HOW TO BE GREAT, IN GOD’S EYES
Mark 10:32-35
32 They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. 33 "We are going up to Jerusalem," he said, "and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, 34 who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise."
I believe at some point everyone wants to be good at what they do. Everyone wants to be
recognized as the best at some point in their lives. Even those who do evil want to be good at
doing evil. There is nothing wrong with striving to be the best as long as you doing what is right.
The supreme example of being the best is found in Jesus Christ. He is the role model of
perfection and righteousness. We have no greater example.
When you are following Jesus you are on your way to being the best. Jesus was leading His
disciples to greatness. He looked toward the future with His mind focused on the will of the
Father.
Jesus may lead you to places you don't want to go. They were headed to Jerusalem where it was known that the Jewish hierarchy wanted to kill Jesus. Jesus had told the disciples two other times that He would be killed but would be raised on the third day.
There are times when God tells us to do something that will not make sense to us.
There are times when God will not allow us to understand why He wants us to do something.
Since His ways and thoughts are higher than ours, we need not worry, his way is the best.
Luke 18:34
34 The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.
Sometimes Jesus intentionally keeps us in the dark, so we want to try to change the plan He
has for us. I often time hear it said, If I Had A Do Over I Would Do Things Differently.
If you had known more the decisions you would have made could have led to undesirable
results.
Following Jesus does not mean that you do not have something to be afraid of. The disciples willingly followed Jesus knowing there was a possibility of being killed. Their concerns
was more for themselves, than Jesus.
They were on their way to Jerusalem with Jesus leading the way. They were on their way to
worship with the worship leader leading the way. They were on their way to witness real
worship with the worship leader leading the way. They were on their way to see witness a
sacrifice with the one who would be sacrificed leading the way. They were on their way to
see power maginifed with the Power one being glorified.
The text said they were afraid. Being afraid is a normal instinct. It is a caution to be careful or
a sign not to take a particular action. They were with Jesus. They knew His power and authority.
They had been given the ability to exercise some of His power. Yet they were afraid.
Being afraid and following Jesus is a lack of faith in His total control.
Notice Jesus separated His disciples from the rest of the crowd. The world cannot handle
or understand the Word of God. Everyone has access to the Bible, but it will not influence
most of the world.
Had Jesus told the crowd that He would be crucified, they would have proclaimed
Him a criminal immediately. Jesus was careful to reveal the cross only to His disciples.
The crowd was ready for some excitement while the disciples feared the worst.
To lead us to greatness Jesus has to lead us out of our comfort zone. The disciples were
comfortable with Jesus when there was no threat of violence. We live in a violent world
so the threat is there whether we recognize it or not.
Jesus has to lead us through the valley of the shadow of death so we will know that
the shadow is nothing to be afraid of. Being afraid is a sign of darkness in your life.
To do God's work, you have to get over being afraid.
Jesus will point out our weaknesses. To follow Jesus He will point
out that which is in us that hinders the Gospel.
Jesus told the disciples exactly what was going to happen to him, but they didn’t
want to hear Him. A life without Jesus was unthinkable. They cast the cross
aside with their desire to reign with Jesus as king. You cannot reign with Jesus
without the cross.
If fear is our mindset, it hinders our growth in faith.
2 Timothy 1:7
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and love, and a sound mind.
If God didn’t give us fear, Where did it come from? We were trained to be fearful
of our parents and our environment. There are examples of fear all around us
We have to learn a new way of thinking in the Lord so fear does not control us.
Psalms 112:7
He will have no fear of bad news;
his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
We should make it our objective to fear the Lord
Psalms 115:11, 13
11 You who fear him, trust in the Lord —
he is their help and shield.
13 he will bless those who fear the Lord —
small and great alike.
We all have some issues that we are dealing with that hinder the Gospel.
Peter was overconfident and proud of his strength. He was so proud that
he thought he could tell Jesus what to do
Matthew 16:22-23
22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!"
23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."
Sometimes our pride takes charge, and we want consult God or wait for an answer from Him.
Peter's boldness and self-confidence wanted to take charge of God’s plan. I suppose Peter thought he had to fight the battle that Jesus came to win. Peter didn't know that the battle was against spiritual
wickedness in high places that he was not qualified to handle.
James and John the sons of Zebedee wanted to position themselves in the best seat at
the throne of God next to Jesus. They wanted to elevate themselves above the other
disciples.
The other ten disciples got upset because James and John beat them to the punch.
Mark 10:41-42
When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John.
Thomas was a show me and I will believe it kind of guy. He had some doubt issues that
showed up after the resurrection of Jesus. Show me the holes in your hand and I will
believe it is you.
Judas was a thief, he regularly stole from the offering box. It was his desire for
for money that drove him to betray Jesus.
The whole group was superstitious. When Jesus came walking on water, at night they thought they saw a ghost. Faith and superstitious oppose each other. What
are you superstitious about it?
But Jesus was leading them to the cross. They didn't recognize the journey, but it was a
journey that identified their weaknesses. It was a journey that brought convictions.
It was a journey that would eventually strengthen their faith.
After the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, they all were filled with the
Holy Spirit and remembered all that Jesus said. The 11 (excluding Judas) was
the start of the Church of Jesus Christ. Their testimonies would blessed the world
for thousands of years until the return of Jesus Christ.
Peter who lied about knowing Jesus and cursed a crowd the night of Jesus’s
trial would become an outstanding preacher of the Gospel. (Mark 14:71)
If Jesus said it, you can believe it. We have to stop taking the Word of God for granted
Jesus knows that there are times in our lives when we pick and choose the part of the
Bible we want to believe. Yet He is tolerant with us.
One of our weaknesses is the desire of the flesh to be right with God in our own
way. Follow the Word that we agree with and discard or ignore the rest.
Jesus knew all of their faults but He had greatness in store for them.
Jesus knows all your faults but He loves you enough to allow himself to
be nailed to the cross for the sins of the world. Jesus has predestined you
for greatness.
In the text, Jesus gives us the step to greatness.
Greatness begins with following Jesus
Psalms 111:10
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
Greatness has its foundation in the study of God's Word
2 Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Greatness improves when we recognize our faults
James 5:16
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.
Greatness improves when we fellowship together.
1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
Greatness is overlooking the faults of others and seeing the good in them.
Greatness improves when we appreciate constructive criticism
Ecclesiastes 7:5
5 It is better to heed a wise man's rebuke
than to listen to the song of fools.
Greatness comes with obedience to God's commands
Greatness comes with sacrificial service
No better love than a move lay down his life for his friends John 15:13
Greatness is not in us but comes through our relationship with Jesus
Greatness is not the absence of trouble, but learning how to deal with trouble
through faith in Jesus Christ
James 1:2
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
Greatness is not absent of fear, but fearing God and not man or circumstances
1 Samuel 12:24
But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you
Greatness is not silence, but proclaiming the truth in the Lord Jesus
Colossians 1:28
28 We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.
Greatness overcomes worry with hope.
Greatness is not lifting you but lifting others up
Greatness is a continuous work
You can be great today and horrible tomorrow
Greatness is not trusting you, but trusting God
Psalms 40:4
Blessed is the man
who makes the Lord his trust,
who does not look to the proud,
Greatness is complete in Jesus Christ
Genesis 12:2
I will make you into a great nation
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.
IN THIS SEASON OF CELEBRATION LET US CONSIDER THE GREATNESS
OF CHRIST AND THE SALVATION OF HIS BIRTH, DEATH, AND RESURRECTION
CLASS QUESTIONS
WHAT IS GREAT ABOUT TODAY?
WHAT IS GREAT ABOUT YOU?
WHAT WILL YOU DO TO PROMOTE GREATNESS IN
OTHERS?
Rev. M. Mitchell
For more lessons see my blog revmmitchell.com
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