Our Sermons

Bible Passage: Mark 9:30-37
Pastor: Pastor Horton
Sermon Date:  September 22, 2024

You don’t usually see greatness with your own eyes, do you?  Now if you happened to watch the Olympics this past summer, perhaps you caught some of the gymnastics work of Simone Biles and were able to see greatness in your lifetime.  I know we say things like “greatness is within you,” but (I’ll let you in on a little secret) I can’t do what Simone Biles does no matter how much I practice or how hard I try.  She has been truly great.  Depending on your age, you may think of the greatest musician to be Elvis Presley or Michael Jackson or one of the many arguing artists of today.  Recently the nation watched a debate between two politicians running for president who disagreed on policies and visions they each held to make this country great according to their different supporters.  Some once great nations in history were at the same time godless and brutal in their natures.  We’re finding a problem here aren’t we?  Greatness in this world can be subject to opinion – even delusional opinions.  Greatness can come and go.  The title can be reassigned in a moment.

So then what makes someone truly great?  What is greatness when it comes to the eternal kingdom of God?  How does God define “Greatness?”  Thankfully we see it and hear it defined by Jesus today in our reading.  And it might not be what we who live and breathe in this world might expect.  God defines greatness differently.

At this point in the book of Mark, we find that time was winding down for our Savior.  Jesus had taken Peter, James, and John up the mountain of transfiguration where he revealed to them a taste of heavenly glory.  And you can read that account; it was a great moment.  We’re told that they meet back up with the disciples – only to find a whole lot of drama.  A large crowd was arguing about a demon-possessed boy only to have Jesus drive it out.  Again, his greatness was on display.

The disciples, maybe with all of Jesus’ talk of the future, failed to recognize the present.  And so, we’re told in verse 31 that Jesus, in the Greek, kept on “teaching his disciples” and they “kept on” in their ignorance. What was he teaching them about?  We’re told that “He told them, ‘The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill him.  But three days after he is killed, he will rise.’”  Jesus was telling them about the future events in Jerusalem where they were heading.  And Jesus was being direct with them.  Jesus was saying “I am going to be acting to save you.  Nobody will be forcing my hand.  I will be betrayed (Judas are you listening), I will be killed, and I will rise.”  This is God’s choice of action.  It is Jesus’ will to go forward with this plan.  Here is the heart of the gospel.  Here’s what must happen so that we can even begin to dream about going to heaven.  Jesus must die for your sins and for mine.  And the disciples’ reaction is not great, “But they did not understand the statement and were afraid to ask him about it.”

They arrive at Capernaum and, knowingly, Jesus asks, “What were you arguing about on the way?”  But they remained silent, because on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest.”  Jesus knew.  Jesus knew that they kept to themselves because they had been obsessed with themselves.  This was a sinful issue of pride and pettiness that his disciples struggled with.  “Why did three of the twelve get to see Jesus transfigured?  Why are they so special?  Who’s the greatest among the rest of them?  And what about me?”  And they wouldn’t let it go but would continue with this argument into the Upper Room on Thursday of Holy Week when Jesus would institute the Lord’s Supper.  What an insult to our Lord as he was about to make himself the least of all for us and for our salvation.

The disciples had some strong beliefs about greatness.  They learned these beliefs from early on and held on to them at all costs.  They wanted greatness to come from the Messiah who would rule the world with a gold crown on his head and a mighty scepter in his hand, the opposite of a condemned and crucified criminal.  They wanted a thriving nation with comfort and prosperity under this Messiah’s reign.  The opposite of picking up your cross and giving up your life as you follow him.  They wanted the world to see that their beliefs were good and right and that their opinions were the correct opinions.  The opposite of setting aside my $.02 and instead humbly listening to what God has to say in his Word.  We find Jesus teaching today, with great patience and diligence.  The disciples also wanted greatness as the world defined it, but not as God defined it.  God’s definition of “greatness” seemed, to their sinful human reasoning, to be well kind of foolish.

And yet, you and I have to be very careful, don’t we?  Or we can be sucked in, as we so often are, into thinking that maybe we are not like the disciples here and that maybe we are really the great ones…at the least greater than those silly disciples.  We compare ourselves to others and get to thinking that we have may a bit more worthy than someone else of God’s grace.  But how often do we want glory now instead of our cross?  How often do we want earthly prosperity because of our loyalty to God?  How often do we want to cushion our life with ease instead of sacrificing our life for the gospel?  How often do we want God to act on my terms to so that the world can see just how morally good I am, how wise my opinions are, and how great my reward from God should be.  And like that we are throwing our hats into the ring of this argument over who is the greatest.  But in the process, like the disciples, we’re looking right past the One who is perfectly great on God’s terms.

How does God define “greatness?”  ^“35 Jesus sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he will be the last of all and the servant of all.”  Jesus completely flipped the script.  Firstness?  That comes by way of lastness!  What!?!  A great one before God is one who is a humble servant of all.  Greatness does not come by doing attention-gaining things, but by humble action; not by worldly results of praise, but by selfless love; not for personal gain, but simply out of thankfulness for grace already given.  Would these future pastors and missionaries listen?  Do we?  What was God’s great plan for them?  Not to crown them with many crowns in this world, but to help them as they served God and anyone else for the sake of their Savior.  That is greatly profound.

To help Jesus teaches an object lesson.  Among these twelve big galoots still grumbling and kicking dust at one another he scoops up a little one “and placed him in their midst.  Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, ³⁷ “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me.”

How incredible!  Behold the love of God in selfless action – even when that love may not be fully realized or appreciated or acknowledged or thanked.  Selfless service to a little one of God?  That is a big deal when it is done in Jesus’ name.  That is great when such motivation comes from the gospel of Christ.  That is great when our thoughts, words, and deeds serve to glorify God and help our neighbor – even our little neighbors in need.  The great kingdom of the Messiah is found where believers, in gratitude, act and serve in ways, even in quiet ways, to give glory to God.  Think of how greatly God is honored if we as a church family, as a school family, and as a home family make ourselves least in order to help and aid and serve more souls out of the love of God.  How can we daily sacrifice our pride and set aside our selfishness to simply serve each other in joy?  Most importantly, how can we selflessly guide and encouraging one another to grow closer in Jesus?

He is the Greatest One after all.  And he became nothing, the least of all, and the curse of our sins on the cross.  He lived perfectly and died innocently and rose triumphantly so that you and I might be forgiven and have eternal life.  He came not to be served but to serve us, and to place the spiritual needs of the entire population of the world before himself.   God doesn’t just define “greatness” for us, he models it for us perfectly for us in Christ Jesus in order to save souls.  And thanks to Jesus, we (and the disciples), often ungrateful and unappreciative though we may be, are scooped up in the loving arms of our God and given full forgiveness and free salvation.

When God throws open the curtain of greatness, who is standing there?  A sports athlete or scientist?  A king or queen?  Maybe some humanitarian or inventor?  No.  There is Jesus quietly giving a little child a big hug.   He served us all as our perfect sacrifice for our sin and perfect model of God’s love.

Want to be great as God defines it?  Cast your selfish wants aside, pick up your cross and follow Jesus.  Stay close to him in faith through his Word.  Selflessly serve God and one another with gratitude and joy.  Care for the salvation of souls, no matter who they may be – big or small.  May our prayer be that God continues to Take my life and let it be,…ever, only, all for thee.  And that many more are led to the greatness of God’s love and to knowledge of their salvation won by Jesus.  Amen.