Mark (23)

child’s position in 1st century. Point: its easy to serve when your going to receive something for it. However, serving those who are not capable of giving anything in return is the kind of sacrificial service Jesus is teaching His disciples.

Point: He is teaching them to serve without distinction, and without expecting anything in return.

The statement concerning receiving a child such as this in my name, is an important reminder of how Jesus received us. While we were still helpless, while we were dead in trespasses and sins, while were had no ability or desire of loving Him, He received us according to His grace. He showed us hospitality and love by offering us the free gift of salvation by faith.

Also notice the direct connection Jesus makes between those who welcome/receive /serve those who are helpless and welcoming/ receiving/ serving Jesus and the Father. Jesus says, in Matthew 25:31-40 .

Matthew 25:31–40 ESV

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

This is not saying that a person inherits the kingdom because they do good things, it is saying that those who have truly been born again and have a relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ will serve like Jesus served. And when we serve the least of these, we are in effect serving Christ.

Closing: How is this possible? What makes a disciple of Jesus able to serve in this way? What is needed in order to serve in this way?

How can we set our minds on the things of God?

1. Be converted. Must come low before the cross in order to be made right with God.

2. Be encouraged. The Holy Spirit helps us to stay low with the kind of attitude like John the Baptist, who said “He must increase and I must decrease.”

a. When our minds are being renewed with the truth of God’s word, we are reminded of who we are in Christ. Our true identity as sons and daughters of Christ helps us then to behave like Christ and serve others without distinction. For example: Look at John 13:1-5

b. Be encouraged, as a body of Christ we are doing this. Taking care of aging parents, caring for spouses who are sick, taking meals to families, raising children, watching out for neighbors, teaching parents, construction projects, and on and on and on. But the coolest part of the service that most of you are doing is that I have no idea about what it is. So much sacrificial service goes on noticed, because that’s exactly how Jesus taught us to serve.

c.Be encouraged, that according to Philippians 1:6 He who started a good work is going to complete that work. And yes, each of us who are truly followers of Christ will need to continue to have our self centered pride broken so that Christ might use us for His glory to serve those around us. Our pride must continue to be weakened so we might serve one another in genuine humility. And so we close with this joyful gospel reminder from Philippians 2

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