Dig Deeper - Sunday 22nd March
Sermon Reflection Questions - Lent: Journey to the Cross: Setting His Face towards Jerusalem
Mark 10:32-45
Dig Deeper notes from Sunday 22nd March service:
Jesus leads the Way.
What, in your opinion, makes a great leader?
Someone who is strong? Someone with charisma? Someone who is caring, thoughtful, and calm under pressure? Someone who has ambition, motivation and integrity?
The thing about a great leader is not what they say to encourage those who follow them, but it is about their actions – it’s about what they do and the example they set themselves that matters.
Jesus Christ is a name that, regardless of age, social status or religious stance, every person on earth will know. Through His life on earth, through His teachings, and through His death and resurrection, Jesus has shaped the way in which we think, act and live.
These verses are rich in demonstrating the humility, sacrifice and love of God. The themes that are woven throughout the whole Gospel.
Jesus’ example of leading from the front and showcasing his actions as well as words is paramount within our lives. In verse 32, we read, “they were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way.”
Jesus is the ultimate example of what it is to lead with a servant heart. “The Son of Man came to serve and give his life.” He walked towards the cross, sacrificing Himself for us. He calls us to walk the path of service with Him, to also take up our crosses, and follow Him. He didn’t do it for praise, but out of obedience.
And we see Jesus embracing the purpose of His ultimate mission.
In verses 33-34, we see how Jesus predicted his death for a third time. Jesus told His disciples ‘The Son of Man WILL be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They WILL condemn him to death and WILL hand him over to the Gentiles.’ Jesus even explicitly told the disciples what would happen to Him, and what treatment he would receive, ending in his death.
We know that Jesus was heading towards Jerusalem not by chance, but knowing He would be crucified. Jesus knew what the mission was, and still He went towards it. As Jesus walked towards Jerusalem, He knew that this place was where the religious leaders were. The same leaders who had plans to kill Him.
Now the brothers, John and James approach Jesus and ask to sit on either side of Him. The brothers, given the name ‘sons of thunder’ by Jesus because of their passion and temperament are thinking of the worldly power that comes with leadership.
Authority, influence, status.
The brothers, thinking of worldly glory and status want to be seen as equal to Jesus. They imagine that Jesus will be the type of king who has come before, ruling nations by violence and power. But would they be willing to take upon themselves what Jesus is about to endure? The brothers were thinking of glory in the form of a crown, but Jesus knew glory came in the form of the cross.
We know that God’s kingdom is different. Jesus throughout His whole ministry upturned expectations and flipped what was socially ‘normal’ on its head.
Jesus asks the brothers “will you drink the cup I drink, and be baptised with the baptism I am baptised with?” Jesus had not long told His disciples what would happen in Jerusalem – of His arrest, torture and death. To this question, James and John answered yes, but I wonder did they actually stop and think about what Jesus was actually saying to them? This cup that Jesus drinks from is one that contains immeasurable suffering.
He said ‘whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be the first must be a slave of all.’
Every single one of us is called to be a servant and follower of the Lord. Being a follower of Christ means we take on a servant-hearted role that is used to help nurture all of God’s followers and all of God’s creation. And we are all able to take on this servant-hearted role, because Jesus paved the way for us first. Jesus teaches us that it doesn’t matter how many people serve us, it matters how many people we serve.
We are all given the task to proclaim His name and to share the Gospel with others. As the body of Christ, we are called to serve. We use scripture to refresh our minds of the unconditional love that God gifts us, and then we use our gifts from God to serve.
Jesus taught His disciples, and all those who followed Him then, and all those that follow Him now exactly what it means to be a great leader.
Courage, focus, humility to name only a few qualities.
He is our ultimate example. The one we set our eyes on and try to be more like. We have this perfect example, because He went before us and paved a way for us.
Questions to pause for reflection/group discussion:
· What does it look like for us to have servant hearts?
· How can we apply Jesus’ leadership example into our own lives?
· What does leading others through humility and service look like for each of us?
· As we continue to reflect on the journey that Jesus takes to Jerusalem, let’s remember why He made that journey in the first place, and what this means for us today.
Let’s pray.
Heavenly Father, as we draw ever closer to Holy Week, we set our eyes firmly on You. We thank you for the perfect example that Jesus Christ set for us as a leader. We pray that each of us will reflect deeply on His courage and humility, and acknowledge that it is through His example and actions that we can walk the path that leads to true life.
Amen.
