Mark 10:41-45 - September 24, 2010

Mark 10: 41-45 “When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. 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. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must 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 as a ransom for many."

Has your boldness ever been offensive to anyone else? Verses 41-45 provide another insightful glimpse into the impact of our immaturity on one another. In the preceding verses James and John have boldly and presumptuously asked to be placed at the Lord’s right and left hand in eternity. With this request they have asked the Lord to elevate them above the other disciples. What follows in the reaction of the disciples is a clear picture of a common condition within the body of Christ; offense! How often the members of the body of Christ become offended when one among them begins to rise up in boldness and ask great things of God on a personal level. It is clear in the response of the disciples that they are all still struggling with the issue of forming their identity on a right foundation.

The offense of the disciples to the request of James and John exposes an underlying tension over the issues of prominence and position that existed within the hearts of many of the disciples. The request of James and John has created an undercurrent of indignation and division amongst the disciples and so Jesus calls them together to confront what has been exposed by this request. (Oh, how wonderful is the Lord’s ability to use our brokenness as His opportunity!)

Jesus begins to address the disciples by giving them an example of the negative within the context of leadership and unity. Jesus points to the leadership style of the Gentiles and their high officials as a model of bad behavior only to turn and say strongly “not so with you!” Once again demonstrating how He can address a multiplicity of issue from the context of one event Jesus now uses the request of the two as an opportunity to confront this root of competition and jealousy in the core of His leadership team.

Jesus effectively lays an entirely different foundation for the leadership style of His people. He completely shatters the paradigm for leadership and power that has been the foundation of the disciple’s lives and personal experience. “Do you want to be great, be the servant of all! Do you want to be first be a slave of everyone!” What a radical shift from what they had always seen and known. Serve one another in love!!!

Jesus has used one incident to confront multiple issues and much shaking is obviously working through the heart of His team as they face their wrong perspectives and the Holy Spirit convicts each one concerning their own need for change. As a capstone to this intense series of exchanges Jesus establishes the standard for them in a powerful way. Jesus points the disciples to the example of His own life and declares “even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." It is as if He is saying “watch me live it!” In this simple phrase Jesus establishes a new high watermark for the Christian life! Serve one another in love. Live sacrificially not selfishly! And with this one concept the world was changed!

Mark 10:35-40 - September 22, 2010

Mark 10:35-40 “Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. "Teacher," they said, "we want you to do for us whatever we ask." 36 "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked. 37 They replied, "Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory." 38 "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?"

39 "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, 40 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."

This passage is so rich with its implications that it is worthy of a second look. In our last devotional the focus of Jesus’ initial response is to confront the fact that they disciples are asking for things without understanding the implications of what they are asking. It is important to note that He does not limit His response to this level of instruction. Jesus moves beyond correcting their theology of prayer to searching the depths of their hearts with a deeper light as He questions the foundation of their prayers. The question of Jesus in regard to their request effectively communicates the reality of our part in regard to answered prayer. The disciples pray this bold prayer and after confronting their ignorance He equally confronts their maturity.

Jesus asks the disciples “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” With this question Jesus communicates to the disciples the lesson that for God to answer many of the prayers we would pray there is a significant personal cost in its impact on our lives that we may not have considered. Jesus implies in this question “You want what I have, but will you pay the price I am going to pay!?”

This entire story is so profound for the twists that take place within it. One moment Jesus is training them in regard to prayer. The next he is searching their hearts to cause them to consider more deeply the things that they are asking for and the readiness of their hearts for more. Then suddenly the atmosphere of the encounter shifts to a momentary prophetic burst and a revelation of Jesus’ relationship with His Father! The disciples respond to Jesus’ inquiry with a confident affirmation of “we can” and a human response to this might compel us to say something like “the nerve of these guys!” But not Jesus! He takes their bold confidence and suddenly confirms that their prophetic destiny will indeed lead them down this same path of martyrdom that Christ Himself will embrace. This glimpse into their futures is seemingly an affirmation of their bold asking and a sobering prophetic glimpse into their destinies at the same time.

At no point does Jesus respond to their asking in such a way as to bring strong rebuke. Rather He seems to acknowledge and even honor their boldness while adjusting their hearts. It is such a gift to our hearts to have a right understanding of how God views our prayers. He does not condemn boldness. What He does do is train it so that it is rightly directed. Boldness in immaturity can be destructive, but boldness in faith and wisdom is a precious gift!

The conclusion of Jesus’ words to these men is an equally powerful moment of teaching the disciples both about the nature of prayer and the nature of Christ’s relationship with the Father. Jesus says to the two disciples “to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.” The two messages conveyed by the Lord in this response are clear and powerful. First Jesus is communicating that prayer must be according to the will of God and that there is an ordered plan in the eternal realm that we are praying into! Secondly, Jesus is communicating that the nature of His submission to the Father in Christ’s role as Immanuel is such that He Himself is submitted to this higher will and purpose and neither can nor will violate that submission by what He asks. Identify God’s will and purpose in your asking and lean the same submission to them that Christ embraced.

Mark 10:35-40 - September 20, 2010

Mark 10:35-40 “Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. "Teacher," they said, "we want you to do for us whatever we ask." 36 "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked. 37 They replied, "Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory." 38 "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?"

39 "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, 40 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."

Mark 10:35-40 is a revealing look at the presumption that still had influence in the hearts of many of those who were closest to Jesus. Jesus has been speaking to them about sacrifice and reward. He has been encouraging them that the reward of the sacrifice they have made for Him will be great while at the same time seeking to present them with a sobering realization of the distance between the sacrifice that they have made and the one He has made and will make. It is in the midst of this context that James and John come to Jesus with one of the more seemingly arrogant requests found in scripture.

James and John come to the Lord in the midst of this setting and present a statement that is either incredibly bold or incredibly presumptive, “We want you to do whatever we ask.” This would seem like an intensely selfish request except for the instruction of Christ that He has given them concerning prayer on a number of occasions. In Mt. 18:19; 21:12, Mk. 11:24, Jn. 14:13 and other places Jesus has taught them that whatever they ask for in faith believing will be done for them. This bold request seems to be a reflection of a misinterpretation on their part rather than a reflection of complete arrogance.

Were this request completely offensive to the Lord it is filled with such self-interest that it would seem that He would have responded with a greater sense of correction and intensity. Instead, there is a more gentle correction about the way the Lord responds to this request. Where we might have strongly rebuked, Jesus instead re-directs their hearts with sobering reality! “You don’t know what you are asking!” How often this is the case in the prayer lives of the saints? We ask for so many things that have no foundation in the wisdom and will of God. Like the disciples, do we really know what we are asking?

The response of the Lord does not imply that they should not ask for great things. It is as if His answer is saying “YOU HAVE LEARNED TO ASK BIG. NOW LEARN TO ASK RIGHTLY!” This passage is a reflection of the need to not only pray with faith but to pray according to the will of God. Jesus does not rebuke presumption. He corrects their understanding of prayer instead! Jesus emphasizes the need for understanding in regard to our prayers in a powerful way in this passage. In Eph. 1:17 Paul develops this concept further in his letter to the Ephesians where He says “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.” Prayer that is rooted in understanding the will and purpose of God is powerful prayer!

Mark 10:32-34 - September 16, 2010

Mark 10:32-34 “They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. 33 "We are going up to Jerusalem," he said, "and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, 34 who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise."

Verses 32-34 in Mark 10 are truly fascinating in the context of the teaching that Jesus has just completed giving to the disciples. He has spent an extended time teaching on costly obedience and the rewards associated with that obedience and now He turns the subject towards Himself. Peter has been anxiously inquiring of the Lord as to what reward there will be for those who, like he himself, have forsaken everything to follow Him. In response to this, after providing a measure of reward focused comfort, Jesus now puts this in the context of His own suffering. After having provided some words of assurance to Peter Jesus now points him to the reality of an even higher price!

His words are a sobering adjustment to the focus of Peter and all of the other disciples as He brings them to the consciousness that He will pay a far greater price than what they have done to this point. What is truly impactful is the knowledge that the sacrifice that each of Jesus disciples have made who have left their previous comforts and position behind to follow was made first by the Lord Himself. He left His first state in the eternal glory of the Father for a season as He came to earth. His words of comfort to the disciples are within the context of His own sacrifice that provided the example to them. He. 12:2 provides an insight into the heart and hope of the Lord as He related to the cost of His mission as He laid aside His eternal glory and took the form of man and knowingly embraced a death on the cross; “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross,”

Having comforted His disciples with His discourse in verses 28-31 He moves directly into a line of discussion concerning His own coming sacrifice on a much greater scale that as verse 32 says leaves his disciples “astonished” and the multitudes that followed afraid. So many things must have been taking place in this one encounter. On one hand Jesus has comforted Peter concerning the measure of sacrifice that He has made to this point but on the other He shortly thereafter identifies to Him that there is a much greater price still to be paid!

It is clear that the disciples dearly love their master but this direct statement of His coming suffering confronts a series of false beliefs they have formed in their hearts and leaves them astonished while the multitudes who just along for the miracles are left just plain frightened. Within this context of revelation it is interesting to recognize that many times Jesus gives us enough prophetic insight to test our hearts concerning the cost. Jesus only addresses this issue to the depth that He knows they can bear and through the hearts of all are sifted concerning their motives and expectations. Someone who is just along for the ride will not stand in the face of true opposition and great cost. The words of Jesus quickly reveal the condition of each heart!

Mark 10:28-31 - September 15, 2010

Mark 10:28-31 “Peter said to him, "We have left everything to follow you!" 29 "I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields-and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first."

This passage is for all of those who have paid a price to follow! Throughout the ages Jesus has invited His disciples into a lifestyle of costly obedience. Most all of the great works that have been done in the name of the Lord have come at a great price to the ones who performed them. Every one of the apostles paid a price of persecution and in most cases death to accomplish their mission. In the same way Christians throughout history have been invested deeply in a following at great personal cost. In much the same way as the invitation that Jesus gave to the rich young ruler to put aside all that he had and follow Jesus extends his hand again and again to his disciples inviting them to follow the costly road. The glory of this passage is its focus on the reward of that sacrifice.

Though His words of encouragement in this passage are directed specifically to Peter it was a gracious gift of the Lord to His church to provide an insight into the heavenly view of our sacrifice. We do not take up the cross of Christ in a vacuum. Each person who embraces the nails of Christ’s suffering does so within the context of the attention of both heaven and hell! Hell trembles every time someone turns from the things of this world and embraces the cross and heaven moves as each will surrenders to God’s purpose. With every decision made for God and against the world another portion of the kingdom of God is released from God’s throne into the realms of man!

In Mark 10:28-31 Jesus comforts Peter with the knowledge that the price he has paid is seen. It is marvelous that Jesus, even knowing the future failures of Peter, is still affirming to him regarding the costly obedience that Peter has demonstrated in following the Lord. It is comforting to know that momentary failures do not negate the reality of a life of costly decisions made for God. Jesus affirms Peter with the assurance that the sacrifices that he has made are like a seed that has been sown into the earth. In fact the words of Jesus are intensely reward focused as He exhorts Peter. His words are not limited to the price that Peter has paid but rather to all of us as He declares, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields-and with them, persecutions).”

What good news this is for us! No one who has left something behind for the sake of the Lord will fail to receive reward! There is still more good news in these words of Jesus. Jesus does not limit the focus of His reward to the realms of eternity! Jesus draws Peter’s attention to the fact that there is a NOW reward. Sacrifice for the name of Christ in this life will be rewarded IN THIS LIFE!!!!!

There is only one sense of caution found in these comforting words of Christ concerning the recompense of God towards those who have paid a price to follow. That caution is the issue of timing! Jesus promises reward but He does so in the context of the calendar of God! His final words to Peter on this subject of reward are; “many who are first will be last and the last first!” There is a kingdom principle in this for those who have ears to hear.

Mark 10:23-27 - September 14, 2010

Mark 10:23- 27 “Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!" 24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." 26 The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, "Who then can be saved?" 27 Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God."

In Mark 10:23-27 Jesus once again demonstrates His capacity to turn each individual experience or encounter that He and His disciples face into an opportunity for the broader life principles that it contains to be brought forth as teaching points. “How hard is it for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” With this response Jesus identifies that this is not an isolated incident. He uses this young man’s struggle to communicate the message that this problem is common to all who possess wealth. Through this Jesus implies the message. It is very difficult to possess wealth without that wealth possessing you!

Human nature attaches immense pride issues to the possession of wealth and status in our cultures. It has been so for thousands of years as can be seen by the reaction of the disciples to Jesus’ statements. They were amazed at these words and are brought to ask the question “who then can be saved?” It is as if they are asking the question: “Can only the poor be saved?” “Must every disciple give everything away?” To this Jesus gives a clear and direct response: “it is difficult for someone with wealth to follow, but not impossible!”

In 1 Cor 1:26-29 Paul speaks of the nature of the calling of God. “Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things-and the things that are not-to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him.” When it comes to the issue of those with wealth and stature receiving the kingdom of God it is an issue of not many! God’s intention is that no man can boast before Him and there is such an ego attachment to wealth and position that it is hard for most of those who have these things to humble themselves and surrender control of these things to God. Perhaps if the rich young ruler would have turned immediately in obedience to begin to sell his things the Lord would have stopped him like the angel did with Abraham when he saw that Abraham was prepared to respond with absolute surrender. We cannot know but the test of the heart is in the surrender and the victory is won before the actions are ever taken!

Paul further addresses this issue of pride in 1 Cor 4:7 where he confronts man’s tendency to boast. Paul quickly puts all that we have in both position and possession into its proper context with three short sentences. “Who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?” James adds emphasis to this principle in James 1:16-17 where he writes “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights.” We have nothing that we did not receive and therefore a right heart before God in regard to these things is to be able to live the words of Jesus in Matt 10:8 “Freely you have received, freely give.”

It is this principle that the rich young ruler had forgotten or perhaps never knew. It is entirely possible that He was raised, like many of us, in a home that loved and feared God but never acknowledged that the good things we have in life have all come from God and His goodness, not from our hard work and talents. In many homes there is a false concept that “we have done it!” when in reality the truth is found in Deut 8:18 which says “remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth.”

It all comes from God!

Mark 10:20-22 - September 13, 2010

Mark 10:20- 22 "Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy." 21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." 22 At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.”

Mark 10:20 continues the story of Jesus and the rich young ruler, as Jesus continues His attempt at directing this young man in the path of life. It is obvious that this man is a good man, a righteous man. His response to Jesus is that he has kept all of the commands of God since he was a boy. How many of us can say this? It is clear that he has a desire to live pleasing, but there is a deeper root that Jesus discerns.

Verse 21 is a moving verse as it goes beyond the necessary description of Jesus’ response to the boy. In this verse we can see the heart of Jesus being exposed in a wonderful way. It says “Jesus looked at him and loved him.” What a revelation of the heart of Jesus! Jesus sees this young man. He sees the stronghold that is separating him from breaking through into the life of discipleship that will fully realize his desire to belong to God. And yet Jesus looks at him and loves him! Jesus sees the things that are holding him back and yet loves him. This story is for us! Can you embrace the fact that Jesus sees you and everything that holds you back from a deeper, more complete response to God and He still loves you!!!??? He looks at you just the way you are and He loves you! Wow! He is not angry at the young man’s condition. Yes, He is saddened by it. But the young man is not rejected, he is loved! You are loved!

Without verse 21 as the foundation the rest of this encounter cannot be fully understood. The correction of Jesus that He speaks into this young man’s life can only be rightly interpreted when it is interpreted through this lens of love! The correction of Jesus when He finds a good heart is the always rooted in love! Jesus speaks to this young man, in full light of the man’s good intentions and addresses the lack that continues to limit his response to God! “One thing you lack” Jesus says. “Go, sell everything you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, and follow me.”

Jesus brings this young man to a crisis point that reveals the sticking point in this young man’s life. The wealth that he has always known becomes a barrier to his ability to respond to God. Based upon the encounter that has taken place there are a number of attachments that are associated with the wealth that is holding this young man captive. To let go of a life of privilege and comfort is a challenging shift into a life of faith and surrender. He has grown up having, and to trust Jesus for his future is a bigger step than he is prepared for.

Within this confrontation is also an exposing of an issue of pride. The introductory comments that the boy makes about his life of obedience reveal the possibility of a root of pride that is also attached to this life of wealth. It may have been hard for the young man to conceive of letting go of his material wealth. But possibly even harder for him was the thought of letting go of the sense of identity and false assessment of worth that he has created for himself because of his wealth. Many people measure themselves, their value, their worth, based upon their standing in society, their wealth, their fame. Perhaps it is really this that Jesus is seeking to dislodge from the man’s heart. Perhaps what Jesus is exposing is that this man has wrapped his identity around his position and Jesus is trying to create a new identity for this man. It is as if Jesus is seeking to help this young man break free of his attachment to this life of wealth as the source of his value and being. It is as if Jesus is saying “you are not loved because of what you have, your title or your position. You are loved because you are mine! Give these things away. Break their hold on your sense of who you are. Give those things to the poor who really need them and follow me!”