Redefining Greatness: Servanthood and Unity in Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Divine Submission and Obedience

Jesus’ betrayal is not a random act of treachery but a part of God’s eternal plan for salvation. This plan, orchestrated by the Father, involves Jesus willingly submitting to suffering and death. His obedience is a profound demonstration of love and trust in the Father’s purpose, even when the path is fraught with pain and misunderstanding. This teaches us that God’s plans often involve paths we may not understand, but they are always for a greater purpose. As followers of Christ, we are called to emulate this submission, trusting in God’s wisdom and timing, even when it leads us through trials. [06:46]

Isaiah 53:10-11 (ESV): "Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find it difficult to trust God’s plan? How can you begin to submit this area to Him today, trusting in His greater purpose?

Day 2: Redefining Greatness Through Service

In a world that often equates greatness with power and status, Jesus presents a radical redefinition: true greatness is found in servanthood. When the disciples argue about who among them is the greatest, Jesus teaches that to be first, one must be last and serve all. This challenges us to redefine our aspirations and seek significance through humble service. By serving others selflessly, we align ourselves with the values of God’s kingdom, where humility and love for others are paramount. [12:23]

Matthew 20:26-28 (ESV): "It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Reflection: Identify one person in your life whom you can serve selflessly this week. What specific action can you take to demonstrate Christ-like servanthood to them?

Day 3: Embracing Humility and Welcoming the Least

Jesus uses a child as an object lesson to emphasize the value of humility and receiving others in His name. In doing so, He reminds us that greatness is not about status but about welcoming and serving the least among us. This teaching calls us to a radical reorientation of values, urging us to embrace humility and openness in our interactions with others. By welcoming those who are often overlooked or marginalized, we reflect the heart of Christ and His kingdom. [17:22]

James 2:1-4 (ESV): "My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, 'You sit here in a good place,' while you say to the poor man, 'You stand over there,' or, 'Sit down at my feet,' have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?"

Reflection: Think of someone in your community who is often overlooked or marginalized. How can you intentionally welcome and serve them this week in a way that reflects Christ’s love?

Day 4: Inclusivity in Ministry

The disciples’ exclusivity is corrected by Jesus, who teaches that those not against Him are for Him. This lesson calls for discernment and unity among believers, recognizing and appreciating authentic ministry beyond our immediate circles. It encourages openness and appreciation for diverse expressions of faith, as long as they honor Christ. By embracing inclusivity, we foster a spirit of unity and collaboration within the body of Christ, allowing for a richer and more diverse expression of faith. [21:36]

1 Corinthians 12:12-14 (ESV): "For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many."

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you encountered a different expression of faith that honored Christ. How can you cultivate a spirit of openness and appreciation for diverse ministries within the body of Christ?

Day 5: Discernment in Faith Differences

Jesus’ teachings require discernment between essential and nonessential issues in faith. While differences exist, they should not divide us from recognizing and embracing genuine expressions of faith that honor Christ. This calls for a mature understanding of what truly matters in our walk with God, allowing us to focus on unity rather than division. By discerning between essential and nonessential issues, we can foster a spirit of love and cooperation within the church, reflecting the unity that Christ desires for His followers. [26:56]

Romans 14:1-4 (ESV): "As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand."

Reflection: Consider an area of disagreement you have with another believer. How can you approach this difference with love and discernment, focusing on unity in Christ rather than division?

Sermon Summary

In Mark 9:30-41, Jesus continues His journey with His disciples, imparting profound lessons that challenge human perceptions of greatness and service. As they travel through Galilee, Jesus reiterates His impending betrayal and death, a message that His disciples struggle to comprehend. This passage highlights three key teachings of Jesus that are crucial for understanding His mission and the nature of true discipleship.

Firstly, Jesus speaks of His betrayal, not as a future event, but as an ongoing process orchestrated by the Father. This is not an act of divine betrayal but a fulfillment of the eternal plan of salvation. Jesus willingly submits to the Father’s will, knowing that His suffering is necessary for the redemption of humanity. This submission underscores the depth of His obedience and love, setting a model for His followers to emulate.

Secondly, the disciples’ argument about who among them is the greatest reveals their misunderstanding of Jesus’ teachings. In response, Jesus redefines greatness as servanthood, stating, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” This paradoxical teaching challenges the worldly pursuit of power and status, emphasizing that true greatness is found in humility and service to others. Jesus exemplifies this through His life, ultimately sacrificing Himself for the salvation of many.

Lastly, Jesus addresses the disciples’ exclusivity when they forbid someone from casting out demons in His name because he was not part of their group. Jesus corrects them, teaching that anyone who is not against Him is for Him. This lesson calls for discernment and unity among believers, recognizing that authentic ministry can exist outside one’s immediate circle. It encourages openness and appreciation for diverse expressions of faith, as long as they honor Christ.

These teachings are not merely abstract principles but are lived out by Jesus, who embodies the ultimate servant-leader. His life and words call us to a radical reorientation of values, urging us to embrace humility, service, and unity in our walk with Him.

Key Takeaways

1. Jesus’ betrayal is part of a divine plan, not an act of betrayal by the Father. It highlights the depth of Jesus’ obedience and the necessity of His suffering for salvation. This teaches us that God’s plans often involve paths we may not understand, but they are always for a greater purpose. [06:46]
2. True greatness in the kingdom of God is found in servanthood. Jesus turns worldly values upside down, teaching that to be first, one must be last and serve all. This challenges us to redefine our aspirations and seek significance through humble service. [12:23]
3. Jesus’ use of a child as an object lesson emphasizes the value of humility and receiving others in His name. It reminds us that greatness is not about status but about welcoming and serving the least among us. [17:22]
4. The disciples’ exclusivity is corrected by Jesus, who teaches that those not against Him are for Him. This calls for discernment and unity, recognizing and appreciating authentic ministry beyond our immediate circles. [21:36]
5. Jesus’ teachings require discernment between essential and nonessential issues in faith. While differences exist, they should not divide us from recognizing and embracing genuine expressions of faith that honor Christ. [26:56]
** [26:56]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:34] - Jesus Predicts His Betrayal
[01:20] - Disciples Argue About Greatness
[02:09] - Jesus Teaches on True Greatness
[02:58] - Prayer for Understanding
[03:49] - Journey Through Galilee
[04:38] - The Present Betrayal
[05:18] - The Father’s Role in Jesus’ Mission
[06:46] - Jesus’ Submission to the Father
[08:37] - Disciples’ Silence and Shame
[10:09] - The Paradox of Greatness
[12:23] - The Call to Servanthood
[14:58] - The Theology of the Cross
[17:22] - The Child as an Object Lesson
[20:16] - Receiving Jesus’ Emissaries
[21:36] - Inclusivity in Ministry
[23:45] - Discernment in Faith Differences
[26:56] - Embracing Authentic Ministry
[28:36] - Closing Prayer

Sermon Clips

For He taught His disciples and said to them, “The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him. And after He is killed, He will rise the third day.” But they did not understand this saying, and were afraid to ask Him. [00:00:34]

The primary point that Jesus is making is that He at this very moment is now being handed over or delivered. That’s why the translators used the term “betrayed.” But what I object to it is that the person or the one who is handing over Jesus to men is the Father. And when the Father delivers the Son into the hands of men, it is not an act of divine betrayal. [00:06:39]

Of course, on the cross the Father forsakes the Son, but from all eternity it was the agreement among the members of the Trinity that the Father would send the Son into the world to bring about His plan of salvation for His people, and the Son and the Spirit agreed to that mission from eternity. [00:07:08]

And so after He sits down and they assemble, He said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” In this statement, Jesus turns the values and the aspirations of all human beings upside down. Every person among us is born with an aspiration for significance. [00:12:25]

If you want to live, you have to die. If you want to save your life, you have to lose your life. If you want to be great, you have to suffer, because he who is first shall be last, and he who is last shall be first. And He said the way to greatness is the way of service. [00:14:54]

Now finally to punctuate His point, He uses an old prophetic method of an object lesson, where He summons a little boy, and He takes this child and set Him in the midst of them, and then He picked him up in His arms, and He said to His disciples, “Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me. [00:17:05]

And whoever receives Me, receives not Me but the One who sent Me.” Now in our culture little babies are considered adorable, aren’t they? Somebody just asked me this week, if I want to tell somebody whose not a Christian about God give me a word that I can use to express the nature of God. [00:17:34]

John interrupts and he says, “Lord, we saw one of these exorcists out there casting out demons in your name, but they were not part of us.” You hear that? “They weren’t part of us, so we stopped them. We forbade them from continuing their ministry in Your name, because they didn’t belong to our group.” [00:21:12]

And so Jesus said, “Don’t forbid him, for anyone who works… no one works a miracle in My name and then afterwards speaks evil of Me. For he who is not against us is on our side. For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.” [00:22:07]

There are lots of people out there, folks, who don’t do worship the way we do, who don’t share the same confession of faith that we have, who are ministering in the name of Jesus. And we have to appreciate and embrace authentic ministry wherever we find it. We also have to distance ourselves from heresy whenever we find that. [00:27:01]

So what is required is discernment, the discernment that the disciples lacked at that point. And if they lacked it after three years in the seminary of Jesus, how likely is it for us to gain such discernment quickly. But we have to appreciate everything that is done in the name of Jesus. [00:27:32]

Even those who give a cup of cold water to somebody who’s thirsty, when they give it in the name of Jesus, that person is recognized by Christ. That doesn’t mean that you get into the kingdom by giving a glass of water to somebody, but the point is that Christ knows and appreciates any time He is honored by anyone who honors His own people. [00:28:02]

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