PENTECOST 17 – Sept. 19, 2021 – Mark 9:30-37
“AMBITION IN THE KINGDOM”
Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Gospel Lesson just read, from Mark 9. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- All three of our texts speak of sinful ambitions. In the Old Testament Lesson, Jeremiah serves as a type of Jesus the Christ. People did not want him to speak the Word of God. In the verses that immediately follow this text, Jeremiah 11:21-23 we read: “Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the ment of Anathoth, who seek your life, and say ‘Do not prophesy in the Name of the Lord, or you will die by our hand’ – therefore thus says the Lord of Hosts: ‘Behold, I will punish them. The young men shall die by the sword, their sons and their daughters shall die by famine, and none of them shall be left.”
- In the Gospel Lesson Jesus told His disciples what the deadly ambition of the scribes and Pharisees would do to Him. It is the same for all who preach and teach the Word of God. There will always be those who reject the Word, threaten the preacher, and forbid him to speak in the Name of the Lord. It happens to this very day.
- However, in the Epistle Lesson James warns sternly against this viscous and violent ambition that can infiltrate the life of the church! He likewise warns of the horrible demise that God will impose on those who are so proud and arrogant as to oppose the Word of God. Let us all beware.
- The disciples also had this ambitiousness, and it created problems among them. They had argued with one another about who was the greatest. Kind of sounds like football fans, or star athletes wanting to be the “goat,” the “greatest of all time.” It created dissension and animosity among them.
- Jesus was very careful in how He dealt with this “ambition.” Surprisingly, He did not nip in the bud all “AMBITION IN THE KINGDOM” of God. Rather, He carefully and clearly described to the disciples how one might become the “greatest,” and encouraged them to pursue this greatness.
- His instruction is perfect for us as well. And we will be blessed to consider all of this very carefully. Again, we first note that:
I. Jesus Gave No Rebuke For Wanting To Be The Greatest In The Kingdom Of God
A. However, The Disciples Were Ashamed, For They Were Seeking Worldly Greatness Not Spiritual Greatness
Text: “Jesus asked them, ‘What were you discussing on the way?” But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest.”
B. Jesus Encouraged This Ambition, But Clarified How It Would Be Obtained – You Must Be Last Of All And Servant Of All, Like A Child
Text: “He sat down and called the twelve. And He said to them, ‘If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.’ And He took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in His arms, He said to them, ‘Whoever receives one such child in My Name receives Me, and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him Who sent Me.’”
Statement: There are ambitious people in the church today. Some are eager to take high positions of honor. Some are willing to usurp the powers of offices that Scripture denies to them. Some are unwilling to follow the rules and gain office. Yet they seek to exercise the authority of that office. Some are willing to place themselves above the Word of God and forbid servants of God to do their duty. Some are willing even to threaten such servants of God. It really is remarkable. But the fruit of this, if it is allowed by people within the church, is described by James: “For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.”
Application: Pray God that there instead be the kind of ambition that Jesus encourages – that all would seek to be last of all and servant of all! In such circumstances, no one would forbid another to serve as he/she is called, and no one would seek to usurp the office and prerogatives of another. Rather, each would simply be devoting themselves to serving humbly, piously, and in submission to God’s order.
Transition: Jesus didn’t just talk a good game. He actually walked this way of servant-hood. And each time we think of God’s gracious forgiveness, of the sure and certain hope we have of eternal life, and the motivation we have to love as Jesus has loved us, we recognize the great blessedness that comes from the right ambitiousness within the kingdom of God. And we see that:
II. Jesus Lived And Died This Greatness For Our Salvation
A. Let Us Look At Him So That We Understand All Things
Text: “The disciples did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask Him.”
B. Let Us Never Be Afraid To Ask Jesus How We Are To Serve – In Accord With His Word
Statement: It is remarkable that the disciples were afraid to ask Jesus about His self-described mission. Yes, it must have sounded scary, and difficult, and painful to even begin contemplating. But it is the way of salvation, and it is the way of the kingdom of God. They should have asked Him, and then perhaps their conversation on the way might have been quite different.
And let us not be afraid to take literally what Jesus instructs about being last of all and servant of all. And our receiving of one another should also be with the utmost humility. We should not balk at the humble circumstances of those we are privileged to receive in Jesus’ Name.
Application: The earthly, unspiritual and demonic dynamics of our sinful nature remain a temptation for us just as they did for the disciples, for the men who plotted against Jeremiah, and for those who crucified Jesus. James calls us to repentance, to “draw near to God,” with the promise that “He will draw near to you.” He urges us: “Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let you laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.” Further, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. . . . Humble yourselves before the Lord and He will exalt you.”
Conclusion: This is the way to true greatness, the greatness within the kingdom of God. Great are the blessings that this “wisdom from above” yields in the church and in our personal lives. This is the ambition Jesus encourages within the church, to all of His disciples.
Let us take care to flee like the devil from the wretched jealousy and selfish ambition of the sinful flesh and the demonic world. As we have seen, this is murderous and opposed to God in all ways. It crucified the Son of God!
How wonderful that God promises to bless such submission to Him, and such humility and service. God grant this blessedness to each of us, Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.