I. Introduction
- Recapping Retreat
- Mark 10:45
- Worldly Perspective (vv35-42)
- James and John try to gain prominence/honor
- They were trying to "get a leg up"
- The other 10 feel indignant because they didn't ask first
- Their goal was to become great
- Jesus was just talking about how He would die in vv32-34 and they immediately try and become "great"
- Godly Perspective (vv43-45)
- "But..." -- the contrast
- Whoever will be great will serve
- Whoever will be great will be a slave
- The purpose of Christ:
- (1) to serve
- (2) to give His life
- (a) He foretold His death (Mark 8:31; 9:30-32)
- (b) He was determined (Mark 10:32-34)
- (c) "The Triumphal Entry" (Mark 11:1-11)
- Christ came to die--to become a ransom for many
- Mark shows us the Suffering Servant of the Lord
- The focus is more on Jesus' deeds rather than His teaching
- Application: If we want to be like Christ, we better learn how to serve and love.
The bullet points aren't necessarily actual points like a traditional outline, but some are just general comments or statements. The main point of the message will be focusing on why Jesus came--namely, to serve and to die.
I didn't plan on there being a parallel to the retreat, but it just so happened to work out. So the further breakdown might be looked at as: the disciples (or our) perspective versus God's perspective. Jesus clearly contrasts the worldview of becoming "great" not only in His words, but in His life.
I'm thinking in the intro to have a brief time of meditation over Mark 10:45. So I'll probably just read it over a few times and hopefully it'll soak in more because I think that verse really captures the essence of Mark as a whole.
And the concluding application will be for us to look for opportunities to serve and love others. Our goal isn't to remain comfortable and seek our own needs, but our goal is to seek the needs of others. To be like Christ is to serve.
