Theme: Service
Through “Self”
1) Denial of
the sinful “self”
2) Renewal of
the faithful “self”
The Struggle
of Self; it’s a difficult thing to understand. Two little children are playing
on their own; plenty of toys for both. But before long, one toy in particular
takes the spotlight. Both kids want it. It’s as if everything else is
non-existent. They each must have it, and they begin to whine and fight over
it. It’s not that either of them really needs it. But it’s that they can’t
stand to see the other have it. The “self” must prevail.
A husband and
wife live happily together with three children. They are comfortable and have
no need let alone lack of modern convenience. But one day the husband hears
about a job promotion for his buddy down the road. It gets him thinking; how
could my life be better? What do I want? Why can’t I catch a break? Nothing has
really changed to affect his previous contentment. But all of the sudden he’s
miserable. He can’t stand the thought of someone out there having it better
than he does. He hates the idea that his “self” could lack in any way. And
overnight, the seeds of envy and discord are sown.
A teenage girl
has a smart phone and tablet. She’s adorned with the latest fashions and has no
shortage of friends. She’s popular and well-liked and most importantly she has
the rock solid confidence of faith in her Savior, Jesus Christ. Yet, when minor
things in life go wrong, she feels like the universe is crumbling. She
struggles with an assignment or test and she immediately is overcome with
stress. Her significant other of 6 months dumps her and she doesn’t see any way
to move forward. Why? She’s still blessed. She has her entire life ahead of
her. Yet, her “self” is affected.
There’s no
doubt that we all struggle when our cares, ideas, or goals are threatened;
because those are the things that define who we are. An attack against them is
a direct attack against us. But is there really a reason for alarm? Could it be
that in many ways we are a bit too enamored with ourselves? Consider another
example, this time from Mark’s Gospel; a time when two brothers struggled with
the same thing:
Mark 10:35-41 Then James and John, the sons of
Zebedee, came to Him, saying, "Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever
we ask." 36 And He said to them, "What do you want Me to do for
you?" 37 They said to Him, "Grant us that we may sit, one on Your
right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory." 38 But Jesus said
to them, "You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that
I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" 39 They
said to Him, "We are able." So Jesus said to them, "You will
indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you
will be baptized; 40 "but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not
Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared." 41 And when
the ten heard it, they began to be greatly displeased with James and John.
James and John
didn’t ask for this honorable distinction because they needed it. Life was more
than good enough for them. They, of all people, had no reason to complain or
want more because they were able to walk and talk with` the very Son of God!
Yet, they wanted more. The “self” inside each of them begged for a little more
attention and a little higher status; something to separate them from the rest
of the pack. They were like a couple of kids fighting over the same toy, when
they had hundreds of others to choose from. But that’s what the inborn human “self”
does. It wants to be distinguished from the rest, even if it already has every
grace and blessing.
This was
nothing new to Jesus. He knows us better than we know ourselves, and certainly
He knew James and John well. If you follow the context before these verses, you
can see how Jesus was patiently and persistently addressing this problem of
“self-centeredness” in His disciples. At the end of Mark 8 Jesus predicted
quite frankly that He would have to suffer and die in Jerusalem and rise three
days later. When Peter tried to interject himself
into the situation and “protect” Jesus, he was met with a sharp rebuke from
His Lord: “Get behind Satan, you’re not
mindful of God’s plan.” Shortly after that exchange Jesus instructed all of
the 12 by saying, “Whoever desires to
come after Me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me (Mark
8:34).”
In chapter 9,
Jesus predicted His death and resurrection a second time and followed it by
saying this: “If anyone desires to be
first, he shall be last of all and servant of all (Mark 9:35).” Therefore
it shouldn’t surprise us that as we reach the words of our text in chapter 10,
Jesus followed the same pattern for a third time. Immediately before these
words, Jesus predicted His death and resurrection and then replied to James’
and John’s request. And for a third time, His answer is the same. There is no
room for your sinful “self” in the kingdom of God. Discipleship is not a beauty
contest about who is wisest or greatest. Discipleship is about survival, plain
and simple. And the number one threat to James and John was their own sinful
hearts. The inward desire to have more and more, even though they had
everything they needed. The competitive nature to be better or to have a leg up
on others; to be viewed with the greatest esteem and to receive the loudest
praise.
Jesus was right,
they had no idea what they asked for; but they would get it. Not what they
wanted or what they thought, but they would get what all Christians are in for.
The cup of hardship and the baptism of persecution. James and John wanted
something to stoke their egos; to inflate their sinful natures. But what they
received by faith in Jesus was the opposite and they are eternally grateful for
it. Because the path of the sinful “self” leads to destruction. As Christians,
we must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of heaven, but the kingdom
is where we will be. Acts 12 tells us what happened to James. He didn’t receive
fanfare and praise as the greatest apostle. He didn’t live in a beautiful
mansion and exercise unlimited power over the rest of pitiful humanity. No, one
short verse sums up James’ legacy: V.2
“Then Herod killed James, the brother of John, with the sword.” That’s it.
That’s what James received for following Jesus.
As for John,
he didn’t suffer martyrdom but he did live in exile. He survived longer than
the rest of the twelve, but many could argue that the isolationism and
loneliness was even worse. Indeed, how very far from the truth James and John
were as they dreamt of these lofty goals in this world. It’s a difference
temporary, present satisfaction leading to eternal condemnation and temporary
pain leading to eternal glory. But they were no different than the rest of the
12, as we see from the their reaction to this peculiar request, from vv. 42-45:
But Jesus called them to Himself and
said to them, "You know that those who are considered rulers over the
Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.
43 "Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great
among you shall be your servant. 44 "And whoever of you desires to be
first shall 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 a ransom for many."
This was one
of the last times that Jesus would have to talk to His disciples about this.
Holy week, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Ascension were all on the doorstep.
Soon, events would be put into motion that could not be reversed and the 12
would be tasked with bringing the truth of salvation to the ends of the earth. You
can sense the seriousness of the times in the fact that Jesus doesn’t mince
words. Unbelieving rulers abuse authority and rights in order to keep those
under them in subjection. This wasn’t the way God’s Church would be and it
started with the disciples and their own self-denial. They needed to be the
examples. They needed to set the tone. But they wouldn’t be alone. Up to this
point they had failed miserably; so much so that Jesus had to address the exact
same point on three separate occasions.
They would
fail in the future too. It wouldn’t be long before each of the disciples were
running scared as Jesus walked the path to the cross alone. Shortly after that
moment of cowardice they would be huddled together behind locked doors; feeling
as if everything had fallen apart. But no matter how bad things were, or how
bad they would get, they would never be left alone. They fled from Jesus, but
He would never flee them. His Church was different. Different in that it was
not about the sinful “self” but about the Savior. But also different in that it
would never fade away, because it was established by One who came to serve, not
to be served. One who came and set the example and established the tone.
What we see in
all this for our lives is that Jesus does care for a “self.” Not the self that
seeks its own or that struggles to be called “greatest” in the kingdom of
heaven. Jesus cares for the “self” that is an individual lost in sin and
unbelief who needs renewal. Unlike other religious leaders, Jesus did not come
to be served. He came to help; to serve others. But in order to do that, He had
to come for you, as a unique individual, as a “self.” Part of the beauty of
God’s kingdom is that it’s meant for every single person. It’s not a kingdom
where everyone blends in together and has no individual identity. Jesus knows
you by name and He daily calls to you through the Gospel. He wants you to be part of His Church, just as
you are; with everything that makes you unique and one of a kind.
You, as an
individual, were so important to Jesus that He willingly sacrificed himself to pay for your sins. He
mentions the great love He has for sinners with one word in our text, from
verse 40, the word “prepared.”
That’s what Jesus did for you. He prepared salvation for you. Jesus didn’t do
this for a random portion of people with whom He has no connection. Neither did
He leave anyone out; or forget anyone because they weren’t important enough.
The preparation of salvation was accomplished for each individual person. Jesus
went to the cross, knowing your very name, who you would be, what you would
make of yourself in life; even knowing all of your failures ahead of time. You
are that precious to Him, and He values your unique identity, your “self”, so
much that He wants you to serve Him through it.
That’s why
Paul, in another area of Scripture, likened the Church to a body. A body has
several unique parts; all with their own particular function. But no matter how
different they are, they all serve the same purpose, and have the same goal of
getting the entire body to function properly. That’s the true image of “self.”
We are not part of God’s kingdom to serve ourselves; to see who is the greatest
over all. We already know that that title belongs to Jesus alone. That’s the
self we need to do away with through contrition and repentance. But Jesus still
takes you as you are. He wants you to be His own child, by name; a unique “self,”
an individual identity whom He has redeemed by His blood on the cross. Through
that faithful self, what we typically call the “new man” you can serve God and
you can serve your fellow Christian; for the building up of the Church.
Sometimes we
forget how important the “self” that serves Jesus is. Sometimes we get caught
up in the politics of the congregation and we wonder how we, as individuals,
can possibly make a difference. Not everyone is a pastor or teacher. In fact,
the make-up of our congregation relies on relatively few leaders who have the
task of representing the entire body. How can the proper “self” exist in that
format? What can regular, individual Christians do? The truth is, it’s the
regular members who make the difference. If they don’t a congregation won’t
work well at all. Just as Jesus was teaching to James and John, it’s the same
in a Christian congregation. Those who serve are the ones who change the world.
Good leaders act upon what the servants are already doing; they don’t dictate
what must be done. In a church, the leaders need be the greatest examples of
service. It’s the entire body of members, working as individual people, who
determine the work and goals of the congregation. The leaders are simply
present to guide the course.
There are
plenty of ways to serve God with your “self.” Not through the sinful actions
that come from a selfish heart; from the old Adam as it’s called. But the “self”
that has been regenerated and renewed through the Gospel of forgiveness. The “self”
that serves in true righteousness and holiness; because that’s what Jesus has
given it. Jesus taught you the truth, provided you the example, and paved for
you the path of victory. It’s not an easy path; just look at the life of James
and John. Nor is it a popular path; just look at what we humans want by nature.
But it is the path of Jesus. Therefore, greatness is in serving Him. Amen.
The peace of
God which surpasses all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ
Jesus. Amen.
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