Latest / Teachings On This Day On FerventWord / On Jun 14, 2023: Mark 10:32-52 How To Come In First In Gods Kingdom
Transcript
- Here, as we look at this passage in Mark Chapter 10, we're looking at really the final days of the life of Jesus. It may not feel that way here in Mark Chapter 10. You know it goes to chapter 16, feels like we got some distance ahead of us still. But Mark Chapter 10 through 16 really focus in on those last days of ministry. The last few months of ministry. Of Jesus as he was preparing to go to the cross and then was crucified and resurrected, and all of that is contained just the past few months, in chapters 10 through 16. In fact, you can see that in Chapter 11, tomorrow's reading, we'll see the triumphal entry, which is the Sunday before he is going to be crucified. And so it's right there. He's on his way to Jerusalem. It's his last trip to Jerusalem, this side of the cross. Coming up from Galilee, coming down, he's been headed this way. He's had his mind set on Jerusalem as as he's been going. He's been preparing himself, knowing what awaits him there. And so as we look at this passage, the time is really critical and the tensions are rising and that I would even suggest to you that the countenance of Jesus has transitioned a bit as he has set his mind. We'll see that I'll, I'll quote later from Luke Chapter 9 as well, which kind of he sets his face toward. Jerusalem that there is this intensity developing as he makes his way. To the cross. But here in this passage, we're continuing on, of course from what happened previously in Chapter 10. There's some heavy things that happened and then they continue on the journey to Jerusalem and there's some important conversations that unfold as a result. I've titled the message tonight, how to come in first in God's Kingdom. How to come in first? If you are thinking about the desire to be first if you're in a race, how do you come in? First, you run the fastest. If you are in a competition, how do you come in first? Do you compete? The best you know, you use the best strategies. You use the the the the best equipment you use all of your energy and strength and put every effort towards. Reaching that goal being the victor in the competition, in a similar way, we need to consider how to come in first in God's Kingdom. Now the reason why I'm thinking along those lines is because of the verse just before our passage tonight, Mark Chapter 10, verse 31. Jesus says. But many who are first will be last and the last first. Jesus is explaining to his disciples and trying to help them understand that things in the Kingdom of God and spiritual things are often different, perhaps even reversed or inverted from what we normally understand. And so there are many who are first. Now, but they will be last. The temporary position and status is first, but they're not going to stay in that place. They're going to be in last place. And the last who are temporarily last. Currently last they're they're not going to stay in that position, but they're going to be pushed forward into first and it's not so much that it's a competition and that we're competing against one another. But this idea of being first in the Kingdom of God. Is something that we ought to consider that the Lord wants us to consider and encourages us to consider, to understand that the importance here is to understand how God works, how he views things and his perspective on this. And so the idea of coming in first is not necessarily wrong, but it's how to see things from God's perspective and to come in first. And I shared this. Probably a couple of months ago now, but the idea of being great in the Kingdom of God and sometimes we can have the idea of like you know, I don't want to be great as long as I make it there. Here you know, I would encourage you to consider if that's your mindset, if that's your mentality, something's wrong with you. If you just want to make it and you're OK with that if you don't want to be great in God's Kingdom, what's wrong with you? Jesus gave his all for you to be part of his Kingdom and for you to just give 1/2 hearted like well you know all this really matters. If I make it. I don't really want to do anything great. I don't really want to work. Hard at anything I. Don't really want to serve Jesus very well. I don't want to accomplish anything great for him. I don't want to. Do you know, anything good in his name? Like, that's that is a heart that is callous and cold. We we should desire to come first. In God's Kingdom, to be great in God's Kingdom, not for selfish prominence, but for the glory of God. And so how do we do that? Though we have to have his perspective and so three points for us to consider, how to come first in God's Kingdom, we're going to look at verses 32 through 34 for point #1 and that is be quick. To hear hard things from God. If you want to be first, of course you have to be quick. But in God's Kingdom it's not. Check in the idea of running fast. It's quick to hear, quick to receive things that are hard to hear and hard to receive from God. Let's read again verses 32 through 34 it. Says now they were on the road going up to Jerusalem. And Jesus was going before them. And they were amazed. And as they followed, they were afraid. Then he took the 12 aside again and began to tell them the things that would happen to him. Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem and the son of man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes. And they will condemn him to death and deliver him to the Gentiles. And they will mock him and scourge him and spit on him and kill him. And the third day he will rise. As we pick up this account here in verse 32, they're on the road to Jerusalem. And they're right there. They're just down the road. They're going to hit Jericho at the end of Chapter 10, which means, you know, they're just a little bit more than 5 miles out from Jerusalem at this point. They're almost there. They've come down from Galilee, the the northern part of Israel. They're getting closer and closer, and as they're going up to Jerusalem, it tells us that Jesus was going before them. Jesus, knowing what he's headed towards. Knowing the things that are about to take place as he's able to tell his disciples here in these verses, the suffering that he's about to endure. Going before them, there's a group of disciples, including the 12, but more than the 12. But Jesus is at the front. He's the one leading the way to. The most suffering that you and I could ever imagine or would ever experienced, the most suffering that he's ever experienced. He's leading the charge. And I think we can kind of place our minds forward a bit to Jesus in the garden, praying earnestly. Not my will, but yours be done. If there's any other way, if there's a way apart from suffering apart from the cross for humanity to have the opportunity of salvation, then not. Let's do that, but not my will. Your will be done, Father. He he is submitted to the father, knowing full well what he's headed towards. But he's submitted in such a way that he is the head of the pack. I don't know about you, but when there's things that I'm not looking forward to and suffering and pain and difficulty, I'm going to let others go and and even though, yes, I'll comply. I'll probably be at the back of the pack, you know, kind of dragging my heels. Maybe if I stall long enough, wait long enough. I'll I'll escape that, that pain, that suffering won't have to happen. And so I'm kind of dragging, but here's Jesus. He has heard. Hard things from God, and he's accepted it. This is the path I am headed to. And so he he's accepted it not just in a way where he's dragging his feet and and just, you know, stalling and and trying to get out of it some way he's at the front of the pack leading the way. All right, let's go. Let's do the fathers will. And Luke, Chapter 9, verse 51. I mentioned it a few moments ago. It says it came to pass when the time had come for him to be received up that he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem. Jesus said it's time. I'm not looking forward to it. Not looking forward to the shame, I'm not looking forward to the suffering. I'm not looking forward to what I'm about to experience, but the time has come and so I need to be steadfast and set my face upon the father's will. I'm going to hear that hard thing from the father and I'm going to be first in line. To do the hard thing. That God has called me to I'm not going to be in the last of the line. The last one to jump off the diving board that I'm afraid to jump off of. No, no, I'm going to be the first, I'm afraid to jump off, so I'm going to be the first God wants me to do it, so I'm going to be the first in line to do the hard thing, to hear what it is that he wants from me. And to apply myself to it. And so Jesus, of course, always sets the good example for us. He hears a hard thing, he knows where he's headed, and he's first in line to do it. He's quick to hear. Hard things from God. But meanwhile we have the disciples. The 12 and then the other disciples that were there. As they're traveling along the way in verse 32 it. Says they were amazed. They were amazed. But then also as it continues on, they're continuing down the way as they followed, they were afraid. They were amazed. But as they journeyed, as time progressed, that amazement turned into fear. Why were they amazed and why did they start to become afraid? Well, I I suggest you, we can look back in chapter 10 a little bit earlier and start to understand their state of mind and where they were at. If you go back into earlier into chapter 10, verse 17 starts the portion where Jesus is speaking to that rich young ruler. Who says hey, good teacher, I want to enter the Kingdom of God. I need to do. And Jesus walked him through some of the commandments, challenging his hearts and. Putting his finger on. The issue of covetousness that this. Rich Young ruler had. Sell everything that you have. Give it to the poor and then come and follow me. The rich young ruler was sad at this. He walked away and and then Jesus used this as a teaching opportunity. In verse 23 of Mark 10, he says how hard it is for those who have riches to enter the Kingdom of God. A familiar passage to us, so it's. Not that shocking. But notice what it says in verse 24, and the disciples were astonished in their perspective in their culture, in their upbringing, in the way that their minds worked. Rich people were righteous. They were wealthy because they were righteous. And and the more wealthy they were was an indication of, well, even more righteousness in their lives. The more blessed they were materially, they made that connection to say, well, that must mean they are so close to God. They are so right with God. And and I'm poor. As a reflection of my relationship to God, but they are wealthy. They are so close to God, so righteous before God. And so when Jesus says it's hard for those who have riches to enter the Kingdom of God. The disciples aren't thinking what we typically think because we've heard this passage they're thinking. With this person who is wealthy, who is so much closer to. God than I am. If they're, it's hard for them to enter the Kingdom of God, it's impossible for me to enter the Kingdom of God cause they're so far ahead that that was their mentality. And so that's why the disciples were astonished. And his words. And so Jesus had to say it again, children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the Kingdom of God. He gives the illustration of a camel going through the eye of a needle, and then verse 26 notice, and they were greatly astonished. They didn't lessen in their astonishment. As Jesus reiterated and solidified this teaching, they grew more astonished. And notice again what they're. Saying who then can be saved? They're using logic based on their culture, their upbringing, and what they know. Coming to conclusions. It's impossible for people to be saved if the ones who are the most righteous. Cannot be saved or it's so hard for them. To be saved. But Jesus says well. The things that are impossible with men are possible with God. With God, all things are possible. In some ways, yes, it is impossible for anyone to be saved. But all things are possible with God. Jesus here is not yet correcting their understanding and their perspective and approach to the idea, but he's encouraging them. Listen, you can't understand it right now. You don't have the full picture. Right now, but. You need to trust God that yes, although you feel like you're so much farther. Behind this righteous person. It is true in a sense because. Jesus is the righteous person and you're so. Far behind him. And it's impossible for you to be saved except for God to work supernaturally. So substitute Jesus for the rich person that you're thinking like, oh, they must be, you know, so close to God. And if I'm not anything like that, then I. Can't be saved well. Yes, Jesus is the standard. He is the righteous 1. So they had some things. Kind of accurate in their picture, they're just. Focusing on the wrong. They're so far behind Jesus. That they needed a miracle from God in order to be saved because they don't measure up. To the righteousness of God, all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. But they're astonished. They're still not understanding this, and I suggest as we hit verse 32. That's why they're amazed. They're still astonished. They're still amazed. Again, verse 31, that's where Jesus says many who are first will be last and the last first. The ones you think are first in line and closest to God. You may find out at the end actually those guys who seem to be so close to God are actually incredibly far from God. They're at the last in the line. And the people that you think are last? Way far from God, no hope of right relationship with God. Those are actually going to be proven to be first. Because God's ways are not our ways. And he has designed. And fellowship with him to be. Based not on our wealth. Not on our material goods, not on what is visibly evident. But based on our faith in receiving what he has said and what he has. Done for us. So they're amazed. Jesus just taught them something. He's just told them something that changes. Them to the. Core everything that they've known, everything that they've. Believed in their. Whole way of thinking has been challenged right now. I don't know if you've ever experienced that kind of thing. Those, those kinds of things, that kind of challenge to the core of who you are and here's how it usually works. At first, it's astonishing. It is amazing, but then it can very easily turn into fear as they followed. Verse 32. They were afraid. Things are beginning to process in their minds. This idea of many who are first or last. Maybe they're wondering, am I one of the last? How do I know then if I'm first or last? How do I know where I'm at with the Lord if if everything that I know is different and wrong? That amazement can turn. They're really wrestling with this. This is hard stuff for them. They're hearing hard things from the Lord. But it's still not quite sinking in. So verse 32, it goes on to tell us that Jesus takes. The 12 aside. Not everybody is. Capable of receiving. This insight that Jesus is about to share, even the 12 are going to have. Some trouble with it. He says look as we go. To Jerusalem, we're on our way there. You need to. Understand there's some things that are going to happen. It says he took the 12 aside again and began to tell them the things that. Would happen to him. This is the third time. That Jesus has very clearly predicted his death to his disciples. You can rewind a bit a bit back to Mark Chapter 8, verse 31. Then jump forward to Mark Chapter 9, verse 30 and then here Mark Chapter 10, verse 32. Jesus clearly tells his disciples he's headed to Jerusalem, and there he's going to be put to death. He's going to be betrayed. The actions that Judas will take the chief priests and the scribes are going to be involved. He's going to be condemned to death and then turned over to the Gentiles. Lots of detail here that Jesus is revealing to them. There's going to be mocking and scourging spitting. They're going to kill him. And the third day he will rise again. He lays out the whole. Line of events that are about to take place. They start wondering about who's the greatest. In the Kingdom. They didn't quite hear. What Jesus was saying. Be quick to hear hard things from God. This is the third time. You ever have the Lord speak to you the third time? Sometimes it's the fourth time, the fifth time the 6th. That's how we are. We're not quick. To hear the hard things from God. If the disciples could receive what Jesus was saying. If they could understand if they could work past. Their standard process of thinking if if they could hear the Lord instead of thinking about what they wanted and what they were about to get or what they wanted to accomplish or how they thought things were going to play out if they could quiet themselves to hear. They would have been in a much better position. How to come first in God's Kingdom? Here's how to do it. We need to train ourselves to hear hard things from God. Jesus was quick to hear hard things from God. He knew the mission. He knew the path set before him. He set his feet toward Jerusalem. He's at the front of the pack leading the way. Let's go do what God wants, which is the hardest thing that anyone will ever experience. But let's go. Let me ask you, do you hear hard things from God? Now to be sure. There are a lot of times in our lives where life is hard. And we're coming to God for comfort. And God is the God of all comfort, Paul tells us in Second Corinthians chapter one. So that's appropriate, right? At the same time, I would suggest if. That is the only kind of word that we receive from God. If that is the only kind of thing that we hear from God. We're not first. We're we're missing out. That there there needs to be there ought to be. There's it's inevitable. There's going to be hard things. That the Lord needs to tell you. Because his ways are not our ways. And so, yes, when life is hard, hear comfort from God, he has that for you. But what's often much harder is when life is good. To hear hard things from God. You know, it's amazing how we can hear from the Lord all the things that we want. Ohh, praise the Lord, he said. I could buy the car that I want to. Buy and, he said I could go to the movie that I wanted to go to anyways. And he said I could spend my money the way I wanted to spend my money. And he say I could spend time with that person I wanted to spend time with and he said. All the things I want to do, God, he's. Told me to do great. If if that's the kind of relationship that we have with the Lord, I would suggest that we are limited and lacking in our relationship with the Lord. How many times in your life has it happening? Where life is good and things are great and you just want things to coast? But you can't. Because, you know, God is saying. I know it's nice right now. But you need to. Get out of the. Stronghold and go into the wilderness. That's what the Lord told David. He's running from Saul Saul's the king, trying to kill him, bent on putting David to death, and David flees to Moab. He's in the stronghold he's protected. And the Lord sends a prophet to him and says you need to get out of the stronghold. To go back to the wilderness of Judea. But it's dangerous there. It's really hard there. I'm just a step from death there. But David, that's where I want you. And so many times we want the stronghold and we're not quick to hear hard things from God. We we might hear the faint whisper of a hard thing, but we're like. No, no, that can't be because things are going so well right now and things are going so good and and you know this is what I've always wanted. And so I I need to stick this out. God's not out to make our lives miserable. When life is hard, hear comfort from God, he has comfort for you. But also make sure that when life is good. You're open to you. You're receptive for hard things from God. Where he calls you to take risks and. Step out in faith and do things that you're uncomfortable doing and don't want to do. Be at the front of the line to hear hard things from God. Moving on to verses 35 through 45, we get point #2 this evening and. That is be. Quick to aim for the good of others, be quick to aim for the good. Of others, let's go ahead and read through these verses. Verse 35 says. Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him saying teacher. We want you. To do for us whatever we ask. And he said to them. What do you want me to do for you? They said to him, grant us that we may sit one on your right hand and the other on your left in your glory. 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? 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. 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. And when the 10 heard it, they began. To be greatly displeased with James and John. 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. Yet it shall not be so among you. But whoever desires to be great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall. Be slave of all. For even the son of man did not come to be served. But to serve and to give his life a ransom. It's interesting to see this passage. In light of the verses we read just before it. Jesus predicting his death, announcing the suffering that he will go through. And then James and John approach with this bold request. Now it might not be as bold as we initially think. Looking at the account here in Mark. Matthew Records this in Matthew Chapter 20 and there we see it's. Actually their mom. Salome, who comes and brings this request. So she speaks for them. So it's a bold request, but maybe a little bit less bold when they made Mommy ask Jesus for them, right? Notice the request though. Teacher, we ask. Do for us. Whatever we ask. Everyone of us could say Amen to verse 35. Lord, we want you to do for us whatever we ask. We all want that. We all understand that heart and where that's coming from, we all want God to do for us whatever we ask. And we should. We'll get to that in the final verses of the evening. But first we need to understand the heart of the Lord. And the way that he sees things. Now there's another aspect to this that I'm not going to dive into. I'm just going to throw it. Out there in case you want to wrestle with it. In Matthew Chapter 19, again, parallel passage, same events happening. And verse 27 of Matthew 19, Peter says look, we've left all and followed you. It's right after the rich young ruler walked away. Peter says, hey, you told him to sell everything and give it to the poor and. Peter says that's what. We left everything in. We followed you. So what's our reward gonna be? How is that gonna work? He has a an answer in March Chapter 10. You can look at earlier in the the chapter, but in Matthew Chapter 19, in addition to the reward that is the same in both accounts. 19 chapter 19, verse 28. He says you who have followed me. Will also sit on 12 Thrones, judging the tribes of Israel. He says when the son of man sits on the throne of his glory. You, 12, who've been my 12 disciples. You also will sit on 12 Thrones. And so when? They asked to be on the right hand and on the left hand of. Jesus, it's not out of the blue. Something that Jesus has recently shared with them in mind, perhaps, like we're all going to be on the 12. Can we just be the ones that are closest not, you know, get rid of those guys? Lord, all those other disciples, kick them out of the Kingdom and just put us. On your right. It's not like that. Can we be the ones? On this side and on that side, can we? Just be closest. We just want to be closest to you. You already told us we're going to sit on Thrones. Can we just negotiate the? Order a little. Bit, can we talk about who's going to be where? That's what they want. Verse 37 grant us that we may sit on one on your right and the other on your left. The right hand was the position of great prominence. The left hand was the 2nd great prominence. We want to be on the two most prestigious and prominent places on your right. And on your left when you sit. On your throne of glory. But Jesus tells them in verse 39. You do not know what you ask. Is beast in ignorance? How many bold requests that we make? Our bold requests. We're bold about it because we don't really know. What it is that we're asking? This is where they're coming from. The disciples are still not quite getting it, and so Jesus. Walks them through some questions. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink? Remember when Jesus is in the garden? Same prayer I mentioned earlier. But if there's any weight for this cup. The suffering, the judgment that I'm about to receive. If there's any way for this cup to pass from me? So I don't have to. Partake of the cup to drink of the cup. But Jesus said not my will, but your will be done, Father. So he asked the disciples here, are you able to drink? Of the cup. Are you able to suffer like I'm about to suffer? And the baptism that I am baptized with. Are you able to be immersed to the point of death? In suffering, in steadfastness to. The will of God and the plan. Of God and they say yes absolutely. We are able verse 39. They were confident, yes. Anything you can do? Jesus, we could do it. Count us in. Write our names in right. We are able. Pastor Thomas Constable talking about this as James and John confidently and naively affirmed that they could endure all the trouble and suffering that Jesus would have to endure. Because they did not understand what he had predicted about his passion or his suffering, in their desire for prominence, they were willing to promise Jesus anything. And that really kind of roots out the issue. In their desire for prominence, they were willing to promise yes. Any kind of suffering. I'm your guy. You need any kind of hardship or trouble. I can do it, Lord I. Can handle it. Throw it my way. In their desire for prominence, they were willing to promise Jesus. Our aim is that the wrong thing. It's a selfish aim. It's an aim for our own ideas and our own desires, and in that aim we might be willing to promise all kinds of things. To make all kinds of bold requests to make all kinds of dramatic statements. But it's all based on our ignorance. And our pursuit of the wrong thing. Now Jesus tells them you will indeed drink the cup that I drink, but you're not ready right now. But James will become the first martyr of the church. In the book of acts. Now John, his brother, isn't actually martyred, but not because they didn't try. They tried to kill him multiple times, remember he's. Sent to the island of Patmos, where he receives the revelation and records that for us, the last book of the Bible, that was one of those attempts. He was sent there to die, but he didn't die. Instead he received further revelation and insight from the Lord. But so they do suffer is the point, and they eventually die in their steadfastness and faithfulness to the Lord. Jesus says you'll get there. You will suffer. You will drink. But this isn't about who. Sits on the right and the left, that's. Not up to you. That's not a negotiating thing. That's up to the will of the father, verse 41, when the 10 heard it, they began to be greatly displeased with James and John. And why were they greatly displeased? Of course our mind immediately goes to they didn't think of it first, and they were upset with that. But this was just. An ongoing bad. The previous time, remember, Jesus told them three times clearly about his suffering. That was about to happen the previous time. Immediately after he announced his death that was upcoming in Jerusalem, they started an argument about which of them was the greatest. And that's when Jesus had to bring a little child in and say, look, you know. You don't understand greatness. You have things backwards. And so this was a familiar argument. This wasn't a brand new thing. This was the 100th time they've argued about this very thing and been displeased with each other about how they, you know, finally finagled to try to get the prized place in the Kingdom of. And so, Jesus. Seeks to instruct them. To help them. Hear hard things from God and understand from his perspective. What the Kingdom of God is like verse 42, Jesus called them to himself and said to them, you know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lorded over them and they're great ones. Exercise authority over the. Here's what Jesus is saying. You're looking at the wrong examples. I'm talking about Thrones and sitting on the Thrones and and you're picturing Gentile authority. You're picturing lordship, you're picturing, you know, earthly power and and political prominence. You're you're picturing popularity and. You've got it. You're looking at the wrong example. Don't look at unbelievers. As an example of authority in the Kingdom of God and prominence in the Kingdom of God. You need to look at me. He points them to himself in verse 45, even the son of man did not come to be served, but to serve in unbelieving authority. The one who's in authority is not the one who serves. They're the one who is served. But Jesus says if that's how you're thinking you're looking at it wrong, you're looking at the wrong example and model of authority and power. Look at me. I did not come to be served. I came to serve, even to the point of giving my life as a ransom for many. So he says in verse 43. Yet it shall not be so among you. Wrong example, wrong pattern. Throw that whole thing out that does not picture. Authority, position, power, or the role of first in the Kingdom of God. But whoever desires to be great among you shall be your servant. Insert a new model. Replace what you have in your head in your understanding of power and prominence and authority, and replace that with this model. Here's how it works in the Kingdom of God. That desire for greatness. Should be poured into servanthood. Pastor Thomas Constable says notice that Jesus did not rebuke the disciples for wanting to be great. This ambition is good, he corrected them for focusing on self-centered goals rather than unselfish goals. And he clarified the method for obtaining greatness. The issue here wasn't that they desired to have greatness or prominence. Again, they were responding and reacting to what Jesus said you're going to. Be on Thrones. They they had a desire for that greatness. But Jesus says don't. He doesn't say don't desire that, he says. To channel that desire. That thirst for more that thirst. For position, for. Jesus isn't saying sit there and pretend like you. Don't have that thirst. That you don't want that, that you don't crave that. That's not what he's saying he's saying. Take that and direct it and channel it. He reiterates in verse 44, whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all, taking it to another level, not just serve it, but now sleeve. And again, he presents to himself as the example for the son of man did not come to be served, but to serve. Now I think it's important to take a moment and clarify. To be a servant doesn't necessarily mean that you do what everyone tells you to do. Although that's what we might think of if I'm everybody's servant, that means I have to do everything that everybody tells me. Again, that's not the model that Jesus is presenting for us. Jesus didn't do everything that everybody wanted him to do. Prime example, these two brothers just said Jesus, give us these places on the Thrones in your Kingdom and Jesus says. No, thank you. That's not appropriate. That's not the way that it works. But Jesus did die upon the cross for James and John. That they could sit upon those Thrones. Servanthood is not. Just doing what everybody says or doing what people say. You could think about it more in this way that to be a servant means to do what is best for people. Earlier in the Gospel of Mark Mark, chapter one. Jesus went outside of a town that he was ministering in. And everybody started looking for him. It says in verse 37 when they found him, they said everybody's looking for you. But he said to them, let us go into the next towns that I may preach there also because for this purpose, I. Have come forth. If you ask the crowd what they wanted of Jesus at that time, they would say we want Jesus to stay with us and Jesus says no. I'm your servant. I'm the servant of God. I'm here to serve. But that doesn't mean I do everything that everybody wants me to do. For this reason, I've been set forth. For this reason I've come forth, I I am servant to God first. And that means. I'm not always going to do. What you want me to do? But I'm always going to do what God wants me to do. And I'm willing to do. Whatever God wants me to do, even if that means doing what you asked me to do. So there is that sometimes. And it fits in that. But we have to be careful that it, it doesn't mean just being bossed around by everybody all the time. It means being bossed around by God first. And be willing to put the needs of others and the will of God above our own. If Jesus submitted to the people in that way, he would have been forced to be king because they wanted to make him king. In John Chapter 6. And we could look at many more examples like that. Let's get back to the point, be quick to aim for the good of others. That's what Jesus did. He moved on to the next town because it was for the good of others, not because it was what he wanted. It's what the father had called him to. It was good for all of the people involved, for him to move on to the next town. It was good for him to take this occasion to teach the disciples these truths. Even though the rest of the disciples were upset about James and John, he didn't just change the subject and move on. So that try to calm down, you know, the nerves of everybody? No, he said. Let's dwell on this for a little bit, we. Need to understand. How the Kingdom of God works. He's aiming for the good of others to the point of death upon the cross, setting the pattern, setting the example for us. How to come first? Guys, you have the desire, you want to be first, you want to be great in the Kingdom of God. Don't channel it to aim for. Your own good. Aim for the good of others. Finishing it up now in verses 46 through 52 point #3 be quick to trust God and pray. Persistently, let's read through these verses now. When they came to Jericho, as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great multitude blind bartimaeus, the son of Timeus, sat by the road begging. And when he heard it or heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me. Then many warned him to be quiet. But he cried out. All the more son of David have mercy on me. So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him be of good cheer. He is calling you. And throwing aside his garment. He rose and came to Jesus. So Jesus answered and said to him, what do you want me to? Do for you. The blind man said to him Rabboni. That I may receive my sight. Then Jesus said to him, go your way. Your faith has made you well, and immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road. They continued the. Journey towards Jerusalem passing through Jericho following the normal route. As he's passing through Jericho. His disciples are there. The 12, the other disciples, and now a great multitude is gathering around him. They're all headed towards Jerusalem for the feast of Passover. So it's a massive crowd. And there's this man who is blind, bartimaeus. He's there just cause. That's how he makes a living, he begs on. The side of the road. And as he's there begging, he hears this multitude. And he heard. Here's why there's all this noise and commotion and hubbub. It was Jesus of Nazareth. And the blind man says it's Jesus. I didn't know I would ever be in his presence. I didn't know I would be right here when he's walking by. Now's my chance. Now's my opportunity. He began to cry out. And say Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me. What is he here? He. Hears it was Jesus of Nazareth. Now Jesus was born in Bethlehem but raised in Nazareth. He was referred to or known as the Nazarene. What's all the crowd for? What's the hubbub? The blind guy says, and they say it's Jesus of Nazareth. So he cries out really loud. Jesus of Nazareth. No, he doesn't. He cries out Jesus, son of David. It's significant. This is powerful. Because son of David is a phrase, it's a messianic title. It is the blind man saying. I believe you are the Messiah. I believe in you, Jesus. You're not just Jesus of Nazareth. Interesting Prophet and miracle worker. You are Jesus son of David. The fulfillment of the promise of the Messiah through the line of David. You are the Messiah. Have mercy on me. Notice verse 48. Many warned him. To be quiet. How many people in a crowd and a multitude of crowded St. with lots of commotion, how many people are worried about other people being too loud? This guy blind bartimaeus must have been making quite a ruckus. He was not. Hey, Jesus, son of David. Over here over here. In a crowd. Of a multitude. He's being so loud that people are telling him. To be quiet. I don't have you ever had a baseball game? And it's loud and. You're so loud that the rest of the crowd is telling you be quiet. Like that's hard to do, right. This is an all out effort. The blind man, bartimaeus, he is calling out to Jesus with every ounce of strength with every. Everything he can give. People are telling him to be quiet and so then what does he do? He calls out. All the more son of David. You're the Messiah. Have mercy on me. And Jesus hears. So verse 49 says he stood still. Got Jesus attention. You cry out like that in the midst of a multitude. He stood still. Commanded that the blind man be called. Get up, blind man. He's calling you. The blind man, bartimaeus, he throws aside his garments. And he rose and he came to Jesus. He threw aside his garment. I I I don't know. I'm just kind of imagining things reading. Into it a little. Bit, but I'm suggesting Barnabas says today's the day I get my healing and he's throwing his garments. And he's going to Jesus. He's going already in faith. Today's the day Jesus heard my cry. He's called me to come to him. Pastor Charles Bridgen. Says cold prayers never win God's ear. Draw thy bow with thy full strength. If thou would send thy arrow up so high as heaven. I like that visual man. Just draw your bow with the cause. You could just draw a bow. Like this, right? Just Bing, Bing, Bing. But then you can draw your bow with the full strength. I did that one time. At my grandpa's house. Grandpa was a little bit wild, gave me a bow and arrow, metal bow, real arrows. Nothing phony about it. And he had this huge yard. I played with it all the time. This one time I'm at the edge of the yard, I get to the edge cause you. Know then there's all. The yard ahead, it was large. It was huge. None of you have. Yards as big as my grandpa's yard was. And I pulled it back all the way. How it go boom? And it went way farther than I ever expected. And landed right. In the top of the truck and my dad's. Well, my dad's truck. He he had the cab, the the King cab and then the camper. And then there was that like rubber seal that like, connected the tube right in there, just pierced right through it. Never would have thought it went that far. To that point, I hadn't pulled it so hard. You know, I just kind of played with it. Is that how your prayers are? Just Bing, Bing, Bing, Bing. Bing Bing, just little, little little effort, little energy. Or you pull it back. Ohh Lord, this is the desire of my heart. Let it go. Be quick to trust God, this guy, blind bartimaeus, he trusted God Jesus son of David. He throws off the garment and comes to Jesus because he trusts. Today's the day I get my healing. Today is the day I encounter the Messiah. Jesus asked him in verse 51 what? Do you want me to do for you? What do you want me to do for you? Is that what you would ask a blind man if you were Jesus, right? It obvious what he needs done. But Jesus asked him. To allow for the opportunity for. Bartimaeus to say the words. To present his request. We don't actually say the words and we don't actually make the request. But the blind man, says Raboni. That I may receive. Pastor Warren Wisby says Jesus asked the question. To challenge the blind man, what did he really believe Jesus could do? You know, sometimes we don't actually ask the question. Because we don't actually believe Jesus can do it. He believes Rabboni now rabboni. This is like Rabbi, but. Making it personal. My Lord, my master. You're not just a prophet. You're not just a good teacher. You're my teacher, raboni. This this is great faith that Bartimeus has in the Lord. Trusting the Lord. That I may receive my sight in Jesus says go your way. Your faith has made you well. And immediately he received his sight. And followed Jesus on the road. Go your way, Jesus said. And with his sight. Given to him. He says my way is Jesus's way. This is not a change of direction. He was already going Jesus's way. His eyes were already on him. He was already. Trusting the Lord. And Jesus said yes. Amen. Your faith has made you well, let blind bartimaeus. Teach you how to be first in God's Kingdom. Be first in line to trust God and pray persistently. He didn't receive from the Lord on the first request. He didn't receive from the Lord half heartedly requesting he. He had to cry out and cry out more and when people told him. To be quiet. You know when you go to a prayer meeting. And you're about to pray and then everybody says, OK, listen, before you pray, can you just not pray for that? This I mean at least just one time. Every time we come together. To pray, you pray for that. Would you just skip it this time? Sometimes when you pray for the meal, right? Everybody says, can you make it fast? I want the food to get cold, right? He didn't give up because people were tired of hearing it. He didn't give up because people were bothered by the noise. He didn't give up because it didn't work the first time he cried out. He kept on crying out. The idea is that he kept on crying. He didn't. Just. Cry out once or twice he he was crying out and crying out persistently until Jesus stood still and they. Said hey, come on. Jesus is calling you. To trust God and pray. Persistently, Jesus told his disciples in John Chapter 16, and that day you will ask me nothing. Most assuredly, I say whatever you ask the father in my name, he will give you. And so now you've asked nothing in my name ask and you will receive that your joy may be full. You guys haven't asked anything of the father in my name yet, but you're. Going to and I want you to ask. That your joy may be full. I want you to ask you need to ask. You need to verbalize. You need to present your request before the Lord. Now of course there is very bad doctrine that we can go from here and say, OK, well, I'm going to ask for everything that I want. Well, we can't miss the previous point. What are you aiming for? Selfish desires, selfish goals? That's not going to work. Blind Bartimaeus was healed and he goes the way of Jesus. He could go his own way and just do whatever he wanted to do, right? He's healed and he he goes the way of Jesus in a similar way, we need to have our heart aligned with the Lord. But we also need to ask. And there's some things. That we don't have simply for the fact that we just we don't ask. We haven't presented the request or we gave up before it was. Time to give up. When do you give up praying for something? When the Lord tells you to stop. Praying for it. The Lord told Jeremiah. Stop praying for Israel, stop praying for the nation of Judah. OK, then you stopped praying. The Lord told Paul. Stop praying for healing. My Grace is sufficient. I got you. I'm going to carry you through this. Stop praying for that healing. OK, then you stop. Praying, but until then. Trust God and pray persistently. Pray persistently what's on your heart. What are you desiring? You want to be first in the? Kingdom of God ask God. For what's on your heart, ask God for what? Ask God for those needs, ask God to provide. Ask God for what's happening there in Luke Chapter 18, Jesus gives a whole parable to teach the point that we ought always to pray and not lose heart. There's a lot of times when we pray and then lose hearts and so then we stop praying because we lost heart. And Jesus says let me teach you this parable to teach you this lesson that you shouldn't do that, that you should trust God and pray persistently. John tells us in first John Chapter 5 this is the confidence that we have in him. If we ask anything according to. His will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we've asked of him. Here's confidence that we can have. Anything we ask within the will of God, we know God hears us and we could have great confidence that we have that requests. A little bit of a challenge because. We don't always know God's will. But that doesn't have to stop us from asking. Again, we aim for the good of others. And we're always. In a posture of well, Lord, if it's not in your will. If it's not good for me, if it's not good for everybody. That I don't want that request answered anyways, but from my perspective, from my limited understanding, I think this makes sense. Here's my request. Can you give me my sight? What I want to see? Is that good for me is that? Good for everybody, Jesus. Says you're healed and it goes the way of Jesus. Trust God and pray. And so here's how to be first. In God's Kingdom. You gotta be quick. I get at the front of the line, sign me up, Lord. Yes, hard things. I know it's hard. I'm going to be challenged. I'm going to be stretched in my understanding, I'm going to be stretched in my faith. I'm going to be stretched and I'm comfortable. Lord, I'm ready. Whatever you want. No matter how hard it is, no matter how much it hurts what I want your will. I want your ways. I want your truth. I want you to be glorified. I want to hear from you, even if it's hard and different than anything I've ever known. Be quick to aim for the good of others. Sign up here I am first in line. I'm going to lay aside myself. I'm going to deny myself and take up the. Cross and follow Jesus for the good of others. To aim for the good of others, to serve others. Not wrong to have the desire you. Have a craving, you have a thirst. For position, for status, for prominence. Don't try to pretend like. You don't just learn how to direct it. Aim for the good of others. Put others 1st and serve them. For the glory of God. And then be quick to trust God and pray persistently. He can do it. Know but the. Only way we're. Going to find out if he will is if we ask. Let him tell you. Stop praying about that. In the meantime, you trust the Lord, but I know you want what's best for me. But don't just. Like do little half hearted shooting a bow prayer. Drive full strength. Who cares? If it's noisy, who cares if it's embarrassing? Who cares if people are tired of hearing you? Pray about that. Trust God and pray. These are principles the Lord shows us how to be first in the Kingdom of God. How to receive what he has for? Us, Lord, we pray. That you would help us to take your word to heart. And Lord, we want to be first, not for our own sakes and not. For our own glory. We want to be first for you, Lord, we want to. Be first in response, Lord to all that you've done for us in recognition. Of how much we've received from you or do we want to give ourselves entirely and completely? And So what would you help us to run the race with endurance that's been set before us? To lay aside the wheats that hold us back, the sins that so easily ensnare us to fix our eyes on you. And to run to that finish line. Running in such a way as. To win the prize. Help us, Lord. To be quick to hear from you, even the hard things, the challenging things, the stretching things help us to be quick or to see the needs of others to be concerned with and caring for. The people that you've placed around us. Help us to be quick. To run to you in prayer. Trusting you, even if it's the same thing continually and repeatedly for days and months and years and decades. Teach us to always pray and to not lose heart. We pray this in Jesus name.