The Final trip to Jerusalem… vs. 32-34

• On the way up to Jerusalem Jesus took the 12 disciples aside… 
  • Jesus knew this was going to be his last trip to Jerusalem – He knew His time had come
    • He was going up to Jerusalem for the Passover – He was going to the cross…
    • His face must have showed His resolution – the disciples followed ‘amazed and afraid’…
    • Jesus had already tried to explain the cross twice – Mark 8:31 / Mark 9:31…
    • Luke 18:34 – “But they didn’t understand a thing He said. Its significance was hidden from them, and they failed to grasp what He was talking about.”
  • So Jesus again gave His disciples a very detailed breakdown of the events about to occur…
    • He would be betrayed (Judas) into the hand of the chief priests and scribes
    • They would condemn Jesus to death – but could not perform capital punishment
    • The leaders would turn Jesus over to the Gentiles (Pontius Pilate)
    • The Gentiles would mock Him (Crown of thorns – beat him – ripped out beard)
    • Scourge Him – brutal Roman technique meant to elicit confessions…
    • Then Jesus would be crucified – the most brutal death possible…
    • AND on the 3^rd day – rise again – the Resurrection!
  • Knowing everything He was about to endure – Jesus was still willing to go!
    • If I you knew you would be mocked, beaten, and killed for telling someone about Jesus
    • Would you… you’d have to LOVE that person A LOT to be willing to make that sacrifice
    • Jesus was willing to go to Jerusalem – suffer horribly and die – because He loves us!
    • John 15:13 – “Greater love has no one than this, to lay down one’s life for his friend.”
    • We might be willing to lay down our lives for those we love…
    • But Jesus loves us so much that He was willing to die for us while still sinners!
    • Romans 5:8 – “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”

the greatest in the kingdom… (3 things) vs. 35-45

• 1^st – The request – ‘Give me what I want’… vs. 35-37
  • James and John came to Jesus to ask a question (favor really)…
    • Wanted Jesus to give them ‘whatever they asked’ – before telling him what they wanted
    • Like a child who knows the answer to a question is no – knows they are wrong to ask
    • So first asks you to say ‘Yes’ – blank check – so you have to give them what they want
  • Jesus wisely first asks, ‘what do you want me to do for you?’…
    • Grant (Imperative) them to sit on Jesus right and Left hand in His glory (Kingdom)
      • Perhaps going back to the statement of Jesus to Peter in Matthew 19:28…
      • Matthew 19:28 – “When the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones…”
      • They did not want to just sit on thrones – but on the two best thrones!
    • This is not the first time that they had argued about the greatest… Matthew 18:1
      • We might want to judge James and John – but we are all very similar
      • You may have noticed that the Bible often repeats itself
      • The same message given in many ways (e.g. – Seek Jesus 1^st)
      • The reason is because often we don’t hear it – or don’t understand – the 1^st time
      • The Bible tells us over and over in the hope we will understand and believe
        
• 2^nd – The reply – ‘You do not know what you ask’… vs. 38-41
  • Do you have the strength (dumami) to drink My cup – endure My baptism…
    • The Cup of Jesus – was the Cross…
      • Matthew 26:42 – “[Jesus] prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.”
      • The cup represented the wrath of God against the sin of the world
      • God is just – and there has to be justice for sin – the only penalty for sin is death 
      • So Jesus took the cup of God’s wrath and paid the price for sin for us!
    • The Baptism – was His death – baptism is a picture of death and resurrection…
      • Romans 6:3 – “Do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?”
      • Going under the water is a picture of death and burial…
      • Coming up out of the water is a picture of being reborn in new life!
      • Jesus was crucified – and then resurrected – that was His baptism
  • The bold answer of James and John…
    • We are able  – they were ready for any challenge – and the 2 best thrones!
    • Jesus agreed – they would indeed drink His cup and have His baptism
      • But really they had no idea what that meant – they did not understand
        • Likely they thought He meant they got to drink with Jesus (feast perhaps)
        • And that they got to take a nice bath – Baptism (in the Jordan perhaps)
      • What Jesus meant was they would both die as martyrs…
        • James was the first Apostle to be killed – Acts 12:2
        • John was the last of the Apostles to be killed – in prison on Patmos
      • All of us what to be somebody important – who would want to be a nobody…
        • But most of us do not realize the cost of “Greatness”
        • Jesus said to be His disciple – take up your cross – Mark 8:34
        • The cost of “Greatness” is live your life – give your life – for Jesus and for others!
    • But to sit on His right hand and left was not His to give…
      • When the other 10 disciples overheard the conversation – they were very angry!
      • As you might imagine – the James & John were pulling a fast one…
      • They were using family relationships to try to get ahead in the Kingdom!
      • The who you know – should not work in God’s Kingdom – in the church
      • If there is favoritism because of “who you know” – leads to division – anger – strife
      • James 2:1 – “My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim that you have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people more than others?”
        
• 3^rd – The reason – ‘The Rulers of the Gentiles’… vs. 42-45
  • You know those who ‘consider themselves’ rulers of the Gentiles – Lord it over them…
    • Jesus points out what the disciples – and everyone else – already knows
    • In the world – those who are “Great” – have all the authority – and often abuse it
    • In the work place – those who have the power – tell everyone else what to do
    • In government – those who have the power – tell everyone else what to do
  • It shall not be so with you…
    • Jesus contrasts the world to the Kingdom of Heaven…
    • To be “Great” in God’s Kingdom – you must be a servant (Deacon)
      • Deacon – those who minister to the practical needs of the fellowship
      • To be great in the Kingdom is to serve others  – Acts 6 (Steven, Phillip)
      • So if you want to be ‘Great’ – pick up the trash / clean a table / change a diaper…
      • Greatness to us is riches/ power / influence / having servants
      • Not the person who empties the trash / cleans / is the servant!
      • We would call that person “a servant” – but God calls them “Great”
    • If you want to be 1^st (the greatest of all) – then be a slave (Doulos)
      • The Apostle Paul referred to himself as a slave (Doulos) – Romans 1:1 
      • To desire to be Leader in God’s Kingdom – the greatest – be the slave of ALL
      • Leadership in the church should not look like the leadership in the world
      • It should be the opposite! – A leader in the church does not tell others what to do
      • A leader is the one who lives his life to serve (slave to) everyone else 
      • The “greater” you become in the Kingdom of God – the more of a servant you become
  • The Greatest of all servants – was Jesus Christ…
    • He had every right to be served – He was God almighty!
    • But instead He came to serve – and to give His life as a ransom for many…
    • Ransom – price paid to purchase a slave / we were all slaves to sin – Romans 6:18
    • The price Jesus paid to save us – was to give His life for us….
    • Jesus gave us the example of Godly greatness – to give you life for others!

Asking the right question… vs. 46-52

• Blind Bartimaeus…
  • As they went out from Jericho…
    • New-Jericho next to the ruins of the city Joshua conquered when he captured Israel
      • Its along the route that takes you from Galilee – along the Jordan – to Jerusalem
      • A large multitude of people were following after them…
      • Likely a crowd who were also on their way to Jerusalem for the Passover
    • Two blind men sat by the road begging – Bar-timaeus – “son of the unclean”…
      • Matthew 20:30 – tells us two blind men were present – but only Bartimaues spoke…
      • These were men that everyone ignored – blind beggars who sat along side the road
      • The outcasts – the un-important – men who no one noticed – who did not matter…
  • Have mercy on me – Son of David…
    • They had heard Jesus was passing by – this was his one chance to be healed
    • He cried out for Jesus – and the multitudes told him to be quiet!
    • But that just made him cry out all the louder…
    • Maybe you are like Bartimaeus– not sure you are important – you do not matter…
    • Blind – you can’t see where life is taking you – you don’t know where you are going…
    • Cry out to Jesus – ask Him to do a work in your life – help you to see!
    • Other may tell you to be quiet – “who are you to talk to Jesus”
    • They might say that Jesus is for important people – not for you
    • Cry out all the more – Jesus hears you – and is more than ready to be there to help you…
  • Jesus heard him – commanded him to come over…
    • Bartimaeus threw aside his coat – sprang up – and came over to Jesus…
    • He was not going to let anything hold him back – he ‘ran’ towards Jesus voice…
    • For a 2^nd time we see Jesus ask, ‘what do you want me to do for you?’…
      • Jesus had asked the same thing of James and John…
      • Because they asked for their own selfish desires – they did not get what they wanted
      • To often in life we do ask God for things – but for the wrong reasons…
      • James 4:3 – “When you ask, you don’t get it because your whole motive is wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.”
      • We ask God to win the Lotto – because we want to be rich and have lots of stuff…
      • We justify ourselves motives – we would give a portion back to God…
      • What we do not realize is if we did win – the money would become our god
      • If the Lord says no when we ask Him for something – it is always for our good!
    • But when Bartimaues asked to receive his sight – he got exactly what he wanted!
      • When we ask Jesus the right questions – we find we get the answers we want!
      • When we ask for the Lord to open our eyes to see Him – to understand His Word
      • That is a request we can be sure the Lord will answer – a selfless request!
  • Jesus had compassion – touched his eyes – and immediately he could see…
    • No matter where we are in life – there is only one answer…
    • If we want to be the greatest in the Kingdom – then humbly be the servant of all
    • If we think we are the least in the Kingdom – remember that Jesus hears you
    • And if you call out to Him – he will open your eyes so you can see Him