A BOLD REQUEST
April 6, 2008 PM
Sermon Outline
MK 10:35-45
INTRO: Human ambition is a fact. Perhaps not all human beings have the same degree of it, but it seems that all do have this need for advancement within us. The desire for "more" is an ever present desire from the lowliest to the greatest. When ambition exists in a sort of "closed system", it can become a divisive thing. This can be seen in job situations. It can be seen in sports teams. It can be seen in club settings. And, yes, it can even be found within the church. Our text for this evening presents us with a situation fraught with peril for the little band of apostles. Ambition has reared its head and has been discovered by those who are being "left out" of the request that is made. Before I am misunderstood, I want to stress that being ambitious in and of itself is not wrong. But ambition must always be tempered by other qualities.
- THE REQUEST OF JAMES AND JOHN - MK 10:37
- What they must have believed - "thy glory" ("thy kingdom" - Mt 20:21)
- they are asking for the places of greatest prominence in His kingdom
- it is apparent they still believe Jesus will ascend an earthly throne soon
- notice Lk 18:31 - "they understood none of these things"
- A favor based on relationship?
- obviously, James and John were part of an "inner circle" (Mt 17:1; 26:37)
- good indication they were cousins (Salome - Mk 16:1 with Mt 27:56)
- they doubtless were comfortable with this relationship
- Was it their mother, or was it they who made the request
- Mt 20:20 indicates it was Salome who came with the request
- my guess is that the sons thought Jesus might give more attention to their mother (His aunt?) in considering their request
- it was, nevertheless, their request
- The loyalty and confidence of James and John
- no matter how confusing things might have seemed, they were confident
- to speak of "thy glory" after years of seeing Jesus as a wandering rabbi without power or possession speaks to me of their belief in His kingdom
- although their understanding was wrong, their loyalty was right
- What they must have believed - "thy glory" ("thy kingdom" - Mt 20:21)
- THE IGNORANCE OF JAMES AND JOHN
- Mk 10:38 - "Ye know not what ye ask"
- first, they asked in ignorance of the nature of His kingdom
- second, they asked in ignorance of coming events
- the "cup" and the "baptism" here are descriptive of what one will experience and the overwhelming nature of it (Mt 26:38,39)
- Jesus acknowledged that they would experience the "cup" and "baptism"
- Acts 12:1,2 - James was killed by Herod
- Rev 1:9 - John exiled in Patmos "for the word of God..."
- but at the time of their request they had no idea of their future "cups"
- Future rewards do not depend on friend, favor relationships
- Mk 10:40 - compare Mt 20:23
- the very worldly thinking of James & John saw as the world saw things - political appointments, favors granted friends/relatives, etc.
- but future rewards in Jesus' kingdom depended on ones relationship with the Father and how one had pursued that relationship
- Mk 10:38 - "Ye know not what ye ask"
- NIPPING THE PROBLEM IN THE BUD
- Mk 10:41 - The ambition of James & John threatened apostolic unity
- the feelings of the ten are not all that unnatural!
- there was no inequality of rank among the apostles - none implied
- this request (privately requested?) would raise the ire of the others!
- Jesus took immediate, appropriate action to defuse the situation
- Mk 10:42 - He called attention to the worldly way of things - earthly kingdoms measured greatness by possessing power, authority
- Mk 10:43,44 - He laid out the measure of greatness in the kingdom
- among them, greatness was seen in willing service
- among them, the "chiefest" would be the servant of all
- there is no place in His kingdom for power, position and pride!
- Mk 10:45 - His final "argument"?
- even He, the son of God, had not come to be served ... but to serve
- I recall the occasion of His washing the feet of the apostles (Jno 13)
- "to give his life a ransom for many" ... clearly, this is a reference to the atoning death, substitutionary death of Jesus (1 Pet 2:24)
- Mk 10:41 - The ambition of James & John threatened apostolic unity
CLOSE: Our humanity can at times become a serious problem within the body of Christ. Earthly ambition has no place, however, among us. Over and again, Jesus taught that service rendered to others is what life in His kingdom is all about!
Cecil A. Hutson
06 April 2008