True Greatness
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What does a great life look like? In 100 years time how would we like to be remembered?
BACON
What would you like someone to write on yours?
In this large section of Mark from 8 through 10, 3 times Jesus predicts his death, and tells his disciples what it will look like to follow him. But they are still caught up in greatness. Mark has given such emphasis about what it means to follow Jesus, so we are continuing on from last week, we are to follow Jesus wahtevr the cost - but what will it look like. Great Christian life? The greatest life is the cross shaped life.
Live the cross shaped life
Live the cross shaped life
We are going to see that its the mercy of Jesus seen at the cross that is to undderpin the whole Christian life. As passage is read, see if you can spot contrast between responses to Jesus, and who is to be our model of what it looks like to follow him?
Reading: Mark 10:32-52
What will a truly great life following Jesus look like?
The greatest life
The greatest life
The greatest life
two things - first - its a life...
Accomplished at the cross
Accomplished at the cross
Last week we saw that the Christian life is a call to follow Jesus whatever the cost. But as we met the rich young ruler, we get some devastating news.
The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?”
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”
Brutal news
Callling that Jesus makes is impossible for us. If we want to see that, we only need to look at the disciples who are still struggling to understand. They declare unwavering commitment, yet don’t understand what that will mean. They still think that Jesus being the Messiah is about victory over the Romans and glory now. And when the going gets tough - depsite best intentions, they will all run.
graph of performance of disciples?
We are no different. By our own strneght ability, we cannot live the Christian life.
But good news is. all things are possible with God.
How is it possible for us to live great life - how does Jesus make it possible for us to have this life? Because he has accomplished it for us.
Becuase Jesus came not to deal primiariy with Romans but with greatest barrier to life - sin and death. Picked up in this section as language of what will happen to Jesus intensifies from chapter 8-10
“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, who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.”
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.”
How is greatness possible. Not by pursuing power - but as Jesus lays down his life. Key word is ransom.
Captured in word ransom. Seen in films, someone is held captive, and captor agrees only to let them go on receipt of vast payment.
Historically the greatest ransom paid was that paid for Atahualpa, the last emperor of the Incas, to the Spanish conquerer Francisco Pizarro in in early 16th century worth modern day (£1 billion).
What does Jesus mean when he talks about giving life as ransom. Talking about paying the payment for our freedom from our slavery - not to circumstances, but to sin and death. Closely linked with word redeem - and often looks back to God’s recue of his people in Exodus from the tyranny of Pharoah. In same way Jesus has redeemed us from the tyranny of Satan and Sin - but more than that.
What is this ransom Jesus has paid. What price is on our heads? Jesus talks about baptism and this cup, and language is picked up from Isaiah and Jermiah, it’s talking about God’s wrath against sin. Jesus is at the cross would take the cup - drink it up. Consumed it, he would be baptised in it - word relating to washing - idea of being submerged. Jesus would face the full immersion of wrath of God - for us. His blood paying our ransom.
That we might recieve mercy. That we might be set free.
See how incredible this is. That the King of Kings, God’s chosen Messiah, His Son, would lay down his life for us.
SLIDE - CEO
I wonder if you heard story about CEO of amazon riches man in world, goes to warehouse, finds one of the Janitors, you are looking tired, let me finish mopping the loos. Why don’t you take my car, drive to one of my houses and take a nap. I’ll get the bus.
haven’t heard - Wouldn’t happen
But in gospel what we read is the Maker and ruler of all, instead of mopping the floor gives up his life to death. As the greatest King wears not a crown of glory
SLIDE - CROWN OF THORNS
but a crown of thorns. That is where we see his greatness. As there he achieves his purposes as one who came to rescue, to redeem, so the we might know the glory, the joy of right relationship with our maker, and eternity in perfect new world. As his rises from the dead and offers eternal life. The greatest life. Empowered at the cross.
So where does this great life begin.
Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
SLIDE - BARTIMEAUS
This is why Mark tells us about Bartimaeus at this point. included in this section, bu the repeated question. What do you want me to do for you? Asked to J&J and then B
Contrast between disciples missunderstanding at Bartimaeus grasp of gospel.
How do we receieve this incredible rescue, this gift, this life. As we do what Bartimaeus does.
Recognise we are beggers who bring nothing
Recognise who Jesus is
Come to him on basis of his mercy.
And what does Jesus do for us?
Open’s our Spiritually blind eyes to see him rightly. That we migth know him and enjoy him. Because he is the goal, to follow him is the greatest life. Bartimaeus though blind see more than disciples.
And as he is given physical sight what does he do? Follows Jesus.
(world was his oyster, but his greatest desire is Jesus)
Beginning of greatest life, is found at the foot of the cross, and it continues there.
Jesus has paid our ransom, and opened our eyes to see him - but whole Christian life is one of resting in Jesus mercy, and asking him to help us see.
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,
This dependence on Jesus mercy not just start but heart. Cross is not just the start but the heart. Whole Christian life is to be spend spiritually on our knees at the foot of cross, that is where power to live for Jesus lies - and also what the Christian life looks like.
SLIDE - SHAPED AT THE CROSS
Shaped at the cross
Shaped at the cross
Disciples have given up so much to follow yet still struggle to get what following Jesus is really about.
Still on this journey seeking glory for themselves - pursuing their selfish ambition.
How often if we are honest we let our view of Christian life follow their example.
Most obvious form is properity gospel: your best life now. God’s greatest is desire is for you to be rich, wealthy healthy. It’s a gospel that says you are number 1.
It is a gospel will leave us empty and unfulfilled, and it is not gospel of Jesus Christ. He did not save us from our self centredness so that we can be self centred.
Saved us to serve.
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.”
How many times do we hear something like this in last few chapters.
Greatest life we can live is one of service under our true King Jesus.
It’s a life that is other person centred. How counter cultural is this.
World and so much influence on us -
“YOU ARE NUMBER 1
Yes of course help others - but not at cost of own comfort or success or well being.
How often do we find that we follow Jesus, but only for what we hope to get out of him - now. Disciples
But goal of Christian life isn’t what Jesus might give, but Jesus himself. A right relationship with God who made us - that is where true fullness is to be found. As we say
“JESUS IS NUMBER 1”
As he saves us from our self centredness and self dependence, as he satisfies our soul, with his peace and assurance, with his goodness, with joy, and calls us to follow him - he calls us to a life of love - a life of service.
As he modelled it for. Giving up everything out of love for those he came to save.
When we recognise that we are but dust, sinners before a Holy God, and see Jesus, who in his mercy has made us children, and given us everything we need for all eternity, then it frees us to serve him, and others. In fact it becomes our joy.
SLIDE - ROMANS 12:1
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
We have been given most priveleged position - Son’s and daughters of the King of Kings. who will reign for ever. What do the children of the King do - carry out his will in his world. In service. That is where true greatness lies.
SLIDE - DARK MARK
Illustration of being marked (Harry potter Dark Mark).
SLIDE - CROSS
Do we want to be marked by the cross.. Defined not by own greatness - but what Jesus has done for us. AND through dependence, following in his footsteps.
We want to look back see the difference we made. Let’s live at the foot of the cross, and in service of our King and other.
Jesus says true greatness is found as we give ourselves in service
How can we make a difference - How can we bear fruit in Northfield
As we worship Jesus - the means and the model for the Christian life. As we daily depend on his mercy. And as we walk in his footsteps living lives of radical, self sacrificial, other person centred love -serving each others, and our community with good deeds and with the gospel.