The Son of Man Came to Serve and Give
Mark 10:35-45
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.”
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.”
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?”
39 “We can,” they answered.
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.”
41 When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. 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. 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.”
In the ongoing struggle for the Apostles to understand the ministry of Jesus and therefore, God’s will for their lives, Mark shares this story right here almost at the end of Jesus’ earthly ministry! The Apostles previously argued about which of them was the greatest or would be when Jesus establishes the kingdom with power. In today’s passage, James and John ask Jesus straight out: Can we have the best place in your kingdom? Can we shut these other ten up?!
Psalms 110:1 1 The Lord says to my lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”
- We Want You to Do for Us
- Authority to rule over the Kingdom
Daniel 7: 13 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
17 ‘The four great beasts are four kings that will rise from the earth. 18 But the holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever—yes, for ever and ever.’
- Authority over the other Apostles
They have been arguing amongst themselves about which of them was the greatest. What are the brothers’ best arguments? Well, they and Peter are obviously set aside from the other nine. Jesus takes them up on the Mt. of Transfiguration. And at the same time, the other nine can’t cast that demon out of the kid. So, they don’t share that failure. Finally, Jesus hasn’t openly rebuked them like He has Peter. This will be their strongest position. And they seek the best spot in the Kingdom, as it will be possessed forever.
- Christians today
Christians continue to be martyred around the world today. For many years Missionaries went to Africa and died of tropical diseases. The average lifespan of a missionary in Africa in the late 1800’s was six months!
Christians continue to suffer around the world from other religions persecuting them. In Pakistan in the past year Christians murdered by mobs and churches burned for example. If you are a child of Muslim parents and you convert to Christianity, it brings shame on your family and they are obligated to pressure you to recant. I have seen photos of one person beaten by their family members with a baseball bat.
You have a religious identity in some nations, and it is illegal to change that identity apart from your family allowing you to do so. We know someone who went through this change, as well as being held captive by their family for more than a year.
Different governing authorities continue to persecute Christians around the world. Communist countries are an example. But at the current rate things are going in the US it could be clear here in the next few decades as well. And why not? If the Son of Man was killed, why should His followers expect to avoid suffering?
But I see Christians who expect to always win, to always be healthy, wealthy and winning. I believe that expectation is one for the future kingdom when we will have eternal life. It is coming, we will not be disappointed, but remember that Jesus told His Disciples:
29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life.
John 16: 33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Where does the parable of the mustard seed fit into this idea of winning and big all of the time?
- You Will be Identified with Jesus
- Jesus’ cup and baptism
Isaiah 51: 17 Awake, awake!
Rise up, Jerusalem,
you who have drunk from the hand of the Lord
the cup of his wrath,
you who have drained to its dregs
the goblet that makes people stagger.
22 This is what your Sovereign Lord says,
your God, who defends his people:
“See, I have taken out of your hand
the cup that made you stagger;
from that cup, the goblet of my wrath,
you will never drink again.
Psalms 69: 1 Save me, O God,
for the waters have come up to my neck.
2 I sink in the miry depths,
where there is no foothold.
I have come into the deep waters;
the floods engulf me.
- Identity and purpose
Who does Jesus call Himself? The Son of Man:
Daniel 7: 13 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
17 ‘The four great beasts are four kings that will rise from the earth. 18 But the holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever—yes, for ever and ever.’
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.”
Eventually, the Apostles will understand and fit this ministry of Jesus.
Acts 4: 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 Jesus is:
“‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’
12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
- Apostolic authority
We are building something here!
Ephesians 2: 19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
What is Scripture? II Tim 3: 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Where does Scripture come from?
II Peter 1: 16 For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” 18 We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.
19 We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
In setting aside the 27 different writings that are preserved for us that we call the New Testament, the early church had important standards of verification. One of the main ones is: Was this writing produced by an Apostle or a close associate of an Apostle?
Matthew: Apostle
Mark: Close associate of Peter
Luke: Close associate of Paul and careful historian (And Acts)
John: Apostle
Thirteen writings from the Apostle Paul
James: The brother of Jesus
Peter: Two letters
I, II, III John: Apostle
Jude: Jesus’ brother
Revelation: Apostle
Hebrews: Authorship unclear. Many early assumed Paul, probably not.
These people suffered for their Scriptures. The Romans collected them under duress! What writings are you willing to suffer and die for?
III. Solving the Competition Problem
- Pray for God to do for others
Try to help others win, especially those you are directly competing with. This is what service is!! And God defines what winning is. Back to the previous section. Peter says:
28 Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!”
29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
- Be the servant of all
This sounds better when it is less specific. Serve your fellow Apostles. Serve the Jewish leaders who are giving trouble?
Do not err on the side of competition and selfish ambition! Err on the side of service, giving and sacrifice! This is the consistent purpose of Jesus. Serving God by serving others.
- Act like Jesus did
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.”
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