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“Who is the Greatest”
August 18, 2013 Ainsworth Assembly
AM of God
Mark 9:33-37
33Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He
asked them,“What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?”34But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves whowould be the greatest.35And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them,“If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”36Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them,37“Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me.”
When I was a young boy we read the story in which one of the characters asked a mirror a question over and over. “Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?” I wonder if anyone here remembers the name of that story and who that character was? (Story: Snow White and the seven dwarfs. Character: The wicked step mother.)
Another cartoon character used to ask “Who is the King of the Jungle?” A character in an early 60’s movie asked that same question. The only problem was that this character was ruled by fear. And so in the movie he was looking for “COURAGE.”
I wonder if anyone here can name the movie and what scardy cat was supposed to be the king of the jungle?
But this video might give you a different idea.
(The porcupine video)
“Who is the King of the Jungle?” That question has been asked for centuries in many different ways.
In Football we have:
The Heisman trophy is given to the greatest college player!
The big question in college football every year is “who is number one?”
The Super Bowl trophy is given to the greatest professional football team who wins the superbowl.
Baseball has
its “Cy Young Award” which is for the best pitcher in baseball.
And it won’t be long and baseball fans will be watching The World Series to decide who is on top of the heap in baseball.
Almost everywhere we look there is a competition to see who will be the greatest.
We talk about “who wears the pants in this marriage?”
We talk about “who calls the shots in the organization?”
This is deeply ingrained in our makeup. People strive to be the greatest! We call this ambition.
In our scripture text today, Jesus was traveling to Capernaum with His disciples. As they walked along the discussion turned to the future. And they began to talk about Christ’s future kingdom and where they hoped to be in it.
Human nature hasn’t changed much in 2,000 years. People still strive for position and power.
What can we learn from this passage? What is God communicating to us about greatness in His eyes?
1. Sinful man still needs the grace of God.
We have to appreciate the fact that the Bible gives us the unvarnished version of the truth. The Bible does not dress up its heroes to be some kind of supermen with no faults. In fact as we trace the record of the 12 disciples, we find some very ordinary and flawed men. The evangelists paint the 12 warts and all! Peter often has his foot in his mouth, Thomas is full of doubt, often they just “can’t get it,” and here we find them vying for position.
This is important because we find that the people of the Bible needed God’s grace just like we do. “But God demonstrates His love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,…” (Titus 2:11)
Christ patiently worked with the 12. In Him they found the grace needed to become the children of God bearing the family likeness. I hope you will take heart and realize that He seeks to do the same with you and I. “For by grace are you saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not of works lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Now in the passage before us we see some less than desirable character in the 12. Their carnality becomes very clear. Jesus had just confided some very personal and difficult information (Mark 9:30-32). He was soon to be betrayed and killed by the governing authorities. In fact in my Bible (NKJV) the sense is that it was already underway. “…is being betrayed…” gives the idea that the thought was already in the mind and heart of Judas.
But notice thoughts of the disciples are not on His sorrow, but on their ambitions.
What are the disciples discussing?
What is the topic of their conversation as they walk the road to Capernaum?
They are talking about what positions they hope to get in the coming kingdom. They look at Jesus as the next president and they are talking about what cabinet positions they hope to get. The focus is totally selfish and worldly. They were just like the culture around them. They needed Christ’s patient and gracious help to change and so do we.
2. The Disciples Were Afraid to Confess Their Faults.
When Jesus asked them what they had been discussing no one would make a peep! “What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?” But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest.” (Mark 9:34-35)
Why wouldn’t they answer Jesus? There can be only one answer. It’s the same reason that you and I often refuse to reveal the true nature of our activities. I have no doubt they were ashamed! They weren’t proud of their behavior.
When Jesus called them on it they realized how self centered and prideful it was. They didn’t want to admit to it. They were convicted by the Spirit! They did the same thing we do when the Lord points out our sinful attitudes and behavior.
Have you ever done something you were ashamed to admit? Of course we all have. And so they kept silent!
King David is described in the Bible as “…a man after God’s own heart.” (Acts 13:22) But listen to King David’s experience: “When I kept silent, my bones grew old through my groaning all day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was turned into the drought of summer.” (Psalm 32:3-4) David knew what it was to keep silent about his sin. Instead of openly confessing his sin, he hid it and was silent about it for a long time. This was the disciples as well. The disciples kept silent.
But Jesus knew all about what they were talking about. And He knows what ever sin we have committed. His question was an opportunity for them to confess their sinful, selfish behavior. His question was designed to cause them to pause and think about what they were doing.
Friend, living with unconfessed sin is a horrible thing. I’m so thankful we don’t have to . The word of God encourages us to confess our sin and be forgiven!
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (I John 1:9)
“He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13)
That’s one reason we come to church. God convicts us of our sins and we can confess it to Him and begin the process of change.
God is merciful! Don’t hide your sin from God but confess it and ask His forgiveness! Psalm 103 reminds us that God’s mercy is as “high as the heaven is above the earth…” Thank God for it.
3. Selfish Ambition Always Produces Strife and Tension.
Now notice also what their selfish ambition produced.
The word translated here ‘disputed’ ( dialogizomai) can either be translated discussed, disputed or argued.
What started as a discussion turned into a heated dispute.
We’ve never had any of those have we? “Mom likes you best!” You always get to sit in the front!”
Perhaps there were some very natural reasons for the growing jealousy and dispute. Peter, James and John got to spend a lot of extra time with Jesus. Were the other disciples jealous?
Peter was commended after his great confession of Jesus being the son of God. Were they jealous of Peter. “On this rock I will build my church!”
These men were ambitious for the highest places in the kingdom.
Ambition had produced arguing and quarreling. The words of James reveal the sinful motive. James 3:14-16
“But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.”
Selfish ambition always produces strife and arguing. When we have strife in our home its usually a result of selfish ambition rearing its ugly head.
What do the kids fight over?
*Who gets to hold the remote and switch the channels on the tv.
*Who gets the best seat in the car or to sleep by the window.
*Kids want first chance at the chicken so they can get the “best piece” of chicken.
What do adults fight over? Usually it is a bit more sophisticated.
*Who is going to run the check book?
*Who has to get up and change the poopy diaper?
*All that important stuff!
When we have strife we need to ask if selfish ambition is the culprit.
Do you find yourself having strife in your home? In your marriage? In your relationships? Look to see where ambition has taken hold. Look to see where the power struggle is. I think many times we will find that the question is over “who is going to call the shots?” OR “Who is going to wear the pants in the family?” The disciples got in a fight over who was going to get the best positions in Christ’s kingdom.
WHO’S THE BOSS
The young husband was henpecked, and he was going to a psychiatrist about the problem. The doctor told him, "You don’t have to let your wife bully you! Go home and show her you’re the boss!"
The young man got home, slammed the door, shook his fist in his wife’s face, and growled, "From now on, you’re taking orders from ME! When I get home from work, I want my supper ON the table. I want my clothes laid out. I will be going out with the boys. You will be staying home. And another thing. Do you know who’s going to tie my tie?"
"Yes," she said. "The undertaker."
(SOURCE: from a sermon by Mark Schaeufele, SermonCentral.com, "The Mystery In Christ", 6/30/08)
Friends, God has something better for us than fighting for position. God has something better for us than a relationship full of strife.
Here Jesus takes the initiative to show the disciples the way to true greatness and I think the way to peace and harmony as well.
4. The Way to Kingdom Greatness.
Notice what Jesus says. “And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them…”
Jesus took the position of teacher and rabbi here. This is more of a formal setting and the intent is to impress upon them the gravity of what He is about to say. And we can take it as a very important statement. This is the way to peace. This is the way to greatness. This is the way to harmony in our marriages, in our homes and in our churches. The way up is down.
“If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”
Then Jesus gave them an example they would not forget. “Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. (Maybe Peter’s son!) And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, “Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me.” (Mark 9:35-37)
Jesus demonstrated how this worked at the upper room. Peter and John were sent to prepare the last Passover meal. Jesus would never again eat a Passover meal with the 12. I’m sure He wished everything to be perfect. Finally, everything was ready. This was a tremendously important meal. This was the last Supper! And what happened?
They overlooked one important detail. They forgot to provide someone to wash everyone’s feet. How can you overlook that? When you entered a home a servant washed the dirt off your feet. This was standard practice. So now we have 13 men sitting down to eat with dirty feet.
Can you imagine how that would ruin the meal? Can you imagine how stinky some of their feet must have been? Can you picture cow manure and donkey dung on their feet? Can you see the dust and filth on their feet? How embarrassing is that?
How does Jesus diffuse the situation? Does He jump on Peter and John? Does He yell at them how stupid they were?
No! He takes a towel and starts washing feet. Jesus takes the lowest place, the place of the servant. Jesus, the Lord and Master, becomes the slave to all.
Instead of fighting over who has to wash the feet, everyone is now wishing they had taken up the towel.
WHAT ARE YOU SAYING PASTOR?
---What would happen the next time the house needs cleaning you volunteer to get the vacuum out and do the vacuuming without Mom having to ask you 10 times? Wouldn’t that be great instead of asking, threatening and browbeating volunteer?
Can you imagine how different things would be at home?
“Take a break, Mom. I’ll dust today.”
---What would happen this week when supper is done, you say to your spouse, “You take a break. I’ll do the dishes. I’ll clean up. You go put your feet up and rest a while?”
After she gets up off the floor you can bet things will be better at home! Instead of having to beg and threaten to do the dishes you volunteer, I guarantee the atmosphere around your home will change.