Mark 10:35-11:11 The Servant King

Mark 10:35-11:11

What kind of boss would you like to have?

What do you think makes a great leader?
Most of you are probably thinking along the lines of someone who cares for you as a person, not just a cog in a machine. Someone approachable, not distant. Someone who listens to other people’s ideas, not who rules with an iron fist. Something like that? I doubt many of us thought of an autocratic dictator as good leaders. Most people in history, and many people in the world today, however, would disagree with you.

In a survey of leadership throughout world history an interesting pattern emerged. Most societies viewed compassion in a leader as weakness. Leaders were strong, exercising authority over people, and lording it over them. People were there to serve the leaders. This was across the board, even to the level of fatherhood. Many fathers believe that their authority is given them in order to please them instead of to serve others.


But as Christianity started to spread, there was suddenly a totally different model of leadership on display: compassionate, servant-hearted, looking out for the interests of others. Now Jesus wasn’t the first (or the last) to proclaim such ways of leading, but he was the only one who truly embodied it, washing his disciples’ feet, dying on the cross for his followers, and commanding them to do the same.

And eventually they did, and changed the world, although in tonight’s passage they’re still stuck in old ways of thinking.

1. Christians live to serve

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. 43 But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

You’ve really got to feel sorry for the disciples here – getting it wrong AGAIN! This is a repeat of 9:33-37 (Jesus predicts his death, the ultimate act of service from the greatest person in the universe, and the disciples? Well, they were v34 “arguing about who was the greatest”!) and a repeat of 8:31-33 where Peter, who has just declared Jesus as the Christ, then gets it completely wrong and rebukes Jesus for suggesting he should die – but that’s exactly why Jesus came! This is a rescue mission.

But it’s a hard thing to get your head around isn’t it. I mean, why do we all want to be rich and famous? It’s not because we want to run around serving people is it? No! It’s so we can get people to serve us. At our heart we want to be God, we want to be the one calling the shots, shaping our life to be the way we want it to be. And the disciples are no different. They’re just as sinful as we are. There’s nothing special or better about them – except that Jesus called them out, to follow him.

And so, because they have the same problem we do, the disciples blow it again. After Jesus’ third proclamation of his death, his ultimate service, they completely ignore what he’s said “There, there Jesus, that’s very nice and all, but you’re not really going through with this – when we’re in Jerusalem you’ll flex your muscles and show them who’s boss, and we, well we want to be right beside you telling people what’s what and who’s who.” You can see that they don’t believe Jesus’ proclamations of his death because they readily agree to his challenge “Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” Are you willing to suffer like I will, to drink the cup of God’s judgement, to die to save a sinful world? That’s what he’s asking them.
And they answer We are able.
Not a clue!

And the other disciples are no better, all indignant because they didn’t think to ask Jesus first, like children arguing over who gets to sit where.

No, says Jesus, it shall not be so among you (v43). You disciples, and all who follow me, are called to pick up your cross, deny yourself, and follow me. Put your pride and ego and arrogance to death. In humility to almighty God, go where you are sent and do what you are sent to do.

Jesus’ humility, his willingness to serve, even to death, stems from a secure knowledge of who he is. When you are trying to boost yourself, stroke your ego, constantly aware of who’s looking at me, what do they think – you cannot serve. When you are secure in who you are, a child of God, seated in Christ at the very throne of God, declared innocent, with a perfect record of obedience already proclaimed from now until the day you die – wow. Then your sensitive ego can be shut up while you throw yourself into whatever task God has given you, however small or difficult or demeaning (low) it is. Because then you are following in the footsteps of Christ.

Do we really understand this? This demand on our lives to follow Christ? Do we get what pick up your cross means? It means we give up our rights to Jesus. It means we become his slave. It means that in order to win others to him we will do anything to glory in our Saviour, no matter what. Let me read some of the story of Asif, a Pakistani Muslim who became a Christian – and suffered the consequences. (from Voice of the Matrys book)

Asif had a motorbike accident and broke his leg – but a Christian lady prayed for him and his leg was healed! This made Asif angry – how dare he pray to Jesus – but also set Asif to thinking. Asked mulvi – tried to poison him before accepted Jesus. Accepted Jesus. Thrown out of home. Beaten. Arrested. Lost "everything". But carries on for the joy of sharing Jesus with those around him. Has everything that matters. Story of Asif from Pakistan in 2001. As far as we know, still preaching fearlessly today.

What are you still hanging on to as your “right”? What are you demanding from God? We belong to Jesus, not anyone else, and certainly not ourselves. 


But after reading something like that I just feel guilty. Who can live like that?!
If you’re anything like me your heart is always loudly demanding its rights and sulking and being put out when it doesn’t get its way. I get angry when I’m put out. I’m so selfish!

Jesus, the way of loving service is impossible!

I can’t do it!


Exactly. Doing this – following Jesus - requires Jesus’ miraculous power at work in us.


2. Following Jesus is impossible without Jesus 

I’m so happy that this miracle is placed right here. Another blind man whose eyes are being opened. The first (in 8:22-26) revealed the power of Jesus in opening the eyes of the disciples to his identity. We cannot recognise God without God’s power to open our eyes. So pray for those who don’t know Jesus as Lord and Saviour – that’s the most important thing you can do for them. And then tell them, invite them to church or Bible study, and keep praying.

But this miracle is for Christians. Because this section is all about how do you follow Jesus. And just when the disciples are getting it all wrong, again, Jesus opens the eyes of a blind man.

Just like the disciples, this blind man knows who Jesus is. And just like the disciples, this man cannot follow Jesus because of his blindness. 47 when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Son of David – the rightful King. The one who fulfils God’s promise to David in 2 Sam 7 of an everlasting descendant who will rule over all Israel in righteousness and justice and peace forever. It is this blind man who first acknowledges Jesus as King of Israel. And he cries out for mercy.

Jesus hears his cry and opens his eyes, and the man v50 immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way. 

Friends, you cannot follow Jesus on your own. Just like we’ve been seeing in Romans in the Bible studies, we are saved by grace and we live by grace. Grace covers us from beginning to end. All our sins past, present AND FUTURE are nailed to the cross. There is no accusation against us – we are innocent, set free. God is no longer angry with us, and will never be angry with us, his wrath satisfied on the cross. Your performance is already approved.

So what joy, what pure joy to throw everything aside and give up everything for Jesus. Look what he has done for me, you cry to your heart, I will give everything for him. And be confident that you can do that in Christ because he is at work in you, performing miracle after miracle to keep your blind eyes open so that you can follow him on the road.

Jesus is the one who makes it possible to follow Jesus. Christian, you do not follow him in your own power, but in his great mercy and love. Be of good cheer, have courage, you can do it through him who gives you strength.


Christians live to serve, because that’s what Jesus does. He is the Servant King.

Following Jesus is impossible without Jesus.

So, come to the King, he is gentle and kind, powerful to save, a servant King.
Come to him you who are rebels against him and find forgiveness.
Come to him you who belong to him and find strength to follow in his footsteps. We do NOT do this alone, for He is with us.