3.10.2015 Tuesday of Lent 3 Mark 9:35-50 An unbeliever casts out demons in Jesus’ name
Jesus refuses to forbid a non-follower
from using His name to cast out demons and urges the extermination of those
sins that result in hell. He will then refer to “the little ones”. Any
sacrifice is worth eternal life rather than going to hell forever which is
described as eternal torment. Finally, Jesus will deal with salt. It is a call
to radical obedience rather than to accommodation to the world.[2]
There is a definite measure of greatness
according to Jesus’ standard. That standard of greatness is found in verse 35
of our text, “If anyone wants to be first
he must be the very last, and the servant of all.” By Jesus’ standard,
greatness is found in serving. Serving places others before yourself.
Paul put it this way, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain
conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourself.”
(Philippians 2:3) Striving to be served is the goal of this self-centered
world. Servant-hood is a mark of the Christian.
Rank or standing in God’s kingdom is not
determined by strips on a sleeve or at the bottom of a balance sheet, or whom
you know of what you’ve done. There is not one person who is better or worse
than another. We are all sinner. We deserve nothing but punishment. Yet, by the
grace of God found in Jesus Christ, we have each been given a gift of His
divine grace.
Jesus tells us that the greatest mark of
servant-hood is for one to lay down his life for another, which is precisely
what He had done for you. The Father serves up His son on the cross that we in
turn might serve each other.
Everybody
can be great...because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college
degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve.
You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.” - Martin
Luther King Jr.
Humility and servant-hood in the life the
Christian go hand in hand. Jesus has proved for us the Gospel power to be first
by being last and servant of all. The world will continue to tell us that
social rank and status determined by the bottom line and personal
accomplishments is the mark and measure of greatness. Don’t listen to these
competing voices. Listen to the voice of your Shepherd. Being last and the
servant of all is the measure and mark of greatness in His kingdom. That is the
difference, and it can only be comprehended and understood by faith. May our
prayer today be simply this, “Lord,
humble me, and teach me to be a servant.”
O Lord, we beseech you
mercifully to hear us; and grant that we, to whom you have given a fervent
desire to pray, may, by your mighty aid, be defended and comforted in all
dangers and adversities; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.[3]
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