The Cost of Servanthood

The Cost of Servanthood

Following the Servant

Mark 10:32-45

1. To Become a Ransom for Many
2. To Call Us to Follow His Example of Lowliness and Costly Love
3. To Ransom People from Every Tribe and Language and People and Nation

– John Piper, Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die

 

In Mark chapters 8-10, we have the most specific teaching on

discipleship in the New Testament.  In each chapter there’s:

• A passion prediction of Jesus’ death and resurrection (8:31, 32; 9:30, 31; 10:32-34)
• A foolish response by the disciples (8:32, 33; 9:32-34; 10:35-41)
• A lesson on discipleship, service, and genuine spiritual greatness (8:34-38; 9:35-37; 10:42-45)

 

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life—a ransom for many.”

Mark 10:45

 

 

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant . . .”

Philippians 2:3-7

 

As the road trip continues from Galilee to Jerusalem, Jesus gives His third and most detailed prediction of His passion and resurrection.  James and John fail to realize the implications of what Jesus has said.  Each time Jesus speaks of His death, He follows that up with teaching on true discipleship and this time He speaks about being a servant.  The Good News is that eventually James and John became two of the greatest servants in the New Testament account.  As Jesus walks the path of surrender, so should we. 

 

“For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.”                                                                                                                 2 Corinthians 4:5

 

“. . . who gave himself for us to [ransom] us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.”                                                                                            Titus 2:14

 

 

1. Service invites (vv.32-34)

 

 

2. Serving others goes (vv. 35-40)

 

Matthew 19:28

 

It shows they had . . .

 

• A shallow understanding of what it means to be a disciple
• Too high an opinion of their own importance
• A wrong understanding of how God measures greatness

 

Isaiah 51:22

 

Mark 14:36

 

Luke 12:50

 

Acts 12:1, 2

 

3. Serving is a (vv. 41-44)

 

You have to to the ways of the world (v. 42)

 

 Romans 12:2

 

You have to say yes to the . (v. 43)

 

 

4. Jesus (45)

 

 

Daniel 7:13

 

Isaiah 53:12

 

When Jesus says He’s our ransom, He’s telling us two things about ourselves: 

 

• That we’re in bondage .

 

2 Timothy 3:2

 

Galatians 4:21-26

 

• That He’s come in order to be .  (v. 45)

 

 

Our call is to follow Jesus   

 

1 Peter 1:18-21

 

Sometimes we all get let down by others.  How should we respond? How ?

 

 

 

 

Daily Meditations

 

Memory verse: “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.”                                                                                                       Mark 10:45

 

Monday

Read Mark 10:32-45.  How would you answer someone who asked you, “Why did Jesus have to die?” Can you give three reasons?

 

 

 

 

 

What have you done for the sake of your commitment to Jesus that was misunderstood by the people around you?

 

 

 

 

 

Tuesday

Read Mark 10:32-45.  How is it comforting to know that God has a plan for your life? Does the plan guarantee freedom from suffering?

 

 

 

 

 

What is the comfort and encouragement in this?

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday

Read Mark 10:32-45.  How does servanthood go against human nature?

 

 

 

 

 

How does it compare with what advertisers compel us to think of ourselves?

 

 

 

Thursday

Read Mark 10:32-45.  How do we put away the mind-set of the world and adopt the mind-set of Christ?

 

 

 

 

 

Where does the power and help come from to do this? How long does it take?

 

 

 

 

 

Friday

Read Mark 10:32-45.  Does being a slave imply working for salvation?

 

 

 

 

 

Why not?

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday

Read Mark 10:32-45.  In what ways was Jesus an example for us in service and humility and sacrifice?

 

 

 

 

 

How would you explain substitutionary atonement in one or two sentences?