There is little debate among Christians as to the basics of how we should live as followers of Jesus in this world. We even find ourselves agreeing with many non-believers about the basic moral teachings of the Bible. However, it this matter of why that I’m after here. Why do you serve as a Christian? What is your motivation?
In the 10th chapter of Mark’s fast paced narrative of Jesus’ life we find those following Christ to be, well, hard-headed. They don’t seem to get it at all. After each time Jesus predicts his death in Mark, the disciples begin talking/thinking selfishly (8.31ff, 9.31ff, 10.33ff). They have the nerve to request the chief seats in the coming kingdom.
They have a problem with pride. They are self-orientated and self-consumed. How do you get these guys turned around? What is Jesus’ strategy?
Jesus appeals to three basic reasons why their issues need immiediate remdey. It is the third of which here that really gets at our motivation.
1. It’s Not the Kingdom Way
Selfishness is not how Christians are supposed to live. Jesus reminds his disciples that they are to be different than the pagans around them. There were ample examples around them of Roman oppression. These ‘great ones’ of the world are a vivid contrast for the great ones of the kingdom of Christ.
2. It’s Not the Jesus Way
The WWJD phrase remains popular. Here in verse 45 of chapter 10 of Mark it fits: “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve…” If someone is going to follow Jesus then they must walk like he walked. They must be a servant. To be self-serving, self-orientatedd, is to be unChristlike.
3. It’s Not the Gospel Way
At this point you may be able to crank out some obedience. You may be able to persuade someone (yourself?) that selfishness is very unattractive. You could drop the added weight on your toes that it looks very much unlike Jesus. This may help to modify behavior.
But I don’t think it will get at the heart. And therefore, I don’t think it will be lasting.
In the second half of the verse Jesus drops the bomb that does the work:
“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
This is where it hits home. This penetrates deeply below the skin of religious conformity. It blasts a hole into the castle of a man’s heart. It serves to ignite the boiler room of the soul to heat the whole man. Jesus brings the gospel.
Look what he says, the Son of Man came to give his life. What? The Daniel 7 King is going to give his life? The one who is telling me that I need to give my life is saying that he gave his life. He has my attention. This is more than *just* waiting tables. Jesus is talking about the ultimate sacrifice.
Notice why he gave his life: as a ransom for many. This is nothing short of a payment. The ancient culture used this word to refer to a payment required in order to release someone from a prison or enslavement. Jesus is saying that he gives his life as a payment for the release of people who are enslaved.
We know of course from the rest of the Bible that this enslavement is nothing short of our enslavement to sin and Satan (Col. 1.12-13; Eph. 2.1-3).
However, it is the glorious High King of heaven, Immanuel, who comes to give his life for rebels like us. He marches resolutely to the cross where he lays himself volunteraily on the altar atop of Golgotha. He is the true and better burnt offering to serve as the basis of consecration for his people. He is the true and better offering from the Day of Atonement whereby his blood was marched, not into the earthly temple, but into the heavenly one! His blood is applied on the true and better mercy seat. He makes God propitious for and toward us!
Do you see the depths of his serving? All of your sin firmly fastened to the shoulders of Jesus. He, like the goat in the wilderness (Lev. 16) carries away your guilt and shame (Ps. 103.12). This is the chief and ultimate act of service.
It is this great gospel service that Jesus uses to puntuate his teaching on service. It is the gospel that he dangles before the eyes and ears of his hearers to compel obedience.
See, I may be able to get people to conform for a while with ethical or emotional arguments. There are some benefits of mechanical change. However, if you want to see true and lasting change there needs to be gospel persuasion. There needs to be organic change. Only the gospel does this.
How do you deal with selfishness in yourself or others? If we want to be like Christ then we should preach like Christ. Without diminishing the value of the first two arguments above, allow the gospel to do its work in punctuating the sentence. It is this that brings true and lasting change.
