frees His people.If you have trusted Jesus – then His death ransoms you – pays your penalty – freesyou from the punishment you owe.This is the gospel in a nutshell.We know this – but consider what this means in the context.

Just as Jesus gave His very life to save His people – so the great ones in the kingdomchoose to sacrifice by serving even unto death.Don’t hear me wrong. None of us can sacrifice our lives and pay the ransom foranother.But we can choose to follow Jesus by serving in this way.What does this look like for you and for me?In Australia – martyrdom is pretty rare. If we serve God here – chances are it won’tcost us our lives.Some will be called to places where they may lose their lives.But unless we choose to sacrifice – we can live lives that cost us nothing at all.Here is how I see this verse fleshing out.We need to find ways to be last. Ways that cost us – in terms of position, pride,finances, time. Serve the homeless where no one knows you.Give out tracts where everyone knows you.Find the jobs no one wants and do them.If we seek worldly greatness – money, position, pleasure – then most likely we are notsaved – or at the very best we are disobedient servants who will find ourselves as thevery least in the kingdom.If we choose to serve – our families, our church, our neighbourhood, our workplace –taking the robe of a servant – doing the jobs no one wants to do – and doing it willinglyand cheerfully. Then you are great.Dads – if I ask your kids – is Dad a ruler or a servant in the house? What will they say.You don’t have to ask my kids – I know I am in the fail category. I have to do better.Who are the servants in Grace Bible Church?I suspect your mind leapt to the same names mine did.The ones that always put their hand up to help. They hang around helping out –cleaning, cooking, serving, locking up.They are at every workday – they fill every sub request.And they serve with a smile – it is a privilege.I thought about naming names – but they would hate that – and you know who theyare.

They are the great ones.But who are the extraordinary ones – the first among the saints?They are the ones who sacrifice the most.The missionaries who take their family to horrible places – for Jesus.The ones who give up comfortable careers, serve tirelessly and retire penniless.They are the ones who may have to go to prison for their faith.They are ones who choose to willingly sacrifice money, comfort, position, privilege,family and yes even their lives – for the sake of Jesus.So:What should the saved ask Jesus for?Ask:To serve unto death.I say this with a warning. We do need to be careful what we ask for. But if you want tobe great – and there is a sense where we should desire this type of greatness – askGod to give you the strength to sacrifice and serve Him – even if it costs you your life.A heartbeat as a slave means eternity as a great one.Now I haven’t even gone into motive. That is another sermon. We don’t serve to earnreward. We don’t say I want to serve in order to be great. That forfeits the reward.We serve because we love Jesus.So the secret is to love Jesus – then you will want to be like Jesus – the servant – andthen you will serve.This brings us to the next section.

What should the unsaved ask Jesus for?Look at verse 46:And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples anda great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting bythe roadside.Jesus is approaching Jerusalem – and has arrived at the nearby town of Jericho.In that town there was a blind beggar – Bartimaeus.This man is anything but great.The prevailing wisdom of the day was that blindness was somehow caused by sin –we saw that in John 9.Blindness was supposed to be a curse from God which meant this man was one hairabove prostitutes and tax collectors.He survived by begging – the handout crumbs of others. Verse 47:And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say,“Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”It seems word spread that Jesus was coming.Notice that Bartimaeus calls Him – Son of David. He is the first one in Mark to addressJesus this way. Somehow Bartimaeus knows that Jesus is the Son of David – theMessiah. The only one who can help him.So he begins to scream as loudly and as often as he can – Jesus, Son of David, havemercy on me!Have mercy – I know I am a sinner – I know I am nobody – I deserve nothing.James and John thought they earned blessing – Bartimaeus merely asks forundeserved mercy.Verse 48:And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more,“Son of David, have mercy on me!”This nobody is gatecrashing the show. So they tell him to be quiet.No one wants to hear from a blind man.But Jesus wants to hear from him. Verses 49-51:

And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” And they called the blind man, sayingto him, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.” And throwing off his cloak, hesprang up and came to Jesus. And Jesus said to him, “What do you want meto do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.”On one level this sounds an entirely self-centred request. I am blind and I want to see.But there is a huge amount of faith here.He believes that this man despised by the authorities is the Son of David – the Messiah– the only One who can help Him – the One who can heal Him.This is great faith.Verse 52:And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” Andimmediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.Remember that the healing of blind men is repeatedly used as a metaphor an exampleof opening blind eyes to the truth of who Jesus is.Depending on your translation verse 51 reads:Go your way; your faith has made you well.OrGo your way; your faith has saved you.The word – sozo – is the usual word for salvation. Bartimaeus’ faith not only led to hisphysical eyes being opened – but to his spiritual eyes being opened – he was saved.And he followed Jesus on the way. On the way where? To Jerusalem – the cross.The disciples were fearful – but Bartimaeus knew that was where he needs to be.Bartimaeus was willing to drink the cup of suffering and follow Jesus wherever it led.What should the unsaved ask Jesus for?

To see unto life.The very first thing this man saw was Jesus and it changed his life. He followed Jesusto the cross. That is a true disciple.Bartimaeus was as low as you can get. The crowd said he was cursed – not worthy todraw near Jesus – but the truth is this man – this nobody became great in the kingdom.He chose to follow Jesus even if it was unto death.We don’t know what happened to Bartimaeus. That is not the point.He saw – he was saved – he chose to serve.Salvation means serving.Jesus asked Bartimaeus – what do you want me to do for you?Bartimaeus wanted to see. He wanted to see Jesus – and when He saw – He followed.The healing of blind Bartimaeus is the last miracle of healing Jesus does.It is no mistake that from here the only ones we know who are saved are: this cursedblind man, a despised tax collector – Zaccheus, a condemned thief on the cross anda loathed Roman Centurion.In the eyes of Jews – all of them were nothing – despised – nobodies.But they become examples of true kingdom greatness.They knew they were lost, nobodies, helpless – and in Jesus they saw the one way ofsalvation.But the truth is that we are all blind Bartimaeus’, despised Zaccheus’, condemnedthieves and outsider Centurions. We are all blind and lost – beggars – nobodies –helpless – cursed sinners who needed salvation.If you have not opened your eyes to see Jesus – I pray today is the day you realisewhere true greatness is found.

But as we have seen – even after salvation – Jesus still asks all of us – what do youwant me to do for you?We can ask for some personal things – health, family, a job. That is OK. But the greatdesire of the true disciple is to ask – to serve – to serve even unto death.But we ask understanding the cost.We ask for the lowest jobs, the hardest jobs, to be slaves of the King. To serve untodeath.It is a lesson the disciples and you and I have to learn.In this we become like Jesus.In this we find true greatness.I played this video a few weeks back to start this section. Now we have finished thissection I trust you will understand the full meaning.

Serving Unto Death(Mark 10:32-52September 20, 2015)Main Point: In the upside down kingdom the greatest blessing possible comesfrom serving and salvation.Read: Mark 10:32-52 When you pray – what are the type of things you ask God for?Why do many describe the kingdom of God as an upside down or invertedkingdom? In what w

A number of times in Scripture men and women stood before a King and the King asked them what is it you want me to do for you? Some examples are: Salome before King Herod. Nehemiah before King Artaxerxes. Esther before King Ahasuerus. It is a dangerous thing to ask a King for anything. Some of them may have lost their life even coming before .