Sermon Tone Analysis

Encourage to open Bibles to Mark 10.

Jesus’ ministry has changed- He is headed for Jerusalem and teaching His disciples.

Much less emphasis on healings, miracles, interactions with strangers, and a renewed emphasis on the content of His teaching for His followers.

Servanthood, predictions of His death and resurrection, private conversations concerning divorce, hell, riches, etc.

Jesus has somewhat generally turned His attention away from the needs of those outside of His followers and has aimed His ministry at the preparedness of His disciples.

This makes sense.

As He is predicting yet again, Jesus will soon be arrested, tried and killed, only to be resurrected and shortly after to ascend to the Father.

But we also find here a dual-natured model for ministry.

Meeting the needs of those outside the body.

Equipping and preparing those within the body.

Read Mark 10:32-45- And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them.

And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid.

And taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him, saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles.

And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him.

And after three days he will rise.”

And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.”

And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?”

And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.”

Jesus said to them, “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?”

And they said to him, “We are able.”

And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”

And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John.

And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.

But it shall not be so among you.

But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Pray.

In a text where much is repetitive, we must look closely for the important details.

1. Jesus’ Mission Statement.

For the third time now, we see Jesus’ statement of what is awaiting Him when He gets to Jerusalem.

Final time that Jesus predicts what is coming up in Jerusalem.

Each prediction has included new details.

Here, the major detail that is given might be considered the mission statement for Jesus.

The How has been described, now the Why is given.

Jesus is going to Jerusalem to serve humanity through the giving of His life as a ransom.

Ransom- consider the movies.

Who is holding them captive?

What is the danger?

What is the necessary payment?

How great is the cost?

What is the danger?

Sinners held captive by their sin.

Romans 6:6-8- We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.

For one who has died has been set free from sin.

Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.

Romans 6:17-18- But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.

What is the danger of the captivity?

John 3:36- Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

How great is the cost?

The death of Jesus, but more than that.

Jesus received the wrath of God- 1 John 4:10- In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

This is what ought to come to mind when we consider that Jesus is going to Jerusalem.

Each prediction brings the cluelessness of the disciples, and once again, we find this to be true.

2. The Disciples’ Poor Memory.

The three times he has predicted- First Peter is rebuked, Second disciples are taught about service, Third disciples approach Jesus.

Why does Mark repeat?

Man is forgetful.

Always.

Becky Wecky.

Forgetful of things we would like to remember, let alone that which we would rather forget.

First time, Jesus told them that they also would suffer.

Second time, Jesus told them they must serve everyone.

It is in our nature to forget, especially the things that most challenge our deeply held beliefs.

God reminds, this is part of His dealing with humanity.

God has always reminded- festivals, giving of the Commands, etc.

Exodus 20:1-2- And God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

The Disciples are unable, or unwilling, to see that the path to glory is through suffering.

Augustine- “They were on the lookout, but did not see by what way.

In order that they might come to their homeland in due order, the Lord called them back to the narrow way.

For the homeland is on high and the way to it is lowly.

The homeland is life in Christ; the way is dying with Christ.

The way is suffering with Christ; the goal is abiding with Him eternally.

Why do you seek the homeland if you are not seeking the way to it?”

Caedmon’s Call- Had to walk the rocks to see the mountain view.

They aren’t getting it.

This is why Mark includes all three accounts.

Why much of our text is repetitive.

How difficult is it to remember the teachings of Jesus?

This is why we do what we do.

Necessity of gathering.

In fact, notice the two images- the cup and the baptism.

Communion- a constant reminder of the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Baptism- a necessary reminder of our own death and resurrection.

3. A Hurried Pace.

Interesting detail from Mark here.

Remember, Peter was likely his eye-witness.

Jesus is out in front, disciples and crowds were astonished and even afraid by His pace.

Stone walk.

What is on Jesus’ mind?

His coming death and resurrection, for the purpose of ransoming mankind from the consequences of their sins.

We would drag our feet, but not Jesus.

Why?

Dragging my feet to get out the door.

His Love.