Mark 10:32-52
Previously on “Mark: the Gospel”….
Jesus of Nazareth has burst onto the scene and created quite a stir. He’s been doing massive miracles left, right and centre, healing people, casting out demons, walking on water, making food appear from thin air – enough to feed over 5000 people, and then again 4000 people, and even raising people from the dead! He is no fake. Even his critics cannot deny his power! They accuse him of being from the devil instead. (Dirty politics 101: If you can’t beat them, throw mud at them and hope it sticks!).
And these stories really happened. People were there with Jesus. They SAW him do these things. And these weren’t primitives! We are often so arrogant assuming that people who lived long ago were somehow stupider than we are. That they would be fooled by simple magic tricks. Have a look at this sculpture. Made of marble. In 45BC. The society Jesus lived in was complex and sophisticated. They were part of the Roman empire. There was trade, business, long distance travel, courts of law, police, large cities, running water, roads, schools, reading, writing, in fact university-level mathematics, and philosophies that are still in use today (and being heralded as “new”! It was an advanced civilisation! )
So if Jesus had been just a magician (and there were magicians in those days, just like now, it wasn’t something they’d never seen before) he would quite quickly have been exposed for his trickery. Or people would have been entertained, like now, but any claims to divinity would have been met with mocking laughs, just as if a TV magician today suddenly claimed to be God.
But what if the disciples added to what Jesus did to make it more dramatic? The miracles were added in later.
Problem is, people were still alive then. If I went on NRK today and said that during the 1970’s fuel crisis when King Olav took the tram, after he got out of the tram he launched himself into the air and flew to the top of the mountain, melted some snow with his laser eyes, and then skiied down so fast he broke the sound barrier, I’d be laughed at. No-one would believe me. People remember what happened. That didn’t happen.
But maybe they did it later? No can do, since the church had already spread around the world within about 30 years! But even if we suppose that they did, no-one know how to write like that. Myths were written as myths and history as history. The genre of historical fiction was only invented 1800 years later. Before that time it was never even conceived of to write fiction as if it were history, fact. Again, there is no evidence for this, just wild guessing.
We’re driven to this because what happened was so fantsastic, so remarkable. But that’s what we find in the gospels. No-one just believes it. People would be reluctant to say it happened, because it’s so fantastical. They only agree that it happened because they cannot explain it away by any other means.
The disciples saw Jesus do his miracles with their own eyes – and it still took them over two years before they were able to believe the evidence before their eyes and say “You are the Christ”. And were still getting it all wrong as we see in tonight’s passage. They didn’t understand fully, didn’t understand that he was God in the flesh, in person, until his resurrection. That blew away all doubts! Jesus could do the impossible! But they didn’t believe it when he first said it.
1. The Servant King will die and then rise from the dead.
Mk 10:33 “Listen,” he said, “we’re going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die and hand him over to the Romans. 34 They will mock him, spit on him, flog him with a whip, and kill him, but after three days he will rise again.”
The disciples just nodded. They didn’t understand. Look at verse 32 They were now on the way up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. The disciples were filled with awe, and the people following behind were overwhelmed with fear.
Why is he going to Jerusalem? Doesn’t he know what they will do to him? Yes he does, he who is the first, the top, the best, the good - will become last, a sinner. He will pay the punishment our sins deserve – all of our sins, even those we haven’t committed yet – by being betrayed, by suffering and then dying on a cross. His death will cover our sins.
See, Jesus came to serve. He came to serve because if he did not, no-one could be saved. There would be no church, no testimonies of changed lives, no joyous forgiveness, no mercy, no grace. It would be impossible for anyone to be saved. That’s what Jesus says in v27. Mk 10:26 The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked. 27 Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible.”
You see, he’d just spoken to two groups of people: one, a small child, helpless, dependent – and Jesus says “be like this”. The other a powerful, rich, morally upright man, who relies on his self-righteousness, his own goodness – and when challenged by Jesus, he turns away. The disciples were astonished because they thought that good people get saved.
No, says Jesus, people who recognise their need for salvation, people who come like children get saved. Why? For salvation cannot be earned, it must be given.
V 27 it is impossible for man to be saved. 27 Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. Have we got that? We cannot save ourselves! No amount of religion or good works or sacrifice can ever bridge the gap between us and God. Because God has said the only way to me is through Jesus, when we try any other way we are saying “ Hey God, I’m ignoring your word, disobeying you by trying my own way – are you impressed yet?” We’re just like Israel, told to only worship at the Temple, and never to make an image of God – what do they do? Set up two statues of God, not at Jerusalem, and worship those. Was God impressed, do you think?
Humanly speaking, it is impossible.
But not with God. Everything is possible with God.
How is it possible. Only through Jesus. Jesus is about to achieve the impossible. He, the only good man, is walking towards Jerusalem, towards his death.
On Mount Longdon on the 11th June 1982, during the Falklands War, a Sergeant Ian McKay was pinned down with his platoon. They were suffering heavy casualties, and were in significant danger of being wiped out.
Sergeant Ian Mackay then made a momentous decision to save his men. With complete disregard for his safety he broke cover and charged the enemy position into a hail of fire. Alone, he ran up the hill toward the enemy machine gun nest firing at his men. He primed his grenades and jumped into the enemy machine gun nest. The grenades exploded, the guns fell silent, and Sergeant McKay saved his men.
Sergeant McKay, however, was killed at the moment of victory.
In that platoon there were probably some people who disliked Ian McKay. Many probably didn’t even know him. Some may have been his friends. Either way, after that night in 1982 their view of him was forever changed. He had saved them. He gave his life so they could live. They knew his name. They honoured him. They were grateful to him.
Jesus faced our undefeatable enemy – and won. We don’t need to face sin and death – Jesus has already paid the price. He gave his life to save you. So what do you think about Jesus? Perhaps you’re like the men in Ian McKay’s platoon – you don’t know him, or you don’t like him, or maybe you do like him. How does knowing that he saved your life change your response to Jesus?
He is the Servant King who died to save us – and we are called to follow him.
2. We are servants too, called to die to self, and life for Christ.
43 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
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 was 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 us to do the same.
This is God’s way of leading. Leading through service. And he’s demonstrating it at this very moment, walking to Jerusalem, walking to his death, explaining along the way.
And the disciples get it completely wrong!
You’ve really got to feel sorry for the disciples here – getting it wrong AGAIN! This is a repeat of 9:33-37 isn’t it? 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 it’s 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.
Doh! But thank God for the disciples. Because they really screw up – and Jesus sticks with them. He doesn’t leave us when we mess up. That’s why he came. We are spiritually small children, not rich young rulers. He will not leave us. He sticks with us like he sticks with his disciples.
It must have been so frustrating. 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.” 37 They replied, “When you sit on your glorious throne, we want to sit in places of honour next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.”
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.
We want to be important. And Jesus warns them: 38 But Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink? Are you able to be baptized with the baptism of suffering I must be baptized with?”
Are you willing to suffer like I will, to drink the cup of God’s judgement, to die to save a sinful world?
And they answer Oh yes, 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, But among you it will be different (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.
Let me tell some of the story of Asif, a Muslim in Pakistan. But one day Asif had a motorbike accident and broke his leg – and a Christian lady prayed for him and his leg was healed!
This made Asif angry – how dare she pray to Jesus – but also set Asif to thinking. This thinking lead to investigating, lead to reading the Bible, and to him asking questions of the local mulvi (the Muslim religious leader). Who saw the danger signs so tried to poison him before Asif could accept Jesus! So Asif accepted Jesus. He was thrown out of home. Beaten. Arrested. And carries on preaching the gospel to anyone who will listen. Asif’s story is not unique. He serves, no matter the cost. He follows Jesus on the path to Jerusalem.
We are servants too, called to die to self, and live for Christ.
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.
3. We need to be served by our King so we can serve him
51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked. “My Rabbi,” the blind man said, “I want to see!” 52 And Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road.
The man was healed, then he FOLLOWED Jesus.
I’m so happy that this miracle is placed right here. Because I can’t do this! I need Jesus’ power to live for Jesus.
The first in blind man miracle in 8:22-26 showed us that 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. We need God to open our eyes to see Jesus. And we need God to open our eyes to keep following Jesus.
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 Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 “Be quiet!” many of the people yelled at him. But he only shouted louder, “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 immediately follows Jesus. He leaves behind his coat, probably his only possession, and instantly takes off after Jesus. He sees Jesus, and follows him. This beggar, this lowest of the low, sitting in the dust, a nothing. Suddenly is lifted up by the King. He stands face to face with Jesus, and he serves him by hgealing him. The first thing he sees is his saviour’s face. What a sight. His whole life is transformed. No longer a beggar in the dust, but a servant of the servant king. A new identity and a new destination.
Jesus gives us a new identity. See, Jesus could be humble, could serve willingly, even to death, because he was secure in the knowledge of who he is. He knew he was the King, so he had no need to prove it.
But 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. What would people think?
Bit 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, secure in his love.
Isn’t the gospel amazing? Isn’t it just the most wonderful news you’ve ever heard? Isn’t this something we just want to run out and tell people? New life! New life! And given as a free gift! Jesus can save. He is the Servant King, and he calls us now: “Follow me”.
We live to serve, because that’s what Jesus does. He is the Servant King who dies, and then rises from the dead.
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. He must open our eyes to see him, and then we will follow him.