The Christian Mirage

Intro

Fried Chicken Cash
He looked good on the outside, but was actually lacking.

Prayer

The Third Passion Prediction

Mark 10:32–34 (NET) — 32 They were on the way, going up to Jerusalem. Jesus was going ahead of them, and they were amazed, but those who followed were afraid. He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them what was going to happen to him. 33 “Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and experts in the law. They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles. 34 They will mock him, spit on him, flog him severely, and kill him. Yet after three days, he will rise again.”

v32

Why amazed & afraid? Because Jesus was leading the pack?
Amazed means astonished… speechless. Afraid is respectful fear. Reverence. {>P}
How is this going to turn out? They (somehow) don’t know yet!
3 Passion Predictions 8:31, 9:31, 10:32 <- who numbered these?

v33–34

This is the most explicit! Killed / Killed / Mock, Beat, Spit, Kill
Beat… severely… for the condemned. Not expected to survive
Things are not going to go well for Him in Jerusalem {>P}
Jesus never promised us a good time, just good company.

A Naive Request

Mark 10:35–45 (NET) — 35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him and said, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” 36 He said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” 37 They said to him, “Permit one of us to sit at your right hand and the other at your left in your glory.” 38 But Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I experience?” 39 They said to him, “We are able.” Then Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink, and you will be baptized with the baptism I experience, 40 but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give. It is for those for whom it has been prepared.”

41 Now when the other ten heard this, they became angry with James and John. 42 Jesus called them and said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions use their authority over them. 43 But it is not this way among you. Instead whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

v35

They want Jesus to promise first. “promise you won’t get mad” – they know how he’ll respond. The audacity! And the patience.

v36

Jesus doesn’t commit. But asks “What do you want me to do for you?” {>P}

v37

They are STILL seeking power and status rather than service!
{>P} Things are not going to go well for Him in Jerusalem
Jesus just said he was going to be beaten, mocked, and killed… how is THIS the question?
THEORY: Jesus is talking about His enemies’ INTENTIONS, but has another plan.
{>P} THIS is why they were speechless and awestruck!

v38–40

Jesus asks if they know what they are asking. They assure him that they do. God bless their hearts!
Jesus remains non-commital, and I think there’s a good reason for that, but we aren’t ready to go there yet! {>P}

v41

Other disciples are mad at Zebedee Bros, why? Because THEY want the glory! This request NECESSARILY excludes them!

v42–44

Power Corrupts. NON-servant leadership is not just a bad idea, it is an affront to the kingdom of God.
Power, by its very nature, is self-serving. And unchecked power is the enemy of love. Power is hungry and the only thing it wants is MORE.
This is why the leadership style of Jesus is BOTTOM-UP, rather than TOP-DOWN.
Jesus Himself stepped down and died a torturous, humiliating death to show us the way of servant leadership. Are we better than Christ!? Jesus does even self-aggrandize! He doesn’t flaunt it or show it off! He is constantly pointing to His Father in heaven! Certainly Jesus is worthy of both praise and recognition, but just like his charge into Jerusalem, He is lead the way by example. THAT’S OUR JOB TOO!
This is why it is important to stop and do a motive check. Do we want acknowledgment from others? Are we trying to impress people with our spirituality? Our holiness? Do we think maybe God is some kind of prosperity genie like Kennith Copeland would have us believe?
If these describe you, your worship of Jesus is just worship of self. It is self-centered, self-focused, and self-interested. That has nothing to do with God or others except insofar as what we can GET from them.
That brand of “Christianity” has done MORE to damage the name and work of Jesus than any persecution, prosecution, punishment or penalization ever could!
The worst part? It can happen slowly, slowly, without you even noticing.
There are 2 words I want to draw our attention to.
- “SLAVE” is the not a free servant, this is one who is bound, tied, ensare, captured. This is someone who is OWNED. NOT an indentured servant. This is what we must seek to become! The bottom of society.
- “RANSOM” is the payment of a debt to purchase a slave. We owe a debt we can never hope to repay.
{>P} Why wouldn’t Jesus tell James and John what their position in heaven would be? Because it’s better that we do not know! Knowing the outcome is rarely a good thing!
- If it’s good, maybe you get lazy!
- If it’s bad, maybe you give up!

Healing Blind Bartimaeus

Mark 10:46–52 (NET) — 46 They came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus the son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the road. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 Many scolded him to get him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called the blind man and said to him, “Have courage! Get up! He is calling you.” 50 He threw off his cloak, jumped up, and came to Jesus. 51 Then Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man replied, “Rabbi, let me see again.” 52 Jesus said to him, “Go, your faith has healed you.” Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the road.

v46

Bartimaeus is sitting “BY” the road. {>P}

v47

Bart calls Jesus “Son of David”. This is a phrase we see pop up in the Old Testament. He understood Jesus to be the messiah, and one who could bring healing and wholeness.
But Bart isn’t owed anything. Asks for mercy.

v48

The crowd plays gatekeeper. They decide who can come before Jesus. Do we do the same thing? Do we play gatekeeper with God? Only looking for those people who we deem worthy? Those who can offer us something?
This is NOT something God asked/wants/needs us to do. Go talk to the guy who smells funny. The woman who needs a shower. The tween with the foul mouth. The teen struggling with gender identity.
They can’t do anything for you. Which is a perfect opportunity to demonstrate servant leadership! Amen!?
So they’re blocking him out and Bart says “OH! I didn’t realize YOU were Jesus!”
This man is desperate. Like the woman with the issue of blood, he just keeps calling out. He will not be stopped by well-meaning but horribly misguided followers of Jesus.
Because the Kingdom of Heaven is not for the well-meaning. It is for THE DESPERATE!
If that’s you — if you are desperate here today — keep pressing in! Keep calling on Jesus. Don’t let anything stop you! Don’t let anything slow you down. Call out to Him “SON OF DAVID HAVE MERCY ON ME!”

v49–51

So Jesus says call him to me.
Suddenly everyone is onboard. Like yeah, yeah! Go get him for Jesus!
He walks up to Jesus and is asked a familiar question:
{>P} “What do you want me to do for you?”
Does Bart ask Jesus to seat him at his right hand in glory? Does he seek elevation? NO!
He says “rabbouni” rarely people, rarer an address, typically in reference to GOD
Let me see again. He doesn’t want to be esteemed, he wants to be equal. He doesnt’ want to be above everyone else, he wants to join them.
This blind man — because he has so little — understands the heart of God better than the disciples.
Been sick? Feeling better is like a superpower!
{>P} Bartimaeus BY the road to bart ON the road with Jesus.

Close

If you aren’t desperate for Jesus, you are doing it wrong.
The disciples are still seeking glory, and so they are missing the heart of the gospel.
The followers are still gatekeeping, and so they are missing the heart of the gospel.
Are the Christians? Yes. They’re still on the road.
Discipleship is characterized by how we treat…
- Marriage {1–12}
- Children {13–16}
- and Stuff {17–31}
- within the context of FOLLOWING JESUS
But Bart moved from “outsider” by the road, to “insider” on the road because he was desperate for God. He understood the heart of the gospel to bring healing and wholeness because he was desperate for God.
Because the Kingdom of Heaven is for the desperate.
Less us press on after God as though our lives depended on it… because they do.