Selfish Ambitions

13 May 2018 Michael Cloete Malelane Baptist Church Selfish Ambitions Reading: Mark 10:35-45 “Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.” “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?” “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, 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.” When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. 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. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 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.”” (Mark 10:35–45, NIV84) Introduction The disciples and Jesus are on the road going up to Jerusalem. You will recall that Jerusalem was the centre of hostility towards Jesus, and not only Jesus, but the disciples as well. There was a sense of hostility against all of them by the Jewish leaders (the Sanhedrin – ruling Jewish council) but they were now headed up to the city of Jerusalem for the Passover. Last week we looked at the third and final recorded words of Jesus to his disciples concerning his approaching death. It was the most detailed record of what would take place with him. And it very clearly portrayed the suffering that he would endure, and then the fact that he would be put to death as he was handed over by the Jewish leaders to the Gentiles (Roman authorities). Having just spoken these words concerning his own death, we see once again that the disciples still did not comprehend, 1) the fact that Jesus was going to die and not establish an earthly kingdom, and 2) the kind of life and attitude that is necessary and desirable (according to God’s will) for the subjects of the kingdom of Christ. To be fair, even in our day as Christians, with perfect hindsight, we can tend to walk around and live our lives contrary to that which is according to the will of God, and so we would do well to pay careful attention, and to then apply what we learn from the lives of the disciples to our own lives. 1. The Request (v.35-37) The first thing that we will note from our text this morning is this request that is brought by 2 of the disciples, James and John. Verse 35 reads: “Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”” (Mark 10:35, NIV84) Now we know from all that has already taken place in the Gospel of Mark that James and John were amongst the “foremost” of the disciples. They were 2 of the 3 that were considered the “inner circle” of Jesus’ disciples. Peter was the other disciple that formed part of this so-called “inner-circle”. It was James and John (along with Peter) who went into the house where the young girl had died, and Jesus went in and brought this little girl back to life. Only these three saw this resurrection. It was also James and John (along with Peter) who had ascended the mountain where Jesus had been transfigured before them, and Jesus’ glory was shown to them, and they heard the voice of God which said to them that this was truly God’s Son, and that they should listen to Him. They were also told by Jesus as they descended the mountain that they were not to tell anyone what they had seen when they were up there, until his resurrection…. Not that they understood what the resurrection was... Given all that they had experienced, and given the things that were revealed to them that were not revealed to the other disciples, it shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise to us that they had some lofty ambitions for themselves with respect to God’s kingdom!! And so, these two disciples, the brother James and John approach Jesus with the intention of bringing a request to Him. And so, they approach him and ask Him to do “whatever” they ask of Him. Here, dear friends, is a demonstration of the heart of man in all its self-centredness. Is this not the heart of man – that we seek to ask things of God that are beneficial to us, but that are very often not in accordance with God’s will!? “What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.” (James 4:1–3, NASB95) We are a people who ask with wrong motives, and all of this comes out of hearts that are so prone to desire things that are not in accordance with God’s will. A little later on, we will see in this very passage how the jealousy of the other disciples is aroused. The selfish desires of the two disciples, will arouse the jealousy of others, and will be the source of a conflict! The ambitious request from these two disciples as that Jesus give them whatever they ask for. But Christ has greater wisdom than to simply give a blanket agreement. Jesus is the one who knew what was in the hearts of these men, and to allow them to have anything would have certainly led to no good. And as we shall see, there are certain things which Christ Himself says is not for him to give!! And so, we read in verse 36… “And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?”” (Mark 10:36, NASB95) And the disciples then lay out their grand desires before Him in verse 37: “They said to Him, “Grant that we may sit, one on Your right and one on Your left, in Your glory.”” (Mark 10:37, NASB95) A couple of things are noteworthy in this request by the disciples. The first thing is that they still had not comprehended what Jesus had just explained to them concerning his death that was approaching. He has just given them very specific details about all the sufferings that he would face as he went up to Jerusalem to the Passover Feast, but they weren’t getting. Perhaps they thought there was going to be a massive reversal. Perhaps they thought that his words applied to someone other than him. But whatever the reason, they completely failed to grasp the implications of what he said. They were still with their “glorious kingdom on earth here and now” mindset. Secondly, we should note that what they were asking for was the most important and significant seats within a kingdom – the right hand and left-hand side of the ruler himself. These positions would have granted them significant power and authority within the kingdom. Consider by way of example the fact that Jesus has ascended to the right hand of the Father in heaven! “To which of the angels did God ever say, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”?” (Hebrews 1:13, NIV84) Notice in this verse that none of the angels, no matter how great angels may be, ever got an invitation to sit at the right hand of God. Furthermore, the right hand of God for Jesus implied the ability and authority to rule and reign. To gain a full idea of what is intended by Scripture when it speaks of Jesus being at the right hand of God, think back to the account of the stoning of Stephen. In Acts 7:55-57, we read these words: “But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him,” (Acts 7:55–57, NIV84) They could not listen to Stephen saying that Jesus was at the right hand of God. To them, it was blasphemy!! And so they stoned him to death! Consider then, that these disciples had not asked for something insignificant! They wanted positions of power and authority within the kingdom of Christ. They saw themselves as having the inside edge over the other disciples, and they wanted to make use of their advantage, and they wanted to ensure that they secured for themselves those grand positions! Paul wrote in Romans 12:16…. “Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.” (Romans 12:16, NASB95) Clearly these two disciples were doing quite the opposite. They had high estimations of themselves, and they sought to put themselves over and above the other disciples, and everyone else for that matter. Let us be weary dear friends of setting our own hearts above others, thinking that we are better than they are, and thinking that we are deserving of places of honour over and above others! 2. The Response (v.38-40) We’ve considered the request made by the disciples, and we can now go on to look at the response from Christ, from v.38-40. Jesus immediately recognises the foolishness of their request. He begins by saying to them in verse 38: “…“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?”” (Mark 10:38, NASB95) What precisely was Jesus asking his disciples as he poses this question to them? What does Jesus mean when he speaks of the cup that he is going to drink? And what does Jesus mean when speaks of this baptism with which he is baptised? Both terms have a similar meaning as Christ uses them here. In the Old Testament, when it spoke of drinking a cup, it referred to experiencing the fullness of something. That could either be the fullness of something positive, or the fullness of something negative. But to drink a cup referred to drinking of something in its fullness. The positive sense is used in the Old Testament in passages such as Ps 23:5… “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.” (Psalm 23:5, NASB95) In that text, the Psalmist speaks of the good things that have come to him in abundance. This cup of goodness is overflowing. Another example from the Old Testament which uses it in a positive way is Psalm 116:13, where the Psalmist writes: “I shall lift up the cup of salvation And call upon the name of the LORD.” (Psalm 116:13, NASB95) There is speaks the experience of salvation, and the fact that he would fully undergo that experience. In the negative sense (unfavourable) we find examples such as in Isaiah 51:17, which says… “Rouse yourself! Rouse yourself! Arise, O Jerusalem, You who have drunk from the LORD’S hand the cup of His anger; The chalice of reeling you have drained to the dregs.” (Isaiah 51:17, NASB95) Or we read the words in Habakkuk 2:16, “You will be filled with shame instead of glory. Now it is your turn! Drink and be exposed! The cup from the Lord’s right hand is coming around to you, and disgrace will cover your glory.” (Habakkuk 2:16, NIV84) And so, Christ speaks to His disciples and mentions to them this cup that he is to drink of. And the cup that he is speaking of is none other than the suffering that will come to Him as he enters Jerusalem, and prepares for his crucifixion. He’s already explained on numerous occasions to his disciples what must happen. They have not understood him. But now he asks them if they are ready to drink of this cup that he himself is going to drink. Furthermore, but really having the same meaning, he asks if they are prepared and ready to be baptised with the baptism with which he is baptised. This baptism again simply refers to the full experience, of being utterly immersed in something. Are they prepared to be utterly immersed in the suffering that he will face as He now walks to Jerusalem? Commentator William Hendricksen, in speaking about this drinking of the cup, and the baptism, and their relation to one another writes: If there is any real difference in the meaning of the two halves of Christ’s question, it might well be that drinking the cup points rather to Christ’s active; being baptized, to his passive obedience. Jesus rendered both. One might even say that the two are inseparable: each views Christ’s obedience from its own aspect: he chose to die, and he submitted to the blows that descended upon him.1 Indeed, Christ is heading to that place of suffering, and he will fully go through the experience not only of some simple measure of suffering, he will not only experience the mockery and contempt of mere human lips, and the scourging and infliction brought on by mere human hands, but he will experience the divine wrath of the living God being poured out on him as he suffers on behalf of the many!! The cup that he will endure, the baptism that he will go through in his death would be a most dreadful experience! And so, his question to his disciples is reasonable: Are you able to experience and go through what is coming to me? Are you able to go through this? Are you prepared to truly follow me, irrespective of the suffering and pain that it will bring? Well, the disciples’ response is found in verse 39, and very simply that response is “We can!!”. No doubt much of what is driving that response is the fact that they still believe in Jesus as the mighty political Messiah, and they still don’t realise that the way that the Saviour is going is the way of suffering. They do not realise that the cup and the baptism of which Christ speaks is going to mean such suffering and torment!! Indeed, their words are proven to be spoken out of ignorance, or at the very least far too hastily, when all of the disciples fled the scene as Jesus was to be arrested later on! As we read further in verse 39-40: Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, but to sit on My right or on My left, this is not Mine to give; but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”” (Mark 10:3940, NASB95) Christ’s first assertion to these disciples is this: you are indeed going to drink of my cup, and be baptised with my baptism. Christ didn’t mean this in the full sense in which he would suffer – because no one would suffer the kind of suffering that Jesus went through! But suffer they would!! We read in Acts 12:1-2 “Now about that time Herod the king laid hands on some who belonged to the church in order to mistreat them. And he had James the brother of John put to death with a sword.” (Acts 12:1–2, NASB95) James, one of those brothers, was put to death with the sword because he believed in Jesus Christ, and he honoured Christ as Lord. In other words, James was put to death with the sword because he engaged in the work of the Kingdom of Christ! Furthermore, we read that this very apostle John was later banished for his own proclamation of the kingdom of Christ (Revelation 1:9)… “I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.” (Revelation 1:9, NIV84) Indeed, he came to experience the suffering that went along with the kingdom. Little did James and John know when they said those words to Christ in this passage, that their lives would be so radically impacted with the true meaning of those words. They truly would drink of that cup, and be baptised with that baptism. They would suffer for the name of Christ. Dear friends, to truly be a disciple of Jesus Christ, requires that we be prepared to drink of that cup ourselves, and be baptised with that baptism ourselves! In 2 Corinthians 1:5, Paul speaks about the sufferings of Christ being ours in abundance. In 1 Peter 4:13 we read: “But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” (1 Peter 4:13, NIV84) As a follower of Christ, have you realised and accepted that you may be required to go through many trials and sufferings for His names sake? We must be prepared for that! But let us be encouraged – not only do we share in the sufferings of Jesus Christ, but we are also comforted by our union with Christ. In the second half of 2 Corinthians 1:5, Paul says “so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.” Jesus very clearly tells these two disciples that they are indeed going to suffer. But he also goes further to say to them that the giving of positions in glory at his right hand and his left hand are not for him to now give, because they have been fixed by the Father according to his eternal decree. Those places are not for Christ to give, but they are for those for whom they have been prepared. 3. Man-Centred Attitudes (v.41-42) The third thing that we consider from our text this morning is Man-Centred Attitudes!! As these two disciples come to Jesus and attempt to gain their high positions and places of authority, the other disciples looking on are not happy about this at all. Verse 41: “Hearing this, the ten began to feel indignant with James and John.” (Mark 10:41, NASB95) They are angry! This is the same kind of indignation that Jesus felt towards the disciples when they were preventing the little children from being brought to him for him to lay his hands on them. Except that in that case, Christ’s indignation was righteous and warranted. In this case, it’s nothing but jealousy in the hearts of the disciples! The other 10 disciples here are not concerned with Jesus or God receiving glory and honour and praise, they are concerned that they are not going to receive glory and honour, because these two other guys are trying to jump ahead! This is the typical jealousy of the heart of man that we see in people from childhood! Proverbs 27:4 says… “Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?” (Proverbs 27:4, NIV84) That gives you some kind of indication of the power of this emotion! And this kind of jealousy never leads to any good! Instead, it leads to all sorts of evil! It was this kind of jealousy that Joseph’s brothers had against him when he told them of his dream, that they were all bowing down to him, which then eventually led them to throw him into a well, and later sell him into slavery, and then make up a lie to their father. It was this kind of jealousy that was festering in the church of Corinth, where Paul had to address them saying: “Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men?” (1 Corinthians 3:1–3, NIV84) Let us be certain friends, that when such jealousy against one another exists, it is a breeding ground for all sorts other evils. We would do well to guard our hearts against such jealousy against one another. Listen to the warning James gives in James 3:13-16… “But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.” (James 3:14–16, NIV84) These disciples were engaged in a battle of being better than the other, and they were at risk of engaging in a civil warfare against one another, not realising that this was not their kingdom to rule over, but Christs!! How many times don’t divisions occur within churches because of a failure to recognise that we are not the masters of the church, but Christ is?! Jesus sees the jealousy building, and he notes the tension in the air amongst the disciples, and so we read in verse 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.” (Mark 10:42, NIV84) Christ gives to his disciples a description of the attitudes that are common and typical of those who are living under the influence of sin and evil. It is those who are under the power of the evil one, those who are of the world, in the words of Christ “the rulers of the Gentiles” – those who do not know God, and are not of God’s people, who lord it over those under them, and exercise a heavy-handed kind of authority over those who are under them. It’s interesting to note that Christ raises this matter of the manner of ruling over others in light of the request of these two disciples. He knows that the heart of man is prone to seek a position of authority over others. That is typical of earthly wisdom (consider the words that we looked at from James 3 earlier!) The fact is that if you see a person ruling with an attitude of heavy-handed forcefulness, then they are most certainly not ruling in the spirit of Christ (in whatever position of authority that is…) • Workplace hierarchy • Family structures – father / mother; parents / children • Government authority • Church - Elder It is none other than worldly wisdom which leads to this kind of rulership. It is none other than a sense of pride in one’s position that leads to this kind of leadership. The disciples are here challenged to think carefully about their aspirations to leadership and positions of authority, because as Christ is about to continue to explain, leadership under the Lordship of Jesus Christ is radically different from leadership of the world! Proverbs 16:5 says: “The Lord detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.” (Proverbs 16:5, NIV84) And Proverbs 21:4 says: “Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin!” (Proverbs 21:4, NIV84) In God’s kingdom, pride is out of place. Even when taking up a position of authority and leadership over others, that position is never to be used in a sinful, pride-filled manner. 4. Christ-Centred Attitudes (v.43-45) In stark contrast to this kind of heavy-handed leadership and authority, Christ goes on to describe Christ-centred attitudes in leadership in verses 43-45. Look with me at verses 43-44… “Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.” (Mark 10:43–44, NIV84) True kingdom leadership is found in dying to self, and serving others! This kind of leadership goes against the very grain of our human reasoning. It works against every fibre of our natural, sinful selves!! But if we are going to be imitators of Christ, and if we are going to lead God-honouring lives, then we must humble ourselves, and become servants and slaves to others! This kind of radical lifestyle is going to impact on who you are as a person. This radical statement by Christ is going to have a profound effect on you if you are truly living it out. And let me add: to grow in Christ-likeness, is to grow in humility in the way that you serve others. This has implications for every single Christian! You cannot claim that since you are not in any kind of leadership position, that this has no bearing on your own life. This is what it means to be Christian! This is what it means to be a Christ-follower! Consider these verses with me… 1 Peter 5:5… “…All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”” (1 Peter 5:5, NIV84) James 3:13 says… “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.” (James 3:13, NIV84) The life that we live as Christians in Christ is a life of deeds done. We are to be working out our faith. But what is the attitude with which we do those deeds? It is an attitude of humility! That’s how we treat other people! Consider Ephesians 5:21… “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” (Ephesians 5:21, NIV84) This verse applies to all of us!! It is a verse that finds application in the church, the body of Jesus Christ, as the members of that church body interact with one another and live their lives together. What a profound lesson this was for the disciples. And what a profound lesson this is for us today! What is our attitude towards others? How are you viewing others within the body? How are you treating others within the body? How are you speaking to others, speaking about others within the body of Christ? Are you clothing yourselves in this humility that Jesus speaks of here? In our passage in Mark, Jesus goes on to describe the perfect, most profound example that could ever be presented of such humility. Verse 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.”” (Mark 10:45, NIV84) Even the Son of Man… Do you realise what he is saying there? Even the one who came as the Messiah; even the one who is co-equal with the Father; even the one by whom and through whom all things were created; even the one who by His very nature is that creator of all things has all authority in heaven and on earth; even this man, did not come to be served by those whom he had created, but rather, he came to serve them. And not only did he come to serve them, but he came to give his life as a ransom for many!!! He came to lay down his very life for those who rejected him, and spit on him, and mocked him, and crucified him. He gave his own life up for them! This was God!!! How dare we as mere created earthly people elevate ourselves above others when our Saviour laid down his very life for others? How is it that we can continue to live in pride of heart, and have arrogance within us if we have truly come to understand the humility of our Saviour? Recorded for us in John’s Gospel, chapter 13, is that beautiful picture of Christ as he bends down and begins to wash the feet of his disciples. That was a lowly, lowly task. There were objections from Peter as Jesus began to do that. He said “Never shall you wash my feet.” Peter understood that this was no task for your average person in society, let alone for a Messiah / King!! That was a task reserved for slaves! But Christ washed the feet of the disciples. And he did that because he needed to show his disciples what kind of life they should live. “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” (John 13:14–15, NIV84) Friends, this was not a suggestion by Jesus. This was a requirement! He has instructed us what to do. This is a necessary part of our lives together as a family in Christ. This is what we are to do for one another – wash each other’s feet. Meaning live our lives in service of one another! Applications As we begin to draw to a close, let me encourage you from this passage today. Firstly, I ask you the question: Have you experienced, have you come to know, the beautiful grace of God? Have you come to recognise that the Saviour of the world, the king over all creation, is the very one who humbled himself, who came to serve those who deserved nothing but the wrath of the eternal God? When we begin to drink deep of the previous love of Jesus Christ for us; when we truly begin to understand this great love that was demonstrated for us on the cross, it will inevitably drive us to a deep response of thanksgiving and praise. When we truly understand the cross, and the extent of the grace bestowed upon us on this cross, we cannot but come away with great humility of mind. Andrew Murray very wisely remarked that humility is not a matter of us beating ourselves over the brow about our sinfulness, repeatedly telling ourselves how wicked we are, but rather it will come as we understand the grace that delivers us from our sin. Listen to his words: I fear that there are not a few who, by strong expressions of self-condemnation and self-denunciation, have sought to humble themselves, and have to confess with sorrow that a humble spirit, a "heart of humility," with its accompaniments of kindness and compassion, of meekness and forbearance, is still as far off as ever. Being occupied with self, even amid the deepest self-abhorrence, can never free us from self. It is the revelation of God, not only by the law condemning sin but by His grace delivering from it, that will make us humble. The law may break the heart with fear; it is only grace that works that sweet humility which becomes a joy to the soul as its second nature.2 Have you come to know that grace that works this sweet humility which becomes a joy to the soul? With that said, let me encourage us as a church to pursue unity and love for one another. The humility that comes from the grace of God leads us to a place where we unite our hearts in serving Christ as we serve one another. May it never be that in our midst we have the desire to show ourselves better than others. May it never be that there is jealousy and selfish ambition within our relationships with one another (whatever those relationships). Rather, let us get rid of jealousy (stay rid of jealousy?) and let us instead continually fill ourselves with heavenly wisdom. In James 3:17-18, after having described this jealousy and selfish ambition as earthly, natural and demonic, James goes on to describe the wisdom that comes from above, and that which should mark the saints in their interactions with one another: “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.” (James 3:17–18, NIV84) May we strive, by the grace of God, to be that people!