Gospel of Mark: Jesus Must Die, We Must Die

Let's ask God for his help as we look at his word together.

Father God, by your Holy Spirit, would you please open up our eyes so that we may see

Jesus, that we may know who he is, that we may understand what he has done for us, and

what it means to follow him.

Father, please, we ask that every one of us here this morning would encounter Jesus afresh,

and that not one of us would leave this building without being changed, without being transformed

by you.

We come with open hands because we are needy people and we ask you to fill us and to teach

us.

We pray this for your honour and for your glory.

Amen.

Men wanted for hazardous journey, small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness,

constant danger, safe return doubtful, honour and recognition in case of success.

Well, that was the advert placed in a London newspaper by the great explorer Ernest Shackleton as

he looked for a team to travel to the Antarctic.

In reality, it was a call to come and die.

Here in Mark's Gospel, Jesus called us to come and die.

Look at verse 32.

They were on their way up to Jerusalem with Jesus leading the way.

Jerusalem for Jesus meant one thing, suffering and ultimately death.

It was the place where he would be executed and nailed to a cross.

No wonder the disciples were astonished while those who followed were afraid.

Jesus leading from the front deliberately and intentionally walking towards his death.

Now we struggle with that because, well let's be honest, we crave comfort.

We desire safety.

We want prosperity.

We want health and wealth.

We want a Jesus who will say to us, hold on to your nice, private, material life.

We want a Jesus who will say, I'm going to make your life easy and suffering free.

We really don't want a Jesus who says, come and die.

But like the disciples, we need Jesus to teach us.

Look at the rest of verse 32.

Again, he took the twelve aside and he told them what was going to happen to him.

And what follows in this section is an invitation to come and die with Jesus.

First, Jesus must suffer for us, but calls us to die for him.

Look at verse 33.

He says, we are going up to Jerusalem.

He said, and the Son of Man, that's Jesus, will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law.

This is my mission.

This is why I have come.

I have come to suffer and to die for you.

Verse 33.

They will condemn him, that's Jesus, to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles who will mock him, spit on him, flog him and kill him.

And three days later, he will rise.

The physical suffering, the pain and the agony of Jesus was immense.

The deep lacerations caused by the barbs of lead on each strand of the whip.

The twisted crown of nail-like thorns crushed into his skull.

The punching, the loss of blood, the timber beam that he carries.

The jagged nails hammered into sinew and bone, piercing feet and hands.

Naked.

Hanging.

Suffering.

Dying.

But that is nothing compared to the ultimate suffering.

Jesus refers to it a little later on when he describes what he must go through.

Look down at verse 38.

Jesus says in response to the disciples who thought they could do what Jesus was going to do.

Jesus says, you don't know what you are asking.

Jesus said, can you drink the cup I drink?

Or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?

Jesus said, can you drink the cup?

Jesus said, can you drink the cup?

The cup and baptism, well, they were word pictures of his death.

The cup, on the one hand, was symbolic of God's wrath, his judgment, his fair and just response to rebels like you and me.

The baptism, well, that was being forsaken, abandoned by God when he cried out on the cross,

why have you forsaken me?

As Jesus took my sin and your sin upon himself.

And Jesus is saying here, I drank that cup for you.

I endured that cup for you.

Jesus died our death for us.

Jesus suffered hell for us so that we don't have to.

Now Jesus calls us to die for him.

Look back at verse 32.

They were on their way up to Jerusalem with Jesus leading the way.

Verse 33.

We are going up to Jerusalem.

The way that I go is also the way that you go.

The path that I take is the path that you must take.

We are going up to Jerusalem.

We must be ready to die for him.

Of course, the death of Jesus is unique.

None of us can repeat that.

That was a once and for all.

But his way to the cross is the model and the pattern for my life and for your life.

You say, I can't do that.

I can't live like that.

Well, listen.

If Jesus suffered the ultimate suffering for us, hell itself,

that means we can face any suffering for him knowing that the worst has been taken for us.

And if Jesus died our death for us and was raised three days later to life,

that means we can face even death for him knowing that we too will be raised to life with him for all eternity.

Verse 33.

We are going up to Jerusalem.

My way is now your way.

You know, the only reason why we are here this morning is because people in the past have understood what Jesus had done for them

and were willing to die for him.

Churches are never planted through comfort and safety.

Churches are planted through suffering and dying.

Of course, we may not die because of persecution in this country.

We certainly will if we go to other countries.

But you know what?

Every time we face rejection or a little bit of hostility, perhaps from a friend or a family,

whenever we're treated unfairly or misunderstood,

all because we follow Jesus,

don't we?

Don't we suffer?

When we give of ourselves to people,

when we invest into their lives

and give and give and give a little bit more,

and then it's thrown back in your face,

doesn't a little piece of us die?

The way to plant churches

is to follow the way to Jerusalem.

To walk the road,

to stand and be amazed

that Jesus suffered for us.

And in response,

be ready to die for him.

Second,

Jesus becomes a slave for us,

but calls us to be a servant for him.

Jesus becomes a slave for us,

but calls us to be a servant for him.

Verse 35,

James and John, the sons of Zebedee,

came to him,

Teacher,

we want you to do for us

whatever we ask.

Well, clearly,

they have not understood the call to come and die.

Verse 36,

what do you want me to do for you?

Jesus asked.

They replied,

well,

let one of us sit at your right

and the other one sit at your left

in your glory.

Don't you identify with James and John?

We all want the glory,

don't we?

without the suffering.

Without the suffering.

We want the prize,

but not the pain.

We don't want to come and die.

But Jesus reminds us

of the way in which we must follow.

Verse 39,

Jesus said to them,

you will drink the cup I drink

and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with.

Not that they will endure the same thing,

but he's saying to them,

if you follow me,

you will suffer for me.

In fact,

in just a few years from those words of Jesus,

James would be executed by Herod.

John would be banished to an island prison.

They both came to see

that the road to glory

is always a way of suffering.

And we need to understand that.

We've got a kind of sanitized,

happy version of Christianity

where we don't like danger,

we don't like upset,

we don't like suffering.

That can't possibly be the way.

But look at my life,

says Jesus.

Let me show you

what it's all about.

Verse 44,

he says to them,

whoever wants to be first

must be slave of all.

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.

I am the Son of Man,

says Jesus.

It was a title,

a great prophetic title,

one that meant

the one with absolute power

and supreme authority.

Jesus is saying,

I am God's King,

the Creator of the universe,

the Ruler of the universe.

I look after all things,

but I do not demand

to be served by you.

Instead,

I am willing to become a slave

and die for you.

That's why I've come.

I come from my high position

to take the very lowest position.

Why?

Look at the end of verse 45.

To give my life

as a ransom for many.

I give my life

in exchange for your life.

With arms stretched out

on the cross,

Jesus is saying,

I freely sacrifice my life.

I take your sin

upon my life

to liberate you.

By becoming a slave

who dies

in place of us,

Jesus sets us free

from the consequences

of our sin,

from death

and from hell itself.

He sets us free

to live a new,

radical kind of life.

Now Jesus calls us

to serve Him.

Look at verse 42.

Verse 42.

Jesus called them together

and said,

You know

that those who are regarded

as the rulers

of the Gentiles,

the politicians

and the leaders,

they lord it over them.

And their high officials,

the movers

and the shakers,

exercise authority

over them.

They want position

and power,

status and success,

glory and honour.

And they'll go to any length

to get it.

Verse 43.

Not so with you.

Not so with you.

Instead,

whoever wants to become great

among you

must be your servant.

And whoever wants to be first

must be slave

of all.

I can't do it.

How can I be a servant

like this?

Well listen,

if Jesus died

as a slave for us

and set us free

for an eternal glory,

that means

we can give

our life today

whatever the cost

to serve Him

because

we already

have everything

in Christ.

Christ.

We were singing

about it.

All I have

is Christ.

That's all we need

so we can let go

of everything else.

He's given us

everything.

Churches are not

planted

because of

clever strategies.

Churches are planted

because

they learn

to be servants.

That means

we don't demand

our rights.

We don't strive

for status.

We no longer

crave our comfort

and our securities.

There's no longer

any me.

We become

last.

We become

the lowest.

Giving freely.

Giving our life.

What will that

look like for us?

Well,

students,

for those

who are at

college,

that might

mean thinking

not what

great position

can I get

at the end.

What great

big salary

can I earn?

But where

can I go

when I get

my degree?

What town

is there

that hasn't

got a church?

Or what

place is

struggling

that I could

go and live

there and

support and

help them

to plant

a church?

that's what

it will

mean.

For those

who are just

a little bit

older and

perhaps have

kids,

the same

applies.

Am I

ready to go?

Leave the

stability of my

nice home?

My nice

school where my

nice children

go?

And leave

my nice

friends and

start all

over again.

Oh, but what

about the

kids?

It wouldn't

be fair to

upset them.

After all,

we need to

keep them

settled.

Our kids

are the

most adaptable

creatures on

the planet.

They'll go

anywhere.

They'll learn

another language

quicker than

you.

They're not

the problem.

It's us.

But what

about those

who are

retired?

Or thinking

of retirement?

settling down

and spending

their pension

if they still

have one?

All those

missed out

holidays.

Am I

ready to

invest it

into the

support of

one or

two people?

All the

free time

I now

have,

will I

give it

to serve

the local

church?

That's

what it

means for

us all.

The way

to plant

churches.

is to

follow the

way of

Jesus.

To be

amazed as

we walk

the road

that Jesus,

the King,

the one who

controls all

things,

became a

slave for

you and

for me.

And in

response,

that we

would be

ready to be

a servant

for him.

third,

Jesus gives

sight to

us,

but calls

us to

follow him.

Jesus gives

sight to

us,

but calls

us to

follow him.

Look at

verse 46.

Then they

came to

Jericho,

and as

his disciples

together with

a large

crowd were

leaving the

city,

a blind

man,

Bartimaeus,

that is the

son of

Timaeus,

was sitting

by the

roadside

begging.

He's a

nobody,

he's an

outsider,

nothing to

offer,

nothing to

give,

but yet he

knows how

to ask.

Verse 47,

when he

heard that

it was

Jesus of

Nazareth,

he began

to shout,

Jesus,

son of

David,

literally,

king,

or Messiah,

have mercy

on me.

Many

rebuked him

and told him

to be quiet.

Shh,

he doesn't

want you.

But he

shouted all

the more,

son of

David,

Messiah,

have mercy

on me.

He

comes in

absolute

dependence,

knowing he

is helpless

and hopeless.

And look

at the

response of

Jesus,

verse 51.

Look at

what Jesus

says in

response,

verse 51.

What do

you want

me to

do for

you?

Jesus

asked him.

It's the

exact same

question Jesus

had asked

the disciples

a little

earlier.

but the

request of

Bartimaeus

is so

different.

The blind

man said,

Rabbi,

I want

to see.

Not,

I want

to have

greatness

and glory.

Not,

I want

position and

power.

Not,

I want

comfort and

security and

a nice,

comfortable,

easy kind

of life.

I want

to see.

Jesus

is the

one who

has come

to give

us sight.

Yes,

Bartimaeus

is healed

physically,

but when

Mark,

the author

here of

this gospel,

when he

talks about

the blind

seeing,

he is

always

talking about

seeing

who

Jesus

is,

perceiving,

understanding.

Remember,

Jesus'

rebuke to

these same

disciples back

in chapter

8,

after all

his teaching

and after

all the

miracles they

had seen

and witnessed,

what does he

say to them?

Do you

still not

see or

understand?

do you

have eyes

but fail

to see?

Jesus has

come to

give sight,

to open up

our blind

eyes so

that we

might know

and understand

who Jesus

is.

that he's

the one

with absolute

power and

supreme

authority,

but became

a suffering

slave to

set us

free so

that we

can have

life.

Jesus

came to

give us

sight and

now Jesus

calls us to

follow him.

Look at

verse 52.

Go,

said Jesus,

your faith

has healed

you.

Healed

is the

same word

there as

saved.

Physically

he can

see.

Spiritually

he can

see.

He

understands

who

Jesus

is.

Immediately

he received

his sight

and followed

Jesus along

the road

because to

see Jesus

is to

follow

Jesus.

To

go,

to know

him is

to go

with him.

We can't

claim to

have faith

in Jesus

but not

follow

Jesus.

Look back

at verse

49.

Jesus

stopped and

he had

said to

Bartimaeus,

call him.

Verse 50,

throwing his

cloak aside

he jumped

to his

feet and

he came

to Jesus.

He was

called

and he

came.

But look

how he

came.

He threw

his cloak

aside,

perhaps the

only possession

this blind

beggar had

but symbolically

he throws

it to

one side

to follow

Jesus.

He has

come to

see that

Jesus

had given

all of

himself

for him

and now

he is

willing to

give all

of himself

to Jesus.

Look,

if Jesus

gave his

life so

that we

may gain

life in

all its

fullness

now and

for all

eternity,

that means

we can

let go

of all

that we

have to

follow him.

if Jesus

gave

everything

to us,

that means

we can

let go

of everything

we have

to follow

him.

We

thank God

that churches

have been

planted

and the

only way

that we'll

see more

churches

planted

is to

follow

Jesus

along

the road.

but maybe

like me,

you're just

struggling

to follow.

Maybe

this is

all too

much.

Maybe

you're

worried

about

how much

you will

suffer.

Maybe

you're

scared

of

where

you'll

go

or where

you'll

end

up.

Maybe

inside

you're

fighting

the

battle

about

the

cost

that

is

involved.

To be

honest,

I don't

really like

this passage

very much.

It's a

bit hard.

Unlike

the disciples

at the

very

beginning,

I'm

afraid.

I'm

afraid

to

follow.

Well,

if that's

you,

we need

to become

like

Bartimaeus,

a blind

beggar,

hopeless,

helpless,

nothing to

offer,

nothing to

give,

except the

simple cry,

have mercy

on me,

I want

to see.

and when

Jesus

opens up

our eyes,

we see

him in

all his

glory

and in

all his

beauty.

We begin

to grasp

as the

Holy Spirit

takes it

and applies

it to

our lives.

We see

the

sluffering

slave on

the cross

who died

for you

and for

me.

And when

it begins

to capture

our hearts

and our

minds,

there is

nothing

we will

not give.

There is

nowhere

we will

not go

and there

is no one

we will

not reach.

Like

Bartimaeus,

we simply

need to

ask for

sight

and follow

Jesus

along the

road.

Let's

pray.

Lord,

we

struggle

with

these

demands

upon

our

life.

we

are

afraid

and

we're

scared

of

what

it

will

mean

to

follow

Jesus.

And so

afresh

we ask

that you

would give

us all

sight,

open up

our eyes

to see

the beauty

and the

glory of

who Jesus

is,

to help

us not

understand,

not just

understand

with our

heads,

but to

know it

in our

hearts,

all that

Jesus was

willing to

do for

us,

to suffer

for us,

to become

a slave

for us,

so that

we might

have life.

Please

teach us

what it

is to

follow you

along the

road.

Not

for our

own glory,

not for

our honour,

but for

the fame

of Jesus

and for

his name

to be

known

in our

own local

communities,

in our

own

neighbourhoods,

in our

colleges and

schools,

across this

county,

across this

island,

and across

the world.

Lord,

please help

us.

We ask

this in

Jesus'

name.

Amen.

Amen.

We're

going to

bring our

time together

to

close through

this song

from heaven

you came,

helpless

babe,

which is a

song that

really helps

us to fix

our eyes

and our

attention

on Jesus

and in

particular

the suffering

slave

on the

cross

who died

for us.

And the

only right

response

is to

follow him,

to give

our lives

wherever he

may call us.

Let's stand

together as we

sing this and

make it the

prayer of our

hearts.

near

next

to

a

month

a

full

foot

up

to

come

to

our

feet

who

are

in

a

¡N Reverend

chapter 10

bless you

are

going

to

see you

just

in

Jesus