January 27, 1999

EXPLORE THE BIBLE:
Servanthood not out of
style in kingdom of God
___ Mark 9:30-10:52; Mark 10:32b-40,42-45
___By Dillard Wilbanks
___Travis Avenue Baptist Church, Fort Worth
___Efforts to manipulate God for personal interest will meet the firm reminder that he values serving others more than being served by others. This teaching of Jesus can transform the 21st century church, where research reveals members are conforming to the consumer orientation of our culture.
___ The road ahead (Mark 10:32b-34). Along the road to Jerusalem, Jesus privately lays out to his disciples the road immediately ahead for him. Jesus identifies another "mile marker" on this journey. He previously foretold his destiny (8:31), his betrayal (9:31), and now the jesting, mocking and scourging preceding his death are added (10:34). Imagine the dilemma of these disciples. They were sure Jesus was the promised Messiah, yet upon arrival in Jerusalem, he would not reign but suffer and die.
___Although bewildered, they continued to follow him. Their love for Jesus compelled them to accept what they could not understand. Although they could not trace the hand of God in this development, they would trust his heart.
___ A selfish request (Mark 10:35-40). The final marker on the road to Jesus' ultimate reign was clearly identified as his resurrection. Yet, the disciples' complete misunderstanding of the kingdom over which he would reign clearly is evident in the response of James and John. In this request from those closest to him, we are reminded that they were not super-saints but ordinary men. They were people just like us with imperfect aptitude, attitudes and actions. It was not their perfection but their love and loyalty to him that Jesus would use to change the world.
___James and John still believed in Jesus' ultimate triumph. Their faith was firm. So, also, was their ambition for first place when that triumph occurred. It was not to their ambition that Jesus responded. It was to motive. Motive determines the character of ambition.
___Jesus' response reveals his standard of greatness. The "cup" metaphor is rooted in a Jewish expression of sharing someone's fate. The "baptism" to which he refers regularly was spoken of as being submerged in any experience. Jesus asked if they were willing to experience the consequences which awaited him and be submerged in the suffering he would endure. Perhaps this is a concrete reminder of what Jesus had spoken to them when they first were sent out. "A disciple is not above his teacher, or a slave above his master" (Matthew 10:24). As further evidence of their loyalty, although blind, they accepted the challenge.
___Second, the response revealed his own assumed servant role in that he never usurped the place of God. God alone determines the final reward of the faithful. He alone discerns the thoughts and intents of our hearts--the motive of our ambition in serving him. Could this be the basis upon which many who now are first shall be last in the Kingdom and many who now are last will be first (Matthew 19:30)?
___ The standard of greatness (Mark 10:42-45). The disciples simply reflected their world's standard of greatness. In the absence of a servant heart power is the only game in town. All too frequently Christian leaders conform to this worldly standard. Jesus quite clearly communicates the contrasting characteristic.

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