Ambition of James and John/ I deserve the best
Mark 10:35-45
Prayer-
Introduction-
This morning we will look at the heart of James and John, two of Jesus disciples and hear the request they made of Jesus.
At first most will say that they would never ask such a question of Jesus, but as we hear Jesus answer, and dig into this text, I am guessing that a few of us would realize that we have asked Jesus such a question just in a different way.
Mark 10:35-45 Read form Bible.
This story is also presented in Matthew 20 where the mother of James and John asked Jesus if her sons could sit on the right and left of Jesus.
Scholars have argued who asked Jesus that these boys sit in the high honor on His right and left in glory.
You say tomatoes, I say Tomatos, the thing is these boys wanted to be elevated to the highest human rankings.
I think we are all ambitious in some area of our lives.
What we put our time and effort in is what motivates us. You can tell what is important in someone life by looking at their checkbook, looking at their schedule planner, and how they talk and what they talk about. It will reveal the important things in their life.
James and John were disciples of Jesus- they went everywhere with him and saw the great works He was doing. They witnessed Jesus first hand feed thousands of people, heal blind people.
They were even with Jesus at the Transfiguration- Jesus on the mountaintop Transfigured before them and Moses and Elijah appear and begin talking to Jesus. Our Heavenly Father voice calls out “This is my son, whom I love. Listen to Him.”
Just as quick, Moses and Elijah are gone and there is Jesus telling them not to say anything yet until after His resurrection.
Scriptures says they kept the matter to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant.
After seeing that, I think I would have some questions and comments-
The way of the cross
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up the cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.”
Spending time with Jesus should always take you to the cross! Amen!
We have to come to the cross and we have to pick up our own crosses as Jesus leads us.
The time that they spent with Jesus should have given them that insight and it should have been a way of life for them.
Here is their request
(35) “Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him, “teacher”, they said, “We want you to do whatever we ask.”
The Son of the living God, Jesus Christ, the one who was preparing Himself for the cross, the one who had taught them by example that He must die, so that we might live, the one who was about to give everything for all of us.
They ask Him.” We want you to do whatever we ask”
Let’s take this out of the heavenly realm for a minute- Could you imagine going up to one of your parents and asking them to do whatever you ask? Demanding anything?
I would get the look! I knew what the look meant-
I know some of you weren’t raised like this (big city) (single mom) but we did not have timeout, we had knocked out. I never once had my mother begin counting to me and saying I will count to three and you need to straighten up. 1…….2……2.25, 2.50…come on now don’t make me say 3. Get over here, I am not kidding!
I asked a question, and she gave you an answer- yes or No. if the answer was no, she did not want you to bring it up again or have a bad attitude about their answer.
Having flashbacks-
Mom was the boss and you did nothing against the boss. She did it for our protection because she raised two boys in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
As we got older, because of her love and sacrifice learned, we saw that everything she did was out of love and was for our protection and guidance.
She had to be both father and mother.
Strength and love rolled up into a woman of 140 pounds.
How we are raised makes a difference in how we look at things of life.
The culture we are brought up makes a difference.
I do not know what it is like to be adopted, abandoned, having no one to turn too.
It factors in what our view of God is and how God would respond to the hard questions we need answered.
God is not like us! We are to be a reflection of God, not the other way around.
Left to ourselves, we reduce God to how we see God instead of who He is.
I see more in that verse than most people because of my background, how until God got a hold of my heart I perceived him.
For the longest time, I could not think that God would love me and want what is best for me. I thought God had to be hard like my mom so that I would be safe and turn out like I was supposed to.
I thought that God didn’t give second chances.
I thought that once I messed up, it was just going to be like all the other hardships in my life. I never thought God cared for me individually, I thought we were all herded in a group to be one thing, act one way, and if you got out of line, you were not allowed to get in the line again.
So for me… verse 35 and 36 are worlds apart until I had an intimate and personal encounter with God.
So for them to ask, we want you to do for us whatever we ask, and for Jesus to answer calmly and without a whole lot a condemning statements of why He would not do such a thing is a miracle to me in itself.
What do you want me to do for you?
(37) “They replied, let me sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.” You do not know what you are asking. Jesus said, can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with? We can, they answered.”
Ambition is a funny thing- not enough ambition and your lazy and too much and your obsessed and too driven.
Go way off track and you lose sight of what the passion was for. That is where the sons of Zebedee were. They have ambition and spent time with Jesus and they had gotten off track and a loving Jesus was prepared to put them back on track by showing them where they got off track.
There are three themes in this text- suffering, servanthood, and sacrifice.
We have to be careful that Jesus does not have to put u back on track in these areas.
What’s in it for me
They asked Jesus to sit on the right and the left of him because they felt they were part of the elite.
They were the disciples of God.
They had witnessed first-hand the miracles that Jesus performed and they had to be brought back on track because they thought it was all about them and they lost the work of the Lord.
They forgot the lessons Jesus gave;
“Let the children come to him, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly, I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom as a child will never enter it.”
They forgot- “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”
“Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then, come follow me.”
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up the cross and follow me.” They forgot to pick up their cross!
They forgot who they were talking too- “You are Christ, the son of the Living God.”
It not about what’s in it for me- They had forgot what they were asking and who they were asking it from.
“Jesus said to them, you will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”
Those two believers were probably upset that they were not going to get those spots- but look in verse (41) “when the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John.”
We think that we would never ask such a thing, but the others were mad at them too, because they thought they should get those spots. Be careful you don’t ask God what is in for you.
I deserve the Best
Jesus was about to go to the cross- He was about to fulfill the Fathers will for Him. I will drink my cup. You don’t have to drink my cup, but you are asked to drink your own cup. To do what is asked of you as followers of Christ.
You are asked to be my witnesses.
You are asked to pick up your own cross.
You are asked to make an impact on those around you- for them to see in action the things of God and the reflection of God in your life.
You are asked to make me first in your life.
But they got it wrong- They wanted some of God’s glory- to sit on the right and the left of Jesus. Spots that God the Father would determine.
It is me Jesus, give me the best seats in the house.
Remember me, I was with you while you did all those miracles?
I am part of the elite, I am a leader.
Makes me think of the Pharisee who prayed…I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! 12 I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’
You cannot serve Jesus with a hand full of stuff! It takes the right attitude to be His servant.
We cannot believe we deserve the best! When we think that we deserve it, we have gotten off track and correction is coming.
John R. Stott
In his book- “The cross of Christ”- that’s the request of the world, and many in the church. We’re go getters, status seekers, hungry for honor and prestige. We measure life by accomplishment and everlasting dreams of success.”
D.L. Moody
“The measure of a person isn’t how many servants they have but how many people they serve.”
There are two definitions of greatness- the worlds and God’s.
Which one is more important to you?
Close,
Tough passage because we all have areas of our life that if we would be truthful, we have one way or another told God that we deserve the best, what is in it for me!
A young preacher once approached Dr. F. B. Meyer and asked how he could one day become as influential and well-known as Dr. Meyer. Dr. Meyer responded, “Don’t waste your time waiting and longing for large opportunities which may never come. But faithfully handle the little things that are always claiming your attention.”
Be careful and stay humble so the Lord doesn’t have to take care of it
Illustration-
After resigning his pastorate to go lead another church, a pastor was approached by an endearing older member of the congregation. She wept over the pastor’s decision to leave and said, “Things will never be the same.”The minister tried to console her by saying, “Don’t worry, I’m confident you will get a new pastor who is better than me.”She continued to sob and replied, “That’s what the last three pastors have said, but they just keep getting worse.”
Stay Humble! Be seeking what God has for you !
Let’s pray-
Father, I come in the precious name of Jesus, I surrender all ambitions that would take me far from you and embrace all that would draw me closer to you. I will let you sort them out by leading me and directing me in my everyday life. Help me have the right attitude and help me accomplish all that you want for me, for my family, for my church.
In Jesus Name,
Amen.
