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Nov 10, 2024

Kingdom Leaders

Passage: Mark 10:32-45

Preacher: John Repsold

Series: Gospel of Mark

Keywords: value, kingdom, leadership, authority, purpose, serving, meaning

Summary:

Having just come through an election season, it is fascinating to see how differently God's Kingdom is in regard to what makes great leaders. In this passage, Jesus continues to teach his disciples about what makes for truly great leaders.

Detail:

Kingdom Leaders

Mark 10:32-445

November 10, 2024

 

Fellowship Question:  If you could be granted two wishes of your choice, what would you wish for?  (No fair asking for more wishes!)

COMMUNION

Luke 10:32-34: 

Jesus foretells his betrayal, unjust trial, torture, murder and resurrection.

            Jesus was preparing his disciples for the greatest surprise of their discipleship—his substitutionary death for them and us. They thought his work with them was all about establishing the Messianic kingdom, then and there, in Israel, over all nations.  For all the times he told them about his impending and confusing work on the cross, they didn’t get it, not one of them.  Some of them sensed something big was about to happen.  They had this sense of awe mixed with fear.  Something big was about to take place, and I’ll bet they were hoping it was going to mean a better government, better leadership, even the fulfillment of hundreds of prophecies about God setting this wrong world right. 

            It is so easy to miss the central move of God in the midst of life.  Every Sunday this act of Communion come right in the middle of our services.  We do that for a reason.  Even in Sunday, “the Lord’s Day,” even in a “worship service” where we’re focusing on God, it is possible to miss what church, the Bible, even the Christian life is all about.  But Communion is here to remind us, just as Jesus was reminding His disciples in today’s passage.  Jesus—his death, burial and resurrection—is what all this is about.

Communion is here to remind us…

  • Our sins separate us from God…and there is nothing we can do to bridge that gap—not morality, not good works, not determination not to fail again…
  • Jesus died to take on our sin and give us His righteousness. Without his death and resurrection, we would be forever separated from God and objects of His righteous anger against sin.  Without Jesus’ perfect life offered for us, we would never be righteous enough to be in fellowship with God.
  • We must “consume” Christ. We must actively “take” him—body and blood…life and death—into our lives and allow Him to take over. 
  • Jesus is the center of all we are as a church, in our worship, in our service, in our fellowship…all we are as Christians…all we are as people.

That is why we usually put Communion right in the middle of the service.  We want Jesus from start to finish to be our focus; we particularly want Jesus to be central in our worship. 

[ 32 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. 33 “We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, 34 who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.”]

 

INTRODUCTION

We just came through a national exercise in choosing leaders.  As much as I love how we do it in America, even under our wonderful democratic republic, it could not be more different than how God does leadership in His Kingdom.  Today’s text will educate us on God’s winners and losers when it comes to who are actual leaders and who aren’t.     

            Remember the context:  Jesus has just reminded his disciples that this final trip to Jerusalem is going to end in his betrayal, suffering, death, and yes, resurrection.  It wasn’t a message designed to make them less nervous.  It was designed to prepare them for reality.  Apparently reality wasn’t all that attractive to them!  Like many people who think that political power and authority is the best way to get what they really want, even those closest to Jesus…His inner circle…could not stop thinking about what a Jesus-Presidency/Kingship might look like…especially for them.

Luke 10--35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”

You have to sort of wonder, “Had James and John been reading the story of Alladin that day?  What made them think Jesus should write them a blank check for anything they wanted? 

            Anyone trying to impress people with the goodness of Jesus’ followers would never have included this story in the Gospels.  But thankfully, God isn’t interested in flattering our out-of-control egos; He’s intent upon bringing flawed people into His family.  So, He presents his followers as real people, warts and all.  Two men, already in his chosen inner circle, are trying to sew up that circle with a couple of the most important ‘cabinet posts’ available.  Here comes the request.

36 “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.

37 They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”

Matthew 20: 20-28 contains another Gospel account of this same or similar request, but that one comes from these two brothers’ mother, Salome.  Either these are two different incidents (which is completely possible) or it is the same incident from two different perspectives. 

In both cases, the request is fundamentally the same:  “We would really like to be considered for the two most influential, powerful, and respected positions in your administration/court when you assume your rightful reign on earth here…which we hope will be VERY soon.  In fact, this week…when we’re in Jerusalem for the Passover…would be really convenient.” 

James and John had fallen for the age-old seduction of power.  For all the loving, sacrificial living they had seen Jesus do, they still held onto the illusion that life for them was to be found in more status, more authority, more power over others, and more public recognition.  They clearly thought life would be better for them if they held some position that would provide a greater sense of significance and value than just being one of the regular followers of Jesus.

APP:  Like too many of us, they thought that meaning and significance in life resided in the realm of being viewed as somebody special by other human beings…and maybe even by Jesus.  From shift managers to CEOs, it is tempting to think that having a position of importance, authority or notoriety is what will satisfy our souls.  While it may make us feel important in this life, in the scope of what actually matters long-term…eternity…it doesn’t at all.  In fact, Jesus is going to give us one of life’s most important clues about achieving a sense of purpose and meaning.  And it has nothing to do with the positions or titles we will hold in life. 

APP:  It is worth asking ourselves, “What am I honestly looking to for my sense of significance and meaning?  My job?  My place among my peers?  My achievements?  My car…or home…or income?  My education?  The opinions of my family, my church?  None of us immune from the same trap James and John fell into of thinking that something outside of ourselves, something other than God himself, is what I really need to be happy and fulfilled. 

            So, Jesus responds,

38 “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?”

Jesus’ question reminds me of the kid in class who has either fallen asleep or isn’t paying attention being asked a question by the teacher for which they have no clue what the answer is.  Clearly, these two guys had no idea what sort of “cup” or “baptism” Jesus was talking about.  He wasn’t just asking them if they wanted the same drink he was having…or were up to taking the same dip in the river with him. 

According to Mark, Jesus had just been talking about His impending betrayal and abuse at the hands of both Jews and Gentiles around him—effectively the whole world!  He had made it clear that such abuse would involve bloodshed and death.  The “rising 3 days later” was not from a hotel suite or vacation down-under.  But they clearly didn’t get it.

39 “We can,” they answered.

APP:  be leery of overconfidence in anything you think you can do for Christ’s kingdom.  Oh, be filled with faith in what God can do.  Be courageous about what God asks you to do.  But be very timid and humble about what you think you can do to somehow prove your value or even faithfulness in the Kingdom. 

Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, 40 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.”

Church history tells us (Acts 12:2) that James was eventually put to death “by the sword” by King Herod.  That is probably a reference to beheading.  John, we think according to church tradition, survived and was miraculously rescued from death after being put in a caldron of hot oil.  He was later exiled to a labor camp on Patmos and, we think, eventually died of old age in 98 A.D.   We’ll have to wait until heaven to see the tape.  But because of Jesus’ words, we can be sure that both of them tasted the cup of terrible suffering and were immersed in the ‘baptism’ of being handed over to those who abused and afflicted them.

TRUTH:  Closeness to Christ comes in suffering with Christ.

  • 2 Corinthians 1:5--For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.
  • Colossians 1:24--Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church,
  • Philippians 3: 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death
  • 1 Peter 4:13--But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.

Scripture, church history and the experience of the people of God clearly teach that there is a level of closeness to Christ that comes in suffering with/for Christ.  If you want to be a leader in this Kingdom, count on suffering for Jesus, possibly greatly and to the death.

            As far as those who will eventually receive those positions of honor and authority at Jesus’ left and right, the Bible gives no other information than Jesus’ statement, “These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”  The really good news is that Jesus has gone “to prepare a place for you” and me already in heaven.  So, every one of us who are “in Christ” by faith in him can have the confidence that Christ himself is building an eternal home for us that is not far from himself. Whomever eventually occupies those places to the right and left of Jesus will undoubtedly be people we will all be in absolute awe at for the sufferings they endured and the lives they led in Jesus. 

Now we come to the heart of the matter.   

41 When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John.

You can always be sure that striving for power or getting a leg up on people you are called to love and serve will always damage human relationships.  These men had been doing life together for over three years.  They had been through thick and thin.  They had all been invited to follow Jesus.  But once again, someone was convinced that they needed more than being a team member to be satisfied.  And the whole team began to fray. 

            The response of the other 10 doesn’t make them look any better.  Clearly their true heart’s desires included at least being equals if not being overseers.  It certainly didn’t involve being less than James or John.  Their reaction revealed their similar selfish hearts.

APP:  This is quite a mirror.  Most of us are fine as long as we’re all on the same floor.  But when someone else who doesn’t appear to us to have any more talent or doesn’t work harder or doesn’t, in our opinion, deserve any more recognition than we do, is called up or tries to climb the ladder of significance higher than us, our emotions betray our egos.  We’re just as self-centered or arrogant as they are…and our anger or hurt or disappointment betrays it. 

            Well, as the Apostles are melting down, Jesus steps in and gives them the much-needed “God perspective.” 

42 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.

Notice that Jesus points to the despised Gentiles, what his disciples probably considered “those dirty, rotten Romans,” as having the same attitudes toward leadership as they were having.  Jesus acknowledges that this is how the world works… apart from Him.  Ruling or leading in virtually every aspect of this world’s nations involves ordering others around.  But Jesus is about to hammer home again that His Kingdom is vastly different:

 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 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.”

Vs. 43—“Servant” = diakonos (from which we get the church term for “deacon”—one who serves.)  Deacons/servers were considered to be some of the formal leaders of the church (Phil 1:1, 1 Tim. 3).  Greatness among ourselves, says Jesus, must be measured by service one renders to others. 

  • No pastor should be considered great because he can draw a crowd or raise a lot of money or speak with a silver tongue. Great pastors should be measured as such because of how they serve.  Teaching the Word may be a form of service.  But if a pastor is rarely found serving the lowliest or helping the needy and afflicted, he’s not a great pastor in God’s eyes…and he probably shouldn’t be in ours. 
  • No Christian author or radio preacher or Board chairman or brother or sister for that matter should be considered “great” if they are not found often humbly serving people.

But vs. 44 takes it a step further:  “…and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.” 

“Slave” = dulos  We all know the difference between a “servant” and a “slave”, right. 

  • You have to pay servants something. You own slaves and pay them nothing. 
  • Servants may have a life of their own, a schedule of their own, boundaries of their own making. Not slaves.  They must do, within moral boundaries, whatever their master wills. 

Jesus is telling those who “wanted to be first” that the top leadership positions in His Kingdom belong to those at the very bottom of the pecking order. 

Or, to put it more positively, in God’s kingdom, the greatest leaders are greatest laborers. 

In God's economy, suffering is something God schedules for our growth and grace in Christ; service is something we get to choose whenever we want in order to grow in grace and intimacy with Jesus.  

Your pastors were talking this week among ourselves about how amazing Mosaic is in this regard. 

  • The 80-20 principle doesn’t apply here. (80% of the work being done by 20% of the people). It’s more like 60-40.
  • Titles don’t matter here.
  • People in leadership are people who are serving others.

Normally I would make an application from a text like this that would be a challenge to serve.  While a handful of you might benefit from that, I think the greater benefit today would be for me to show you just how amazingly ‘great’ so many of the people sitting next around you here today are.  We’ve got an amazing number of servants and slaves in this place.  Let me show you.

As I read these places of service and names, raise your hand, please, and keep them up until your group is completed. 

  • Please forgive me if I somehow omit your ministry or name from one of the groups. It is completely 
  • I also won’t mention a whole lot of you who do behind-the-scenes card writing, cleaning, maintenance, et.

Here are people I could think of who are currently serving us or have in recent months.  (115-130 people)

Children:

Our Littles/Preschool

  • -John and Laci Serben
  • -Tama, Isabella & Gabby Carter
  • -Maureen Grady
  • -Katherine and Don deQuilettes
  • -Audria and Alison Sears
  • -Amiya Porter
  • -Katie and Brooke Achenbach
  • -Petra and Abby Gillam
  • -Patricia Hicks

Our Grade School Kids

  • Angie Elison
  • Allex Archer
  • Petra Gillam
  • Daniel and Stacie Repsold
  • Jesse & Brooke Achenbach
  • Bliss and Katherine deQuilettes (the Christmas Pageant)

Other Sunday morning servants (slaves?):

Worship Teams:

  • Jim Dingfield
  • Robert, Jody & Alison Sears
  • Doug & Candy Gintz 
  • Josea Liem
  • Jesse, Katie, Levi & Loren Achenbach
  • Micah Sheets
  • Don & Katherine deQuilettes
  • Katie Repsold (with guest appearances occasionally by Edmund or Boaz.