July 9, 2000      The Good News According to Mark      Mark 10

By Ronald George Jr. at the Fayetteville Baptist Church

   Some children had a beautiful white pet lamb, which was stolen from them, and sold to the butcher. The children discovered the lamb first as it was being led to the slaughter. They tried to get possession of it, but the butcher would not give it to them. A gentleman, seeing the grief of the children, said, "Give them the lamb: I'll pay for him." The price was paid, the lamb was saved. This is redemption. The lamb was helpless:  the children could not redeem it, but a generous man did. This is what Christ has done for us.

 The good news that Mark gives is that Jesus is the suffering servant who comes not to be served or ministered to, but to serve and to minister to others.  He came to give his life as a payment for the sins of others.  He died so that we may live.

 Scripture Text:  Mark 10:35 (KJS) And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire. 36 And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you? 37 They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory. 38 But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? 39 And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized: 40 But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but [it shall be given to them] for whom it is prepared. 41 And when the ten heard [it], they began to be much displeased with James and John. 42 But Jesus called them [to him], and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. 43 But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: 44 And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. 45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

 1.      The Good News is that Jesus is sitting on his throne in Glory.

He died, arose again, and ascended on high. 

2.      The Good News is that we will be there with Him in Heaven.

 3.      The Good News is that we can! And we will, if we are with Him here. 

We choose you Jesus. 

4.      The Good News is that we can drink of the same Cup as he.

Symbolized by the communion cup, as he drank it with them. 

5.      The Good News is that we be baptized with the same baptism.

This is the baptism of the Holy Spirit and with fire of judgment. 

6.      The Good News is that God has chosen you to be a leader.

God wants you to be in his service, that is His service to others.

7.      The Good News is that God has chosen you to be His minister.

A minister is a servant.  Will you become his minister to others. 

8.      The Good News is that God has chosen you to be His servant.

   I got my M.B.A. long before my G.E.D. I even have a photograph of me in my M.B.A. graduation outfit -- a snazzy knee length work apron. I guarantee you that I'm the only founder among America's big companies whose picture in the corporate annual report shows him wielding a mop and a plastic bucket. That wasn't a gag; it was a case of leading by example. At Wendy's, M.B.A. does not mean Master of Business Administration. It means Mop Bucket Attitude. It's how we define satisfying the customer through cleanliness, quality food, friendly service, and atmosphere.

   -- Dave Thomas, founder of Wendy's hamburgers, Well Done (Harper Collins, 1994), p. 159.

9.      The Good News is that Jesus has come to show us how. 

He has already shown us the way. 

10.  Will you be willing to give your life for others?  Will you be willing to be his servant?  Then will you serve others by giving up your rights for others? 

 Upon first reading, these precepts gleaned from the gospels seem to defy human logic.  A deeper study, however, will reveal that in them the Lord has outlined a wondrous pattern and a wise design for believers who want to enjoy a successful, overcoming life.  Note these paradoxes:

   We see unseen things (2 Cor. 4:18);

   we conquer by yielding (Rom. 6:16-18);

   we find rest under a yoke (Mt. 11:28-30);

   we reign by serving (Mark 10:42-44);

   we are made great by becoming little (Luke 9:48);

   we are exalted by being humble (Mt. 23:12);

   we become wise by being fools for Christ's sake (1 Cor. 1:20, 21);

   we are made free by becoming His bond servants (Rom. 6:10);

   we wax strong by being weak (2 Cor. 12:10);

   we triumph by defeat (2 Cor. 12:7-9);

   we find victory by glorying in our infirmities (2 Cor. 12:5);

   and we live by dying (John 12:24,25; 2 Cor. 4:10,11).