Greatness

The Celebration Of Sacrifice {Mark 10}

12:00 PM




Monday May 25, “Walking In Wisdom”


Memorial Day. A holiday usually celebrated with family, bbq’s and pool parties. But not this year. This year is different. This year people are social distancing, unable to see their families. Others are in despair over how they will feed their children and pay their bills. And sadly, many more are hurting over the loss of a loved one taken from a virus unheard of just a short time ago. This year there doesn’t seem much to celebrate. 

Although fondly known as the unofficial kickoff to summer, Memorial  Day is actually a day set aside to honor the men and women who gave their lives serving in the United States military. A holiday meant to mourn loved ones who have passed, but more importantly to celebrate the sacrifice of others. And there is no greater sacrifice to celebrate, then of Christ Jesus. He sacrificed His place in heaven ruling with the Father to come to earth. He sacrificed all the pomp and circumstance befitting a King to live as a pauper. He sacrificed His own needs to tend to the needs of others. He sacrificed His pride, allowing His jailers to mock and spit upon Him. He sacrificed His body to be tortured and beaten beyond recognition. And most gloriously of all, He sacrificed His life, dying nailed to a Cross so that we could live eternally.

One of greatest lessons we can learn from Jesus is the beauty of sacrifice; a lesson James and John would soon be taught. While on the road to Jerusalem Jesus “took the twelve aside and began to tell them what was going to happen to Him.” (vs. 32) Yet instead of appreciating the immensity of the suffering Jesus would soon endure, or celebrating the greatness of His sacrifice, the two disciples thought instead about the greatness of themselves. They approached the Lord asking, “Grant that we may sit, one on Your right and One on Your left, in Your glory. But Jesus said to them, ‘You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism which which I am baptized?’ They said to Him, ‘We are able’.” (vs. 36-39) 

Without truly knowing the depths of the Lord’s sacrifice, or the agony He was about to suffer, James and John were quick to agree to sacrifice and suffer along with Him. All in the name of become great and bringing glory to themselves. They didn’t understand the true meaning of greatness. For Jesus says greatness isn’t found in power and glory, instead it’s measured by our ability to live lives of sacrifice as servants and slaves to others. “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.” (vs. 45) 

Even in this time of trial, the greatness and sacrifice demonstrated by Jesus is all around us. It can be found it in the medical professionals treating the sick, in the front-line workers keeping the economy running, and in communities helping to meet the needs of others. So yes, this Memorial Day is different. But we still have much to celebrate. 



Becky Austin

When Being First Matters (Mark 9-10)

10:43 PM

The world says “ To be successful others must serve you.”  God says “ If you want to be first, then you must serve others.”  This is a common theme, especially in the NT. It’s human nature to want to push ourselves to the forefront, to claim the spotlight, to be the one calling the shots. Even the disciples who spent day after day calling Jesus Lord and Messiah still had desires to be considered special and important. The disciples tried to keep their ambitions among themselves but Jesus knew their lofty thoughts and desires. He knew their worldly and very upside down way of thinking. 

“And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.””
Mark 9:33-35 

Jesus taught that the love of God was a selfless serving love that put the needs and wellbeing of others first. When the rich ruler approached Jesus he asked: “ What must I do to inherit eternal life?” He wasn’t as interested in eternity, however, as he was in having all that the world had to offer. When Jesus told him he needed to sell all of his worldly possessions to follow him, the rich man was devastated. He had a choice to make and he chose the comfort and power of wealth over an intimate relationship with Jesus and eternity in heaven. Sadly, this is the fate of many around us as the world entices them with the false security of “ getting ahead”, of having the favor of others and the illusion of being first. 

Even the disciples questioned how could someone be saved when the enticing power of being self-seeking was such a powerful force. “Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.””
Mark 10:27 That is why we are blessed to have God’s saving grace.  God can transform our selfishness into that serving love that characterizes His kingdom. Jesus serves as the greatest example of humbling Himself to serve others. 
“But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.””
Mark 10:43-45 
Jesus wants to develop that same love in us and keep us focused on who we are “ in Him”.  Being “ in Christ” is the highest level of gain we could ever hope to have.