The Death of Jesus

And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head.  There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that?  For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.”  And they scolded her.  But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her?  She has done a beautiful thing to me.  For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them.  But you will not always have me.  She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial.  And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.” Mark 14:3-9

Jesus had told his disciples that he was going to die (Mark 8:31, 9:31, 10:33-34).  Mark 8:32 records that Jesus said this “plainly”, as in no riddles or veiled remarks.  Even still, Mark 9:32 says that they “did not understand” but were “afraid to ask” any questions.  Well, not any questions, for James and his brother John did manage to ask,

“Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” (Mark 10:37)

Despite repeated warnings of his upcoming suffering and death, the thought on the minds of these two brothers was totally selfish.

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The Heart of Jesus

And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.  But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.  For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:42-45

Father: “So Steve, what do you want to be when you grow up?”
Son:  “Dad, I really just want to be a servant.”
Father: ____________ (fill in the blank)

How do you suppose that conversation ends?  Christian parents everywhere are saying “that would be wonderful”, but I am not sure that all the classes, lessons and instruction we funnel our children through is geared to servant-creation, is it?  Is that what you really want for your kids, to just be a servant?  Is that what you’re aiming for?  Servanthood?

Much like the times when Jesus walked the earth, today in many circles,
Authority + Power = Leadership
Leadership + Prominence = Success
And we all want to be successful, don’t we?  A sad fact about our sinful little hearts is that we tend to judge our worth by how “successful” we are.  The important criteria becomes how do you define success?  How do you?

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The Cost of Jesus

And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.  For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?  For what can a man give in return for his soul?  For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” Mark 8:34-38

“Take up his cross?  Did he just say, ‘Take up his cross’?” When the disciples first heard these words they must have thought that it was just an extreme illustration.  After Jesus died on a cross, they knew it meant much more.  This challenge, found about halfway through the gospel of Mark, is a sobering reminder of the foolishness of gaining the world, but forfeiting one’s life in the process.

The cost of discipleship, as described by Jesus, goes far beyond what I think many western believers anticipate when they choose to follow after Christ.

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The Power of Jesus

Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd.  And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray.  And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land.  And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”  And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened. Mark 6:45-52

After speaking at our student ministry’s spring retreat, I was asked by a couple of guys,

“Why doesn’t God act like He did in the Old Testament anymore?”
“What do you mean?” I replied.
“You know, like the burning bush, it would be so much easier to get people to believe if God still did stuff like that.”

I think a lot of people feel that way (perhaps even you), but unfortunately that is not the case.  Though it is fun to think about.  Imagine the impact at the end of a sermon if you could call down fire from heaven or cause it to rain on cue?  You would like to think it would be pretty powerful.  But in the long run, you’ll be better served by old-school sharing the gospel and praying the Spirit does a work in the heart of your hearer.

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