WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.679 Mark chapter 10 and Mona is going to come and read for us. 00:00:09.179 --> 00:00:17.179 Good morning church. Okay so we're reading Mark 10 and we're going from verse 35. 00:00:18.320 --> 00:00:25.839 Then James and John the sons of Zebedee came to him. Teacher, they said, we want you to do for us 00:00:25.839 --> 00:00:34.060 whatever we ask. What do you want me to do for you? He asked. They replied, let one of us sit at your 00:00:34.060 --> 00:00:42.519 right and the other at your left in your glory. You don't know what you are asking, Jesus said. 00:00:43.519 --> 00:00:51.859 Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with? We can, they 00:00:51.859 --> 00:00:59.439 answered. Jesus said to them, you will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am 00:00:59.439 --> 00:01:07.400 baptized with. But to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those 00:01:07.400 --> 00:01:13.859 for whom they have been prepared. When the 10 heard about this, they became 00:01:13.859 --> 00:01:22.039 indignant with James and John. Jesus called them together and said, you know that those who are 00:01:22.039 --> 00:01:29.280 regarded as rulers of the Gentiles, Lord, is over them and their high officials exercise authority 00:01:29.280 --> 00:01:36.980 over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant 00:01:36.980 --> 00:01:47.000 and whoever wants to be first must be slave for all. For even the son of man did not come to be 00:01:47.000 --> 00:01:57.100 served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. Then they came to Jericho as Jesus and his 00:01:57.100 --> 00:02:06.900 disciples together with a large crowd were leaving the city. A blind man, Barthelomus, which means son of 00:02:06.900 --> 00:02:14.980 Timaeus was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to 00:02:14.980 --> 00:02:24.280 shout, Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me. Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted 00:02:24.280 --> 00:02:32.439 all the more, son of David, have mercy on me. Jesus stopped and said, call him. So they called to the 00:02:32.439 --> 00:02:40.460 blind man, cheer up on your feet, he's calling you. Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet 00:02:40.460 --> 00:02:48.520 and came to Jesus. What do you want me to do for you? Jesus asked him. The blind mind said, Rabbi, 00:02:48.520 --> 00:02:55.979 I want to see. Go, said Jesus. Your faith has healed you. Immediately he received his sight 00:02:55.979 --> 00:03:07.979 and followed Jesus along the road. Amen. Well, good morning. It's great to be back. Thanks for 00:03:07.979 --> 00:03:13.500 having me back. It's a great joy to be able to come and open up God's words with you this morning. So 00:03:13.500 --> 00:03:19.500 shall we pray? Let's pray and let's ask that God would speak this morning. Father, thank you for these 00:03:19.500 --> 00:03:29.219 precious words, this extraordinary gospel of Mark and all it shows us about Jesus. And we ask this 00:03:29.219 --> 00:03:36.879 morning that you'd help us to have hearts that are set on Jesus, that our minds would understand, 00:03:37.020 --> 00:03:43.439 that our eyes would see him more clearly, and that we might be transformed by his beautiful power. 00:03:43.439 --> 00:03:53.800 Father, and we ask it in his name. Amen. I think that was a longer reading than perhaps we normally 00:03:53.800 --> 00:03:59.960 used to. I think often we just look at one little part of the Bible or one little part of the gospel. 00:04:00.860 --> 00:04:07.639 But what I want to do this morning is take these two accounts, which Mark has put next to each other, 00:04:07.639 --> 00:04:13.819 and try and think, why do they go together? Why do these two things happen next to each other? 00:04:15.419 --> 00:04:25.560 And what I want to show you is what an extraordinary teacher Jesus is. I think even if you're not really 00:04:25.560 --> 00:04:32.339 sure what you believe about Jesus, even if you're here and you're not a Christian, I still think it isn't 00:04:32.339 --> 00:04:41.219 hard to see that he is an extraordinary teacher who has turned our world upside down. And the brilliant 00:04:41.219 --> 00:04:49.379 thing about Jesus is that he's so simple in what he teaches, and yet so profound. He doesn't need 00:04:49.379 --> 00:04:57.719 kind of high-faluting philosophy. He doesn't need clever and complex doctrine. He uses the simplest of 00:04:57.720 --> 00:05:10.260 words to completely expose our hearts. In fact, Jesus uses one question, one question, which I think 00:05:10.260 --> 00:05:18.260 completely shows up what's happening inside each of us. The question came up twice in the reading that 00:05:18.260 --> 00:05:25.820 we've just had. I don't know if you noticed it. Here is the question. What do you want me to do for you? 00:05:27.720 --> 00:05:36.720 Jesus asks that question twice. And as he asks it, he shows up what is really going on in the human 00:05:36.720 --> 00:05:43.060 heart. So we're going to think about this one question, and we're going to think about the two 00:05:43.060 --> 00:05:48.300 answers that Jesus gets, and we're going to try and understand what that shows us about our own hearts 00:05:48.300 --> 00:05:54.640 and about the magnificence of Jesus. But let's think about the question, first of all, what do you want 00:05:54.639 --> 00:06:00.159 me to do for you? That's the question Jesus asks. He asks it to James and John, his disciples. Then he 00:06:00.159 --> 00:06:07.259 asks it to this blind man, Bartimaeus, what do you want me to do for you? I think that's a strange 00:06:07.259 --> 00:06:14.699 question. And the reason I think it's a strange question and might puzzle us is because it's a 00:06:14.699 --> 00:06:18.560 servant's question. That's what a servant asks. What do you want me to do for you? 00:06:18.560 --> 00:06:25.680 The person who asks that question is not the person in power, but the person who is being, 00:06:27.959 --> 00:06:35.220 who has to serve, whose job it is to do something. And so we might expect Jesus to come along and say, 00:06:35.340 --> 00:06:40.319 this is what I want you to do for me. But instead he comes and says, what do you want me to do for you? 00:06:40.319 --> 00:06:51.319 That's surprising. It's surprising because I think we often imagine that being a Christian is about me 00:06:51.319 --> 00:06:58.560 serving Jesus. He's the great King of Kings and Lord of Lords. And my job is to serve him. Well, 00:06:58.620 --> 00:07:04.800 what you need to understand is before you can ever serve Jesus, he first needs to serve you. 00:07:04.800 --> 00:07:12.420 that's where it starts. And that's what he says in the middle of this passage. So just look with me, 00:07:13.220 --> 00:07:21.280 verse 45. It's one of the key verses in the whole of Mark's gospel. Here it is. Jesus says, 00:07:21.439 --> 00:07:31.699 even the son of man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. 00:07:31.699 --> 00:07:38.039 We have to understand that Jesus came to serve. 00:07:41.579 --> 00:07:44.399 It's strange because he uses this phrase son of man. 00:07:46.159 --> 00:07:52.219 When he talks about son of man, he's referring to himself, but it's a loaded term. 00:07:53.480 --> 00:08:00.379 It's like a code name, son of man. When I was younger, I was in a gang, 00:08:00.379 --> 00:08:04.379 well, they're not a, I mean, there's only two of us. Um, 00:08:04.579 --> 00:08:09.500 it was me and my friend, Steven Gower. We weren't really a gang, but we thought we were, 00:08:09.579 --> 00:08:15.800 we were, we thought we were pretty cool. And we had, we had code names because we thought that 00:08:15.800 --> 00:08:20.579 it's quite embarrassing admitting it out. But anyway, we had code names. And the idea was that 00:08:20.579 --> 00:08:27.459 the code name told you something about what we thought we were. My code name in our gang 00:08:27.459 --> 00:08:35.159 was falcon fighter. I don't think it accurately described me, but I think it described what I 00:08:35.159 --> 00:08:45.340 aspired to be. Well, this name son of man is like a code name. It tells you something about Jesus. 00:08:45.340 --> 00:08:55.340 But in order to understand what son of man means, you need to go back, go back to where this term 00:08:55.340 --> 00:09:02.540 has been used earlier in the Bible. In particular, back to a prophet called Daniel. 00:09:04.139 --> 00:09:13.340 An extraordinary story of Daniel in the Old Testament. Daniel, a man who lived at a very 00:09:13.340 --> 00:09:18.100 hard time when God's people were taken in exile, that he was living in Babylon, he was living far 00:09:18.100 --> 00:09:25.300 from home. He'd been there for 70 years, spent all his life away as a exile. 00:09:28.820 --> 00:09:31.720 And while Daniel was there in exile, he had a vision, 00:09:32.360 --> 00:09:41.360 an extraordinary vision. He saw the ancient of days, God himself on a throne. And it was like a 00:09:41.360 --> 00:09:48.680 courtroom and the books were opened up, a scene of magnificent power. Can you picture it? 00:09:50.279 --> 00:09:58.720 The ancient of days. His hair was white like wool. He was blazing with glory. 00:10:00.919 --> 00:10:08.800 And Daniel is there looking at this great vision. And then into this throne room comes someone else. 00:10:08.799 --> 00:10:20.039 One who looks like a son of man. That is one who has a human appearance. One walking in as a human 00:10:20.039 --> 00:10:24.779 being walks into this courtroom. A son of man. 00:10:26.659 --> 00:10:33.279 And in Daniel's vision, what happens is that as the son of man comes into the courtroom, 00:10:33.279 --> 00:10:43.399 the son of man is given all glory and sovereign power and all the nations of the world worship him. 00:10:46.679 --> 00:10:47.360 Wow. 00:10:47.360 --> 00:10:56.779 You don't need to know much about the Bible to know that there is only one that you worship. Only one. 00:10:59.340 --> 00:11:05.480 You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not worship any other god, God says. 00:11:06.639 --> 00:11:11.320 Which means that this son of man who all the nations are going to worship, 00:11:11.320 --> 00:11:15.260 this son of man approaching the ancient of days must be God. 00:11:17.440 --> 00:11:18.720 Because you only worship God. 00:11:23.560 --> 00:11:25.960 So here's this scene that's unfolding. 00:11:26.220 --> 00:11:27.379 You've got to imagine Daniel, right? 00:11:27.840 --> 00:11:31.280 Imagine Daniel. He's there in exile and he sees this thing unfolding. 00:11:31.600 --> 00:11:33.720 Do you not imagine his heart beating faster? 00:11:33.720 --> 00:11:36.639 It's like, who is that? 00:11:38.160 --> 00:11:43.279 Who is this figure who can walk into the presence of the ancient of days and receive worship? 00:11:43.480 --> 00:11:44.860 Who could that possibly be? 00:11:46.240 --> 00:11:48.779 Daniel's like on tiptoe trying to see who is it? 00:11:48.879 --> 00:11:49.500 Who is it? 00:11:53.139 --> 00:11:56.660 And Daniel never fully gets the answer in his lifetime. 00:11:58.860 --> 00:12:02.080 Because it would be another nearly 500 years. 00:12:03.720 --> 00:12:07.399 But for a man walking by the sea of Galilee says, 00:12:07.980 --> 00:12:10.580 the son of man is me. 00:12:13.379 --> 00:12:16.940 Jesus, when he takes the phrase son of man, 00:12:17.740 --> 00:12:19.560 is using that name, 00:12:19.740 --> 00:12:25.120 which means he is the man who is God to be worshipped. 00:12:29.540 --> 00:12:31.139 So do you not feel, right? 00:12:31.860 --> 00:12:32.920 Come on, we've got to get into this, right? 00:12:32.919 --> 00:12:36.419 Do you not feel the crunch when it says, 00:12:36.759 --> 00:12:38.019 the son of man, 00:12:38.879 --> 00:12:41.979 that son of man of all glory, wisdom, and sovereign power, 00:12:42.079 --> 00:12:45.179 that son of man did not come to be served, 00:12:45.240 --> 00:12:47.959 but to serve and to give his life. 00:12:50.219 --> 00:12:50.339 Right? 00:12:50.419 --> 00:12:52.279 There is the crunch. 00:12:54.459 --> 00:12:55.699 You've got to feel, right? 00:12:55.700 --> 00:12:56.240 That's the, 00:12:56.379 --> 00:13:02.240 that is the great paradox at the very heart of what we believe as Christians, 00:13:02.240 --> 00:13:06.379 that the great son of man gave his life on a cross. 00:13:08.060 --> 00:13:10.360 That the Messiah was crucified. 00:13:10.360 --> 00:13:17.320 And so when Jesus asks the question, 00:13:17.539 --> 00:13:19.560 what do you want me to do for you? 00:13:19.700 --> 00:13:21.419 It's an extraordinary question, 00:13:21.419 --> 00:13:24.340 because it tells you that this son of man came to serve. 00:13:24.560 --> 00:13:26.600 And look at the extent to which he came to serve. 00:13:26.600 --> 00:13:31.460 Even to give his life as a ransom for men. 00:13:35.060 --> 00:13:38.420 Humanity is in a desperate, desperate plight. 00:13:39.420 --> 00:13:43.040 In a place of deep, deep darkness and slavery. 00:13:43.039 --> 00:13:46.419 And Jesus came in order to pay the price, 00:13:46.539 --> 00:13:50.019 to bring us out of darkness and slavery to sin, 00:13:50.139 --> 00:13:51.959 in order that we might be rescued, 00:13:52.219 --> 00:13:55.419 that we might be taken from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light, 00:13:55.599 --> 00:13:57.839 from the kingdom of shame to the kingdom of freedom, 00:13:58.120 --> 00:13:59.899 from the kingdom of slavery, 00:14:00.740 --> 00:14:03.579 to the kingdom of being children of God. 00:14:05.019 --> 00:14:07.259 He gave his life as a ransom. 00:14:07.259 --> 00:14:15.159 And so Jesus is rightly called the servant king. 00:14:17.000 --> 00:14:18.100 He comes to serve. 00:14:20.100 --> 00:14:22.860 So this question, what do you want me to do for you? 00:14:23.059 --> 00:14:24.759 It shows you something. 00:14:24.899 --> 00:14:27.759 It takes you to the very heart of the identity of Jesus. 00:14:28.240 --> 00:14:31.539 He is the servant who comes to serve. 00:14:32.399 --> 00:14:34.039 Even lost sinners like us. 00:14:34.039 --> 00:14:37.500 So there's the question. 00:14:39.799 --> 00:14:41.199 But what is our response? 00:14:42.639 --> 00:14:44.500 When Jesus says to us, 00:14:44.659 --> 00:14:47.019 what do you want me to do for you? 00:14:48.419 --> 00:14:49.419 How do you respond? 00:14:49.860 --> 00:14:52.819 Because what you think you want Jesus to do for you 00:14:52.819 --> 00:14:54.459 will show you what's going on in your heart. 00:14:56.719 --> 00:14:57.799 So let's see what happened. 00:14:58.879 --> 00:15:00.079 Let's look at these two occasions 00:15:00.079 --> 00:15:02.419 when Jesus asked the servant's question. 00:15:04.039 --> 00:15:05.159 And just as a spoiler, 00:15:06.339 --> 00:15:08.419 one group get it very wrong. 00:15:08.620 --> 00:15:09.779 The other one gets it very right. 00:15:10.879 --> 00:15:11.860 So let's look at it. 00:15:12.459 --> 00:15:13.839 Let's go back to the start of our reading. 00:15:15.539 --> 00:15:17.159 And we read about James and John, 00:15:17.240 --> 00:15:18.159 the sons of Zebedee. 00:15:19.099 --> 00:15:20.219 They come to Jesus. 00:15:20.939 --> 00:15:22.019 Teacher, they said, 00:15:22.419 --> 00:15:25.500 we want you to do for us whatever we ask. 00:15:26.980 --> 00:15:27.419 Wowzers. 00:15:28.039 --> 00:15:29.899 I mean, what a question. 00:15:30.039 --> 00:15:31.099 What a thing to say. 00:15:31.099 --> 00:15:31.179 Wow. 00:15:34.039 --> 00:15:36.579 Jesus, remember, 00:15:36.719 --> 00:15:39.039 is the eternal son of man 00:15:39.039 --> 00:15:42.419 who is going to be worshipped by all the nations. 00:15:43.620 --> 00:15:46.199 And these two little disciples come and say, 00:15:46.279 --> 00:15:48.059 we want you to do for us whatever we ask. 00:15:48.319 --> 00:15:50.259 Do you not think Jesus would have every right 00:15:50.259 --> 00:15:51.019 to turn around and say, 00:15:51.120 --> 00:15:52.159 how dare you? 00:15:53.279 --> 00:15:54.839 Who do you think you are? 00:15:54.840 --> 00:15:57.540 But he doesn't. 00:15:57.639 --> 00:15:58.200 He's gracious. 00:15:58.360 --> 00:15:58.820 He's kind. 00:15:58.899 --> 00:15:59.960 He wants to teach them. 00:16:00.220 --> 00:16:02.259 He wants to show them what's in their hearts. 00:16:02.340 --> 00:16:04.080 And so he asks them the servant's question. 00:16:04.420 --> 00:16:05.660 What do you want me to do for you? 00:16:08.580 --> 00:16:09.360 They're very clear. 00:16:09.440 --> 00:16:10.340 They've got this worked out. 00:16:10.399 --> 00:16:11.560 They've already thought this through. 00:16:12.740 --> 00:16:13.560 They reply, 00:16:14.280 --> 00:16:16.180 let one of us sit at your right 00:16:16.180 --> 00:16:18.340 and the other at your left in your glory. 00:16:21.340 --> 00:16:22.840 Here is essentially their answer. 00:16:22.840 --> 00:16:24.240 We want to be first. 00:16:26.180 --> 00:16:28.100 We want the highest place. 00:16:30.660 --> 00:16:32.080 Now, let's give them their G. 00:16:32.660 --> 00:16:34.200 They have understood that Jesus 00:16:34.200 --> 00:16:35.920 is about to receive a lot of glory. 00:16:36.139 --> 00:16:37.540 They have understood that there's something 00:16:37.540 --> 00:16:38.540 of a kingdom going on. 00:16:38.740 --> 00:16:39.639 They've seen his miracles. 00:16:39.860 --> 00:16:41.780 Perhaps they've worked out that he is the Messiah. 00:16:41.899 --> 00:16:43.120 He is the king of Israel, 00:16:43.320 --> 00:16:45.160 whose God has promised forever and ever. 00:16:45.200 --> 00:16:45.500 And they're like, 00:16:45.820 --> 00:16:47.500 we want in on that, Jesus. 00:16:47.680 --> 00:16:49.680 We want to be in the highest place. 00:16:49.680 --> 00:16:49.720 We want to be in the highest place. 00:16:52.840 --> 00:16:55.320 But their hearts are desperately, 00:16:55.660 --> 00:16:56.379 desperately wrong. 00:16:58.899 --> 00:17:00.360 And you can feel the kind of, 00:17:00.860 --> 00:17:04.480 the pain in Jesus' answer. 00:17:04.700 --> 00:17:05.200 He says, 00:17:06.120 --> 00:17:07.720 in verse 38, 00:17:08.539 --> 00:17:09.860 you don't know what you're asking. 00:17:12.079 --> 00:17:13.440 You don't know what you're asking. 00:17:13.440 --> 00:17:16.779 Can you drink the cup I drink 00:17:16.779 --> 00:17:18.860 or be baptized with the baptism I'm baptized with? 00:17:19.160 --> 00:17:20.380 Now, I love this. 00:17:21.259 --> 00:17:22.460 Right, so Jesus comes out with this. 00:17:22.660 --> 00:17:24.440 Can you be baptized with the baptism I'm baptized with? 00:17:26.600 --> 00:17:27.340 And James and John, 00:17:27.420 --> 00:17:28.820 perhaps they take a brief moment, 00:17:28.880 --> 00:17:29.840 they look at each other and they go, 00:17:30.840 --> 00:17:32.940 yeah, we can do that. 00:17:32.940 --> 00:17:36.240 They haven't got the first idea 00:17:36.240 --> 00:17:37.500 what Jesus is talking about. 00:17:38.580 --> 00:17:40.539 They don't know what he's referring to. 00:17:42.259 --> 00:17:43.160 Presumably, they think, 00:17:43.380 --> 00:17:45.480 when Jesus talks about the cup he's going to drink, 00:17:45.539 --> 00:17:47.100 they think, well, that must be a cup of glory. 00:17:47.259 --> 00:17:48.340 Yeah, we could drink that, Jesus. 00:17:48.460 --> 00:17:49.600 We'll drink a cup of glory. 00:17:50.420 --> 00:17:51.980 Baptism, yeah, we'll be baptized. 00:17:52.240 --> 00:17:53.940 We'll be submerged and immersed 00:17:53.940 --> 00:17:55.420 in your glory and your power. 00:17:55.720 --> 00:17:57.100 Yes, Jesus, we can do that. 00:17:57.160 --> 00:17:58.019 No problem. 00:17:58.019 --> 00:18:04.019 They have not understood the kingdom of Jesus. 00:18:04.200 --> 00:18:05.980 They've not understood who he is 00:18:05.980 --> 00:18:07.740 and what he's come to do. 00:18:11.900 --> 00:18:14.079 Because the cup Jesus is talking about 00:18:14.079 --> 00:18:16.759 is the cup of suffering 00:18:16.759 --> 00:18:18.220 that he will drink at the cross. 00:18:20.240 --> 00:18:22.599 It's the cup of God's wrath 00:18:22.599 --> 00:18:23.940 that he will drink. 00:18:25.059 --> 00:18:27.539 It's the cup of agonizing pain. 00:18:28.460 --> 00:18:29.940 That he will drink 00:18:29.940 --> 00:18:32.460 as he dies to save the world. 00:18:34.519 --> 00:18:36.400 And the baptism he talks about 00:18:36.400 --> 00:18:40.279 is the baptism of going under the judgment of God. 00:18:40.420 --> 00:18:43.420 It's the suffering of this world, 00:18:43.740 --> 00:18:45.200 being immersed in death, 00:18:45.339 --> 00:18:47.039 going to death itself. 00:18:50.480 --> 00:18:51.879 They think it's about glory. 00:18:52.559 --> 00:18:53.700 It's all about suffering. 00:18:53.700 --> 00:18:57.420 And so Jesus said to them, 00:18:57.500 --> 00:18:58.740 you will drink the cup I drink 00:18:58.740 --> 00:19:00.240 and be baptized with the baptism 00:19:00.240 --> 00:19:01.279 I'm baptized with. 00:19:01.519 --> 00:19:02.279 He says, actually, 00:19:02.920 --> 00:19:04.059 you are going to suffer. 00:19:06.740 --> 00:19:07.160 And obviously, 00:19:07.240 --> 00:19:08.000 they're not going to drink 00:19:08.000 --> 00:19:08.980 the cup of God's wrath. 00:19:09.059 --> 00:19:10.160 That's what Jesus will do. 00:19:10.380 --> 00:19:11.640 But they are going to follow him. 00:19:12.100 --> 00:19:12.900 Just like he said, 00:19:12.960 --> 00:19:13.759 take up my cross. 00:19:14.259 --> 00:19:15.240 They are going to die. 00:19:15.240 --> 00:19:18.859 They are going to suffer. 00:19:20.859 --> 00:19:21.799 But verse 40, 00:19:21.900 --> 00:19:22.960 to sit at my right or left 00:19:22.960 --> 00:19:23.940 is not for me to grant. 00:19:24.039 --> 00:19:25.680 These places belong to those 00:19:25.680 --> 00:19:26.720 for whom they've prepared. 00:19:26.720 --> 00:19:29.360 He says, 00:19:29.440 --> 00:19:29.940 James and John, 00:19:30.000 --> 00:19:31.059 your hearts are all wrong. 00:19:32.240 --> 00:19:33.299 You think it's about 00:19:33.299 --> 00:19:34.860 grabbing for glory. 00:19:35.079 --> 00:19:35.480 Actually, 00:19:35.600 --> 00:19:36.740 it is about embracing 00:19:36.740 --> 00:19:38.160 suffering 00:19:38.160 --> 00:19:39.319 and service. 00:19:41.019 --> 00:19:42.079 The 10 hear about this. 00:19:43.059 --> 00:19:43.860 They become indignant. 00:19:44.000 --> 00:19:44.620 They're pretty annoyed 00:19:44.620 --> 00:19:45.400 with James and John. 00:19:45.640 --> 00:19:46.519 I don't think it's kind of, 00:19:46.600 --> 00:19:47.339 oh, James and John, 00:19:47.420 --> 00:19:48.660 how could you be so selfish? 00:19:48.920 --> 00:19:49.660 I think it is, 00:19:50.000 --> 00:19:50.480 James and John, 00:19:50.559 --> 00:19:51.279 how dare you try 00:19:51.279 --> 00:19:52.019 and get ahead of us? 00:19:54.700 --> 00:19:56.200 And so Jesus calls them together. 00:19:57.380 --> 00:19:58.460 Stop squabbling, children. 00:19:58.579 --> 00:19:58.880 Come here. 00:19:58.940 --> 00:19:59.640 Let me teach you. 00:20:01.360 --> 00:20:02.299 You know that those 00:20:02.299 --> 00:20:02.960 who are regarded 00:20:02.960 --> 00:20:04.180 as rulers of the Gentiles 00:20:04.180 --> 00:20:05.140 lord it over them 00:20:05.140 --> 00:20:06.819 and their high officials 00:20:06.819 --> 00:20:08.440 exercise authority over them. 00:20:08.740 --> 00:20:09.579 You know, right, 00:20:09.640 --> 00:20:10.700 how the world works. 00:20:10.960 --> 00:20:12.120 People pushing forward, 00:20:12.299 --> 00:20:13.019 grabbing for glory. 00:20:13.120 --> 00:20:14.279 You know how it works. 00:20:14.500 --> 00:20:16.039 And then Jesus says these words, 00:20:16.039 --> 00:20:18.160 not so with you. 00:20:20.019 --> 00:20:22.339 It must not be that way. 00:20:24.579 --> 00:20:25.100 Instead, 00:20:25.099 --> 00:20:26.439 whoever wants to become great 00:20:26.439 --> 00:20:26.859 among you 00:20:26.859 --> 00:20:27.939 must be your servant 00:20:27.939 --> 00:20:30.319 and whoever wants to be first 00:20:30.319 --> 00:20:32.139 must be slave of all. 00:20:38.359 --> 00:20:39.399 This is remarkable. 00:20:39.579 --> 00:20:40.659 This one question 00:20:40.659 --> 00:20:42.719 cracks open 00:20:42.719 --> 00:20:43.879 what is going on 00:20:43.879 --> 00:20:45.039 in the proud human heart. 00:20:47.359 --> 00:20:48.159 Because I think 00:20:48.159 --> 00:20:48.839 James and John 00:20:48.839 --> 00:20:51.699 are very like me 00:20:51.700 --> 00:20:53.420 and perhaps 00:20:53.420 --> 00:20:54.279 they're very like you. 00:20:56.039 --> 00:20:57.100 I want to be first. 00:20:58.200 --> 00:20:59.100 I want to be noticed. 00:20:59.980 --> 00:21:00.980 I want to be seen. 00:21:01.259 --> 00:21:02.319 I want to be appreciated. 00:21:02.480 --> 00:21:03.539 I want applause. 00:21:06.240 --> 00:21:06.819 There's something 00:21:06.819 --> 00:21:08.460 that loves to be first. 00:21:11.080 --> 00:21:11.799 It's a bit like, 00:21:11.920 --> 00:21:12.480 you know when you go 00:21:12.480 --> 00:21:13.799 to a supermarket 00:21:13.799 --> 00:21:14.880 and it's busy 00:21:14.880 --> 00:21:16.940 and you're queuing. 00:21:18.880 --> 00:21:19.680 And you have to make 00:21:19.680 --> 00:21:20.740 that awful decision 00:21:20.740 --> 00:21:22.220 as you approach 00:21:22.220 --> 00:21:23.440 the busy checkouts. 00:21:24.240 --> 00:21:24.940 Which one 00:21:24.940 --> 00:21:26.360 is going to be 00:21:26.360 --> 00:21:27.660 my checkout of choice? 00:21:28.620 --> 00:21:29.820 And you're trying to judge, right? 00:21:29.860 --> 00:21:30.600 You're trying to assess. 00:21:31.280 --> 00:21:32.180 It's not just about 00:21:32.180 --> 00:21:33.020 the longest queue 00:21:33.020 --> 00:21:33.680 because it might be 00:21:33.680 --> 00:21:34.780 they've only got a few items. 00:21:34.900 --> 00:21:35.520 You might have a very, 00:21:35.640 --> 00:21:36.260 one person 00:21:36.260 --> 00:21:36.780 but a very big 00:21:36.780 --> 00:21:38.120 trolley load of stuff. 00:21:38.360 --> 00:21:38.940 So you're trying to assess 00:21:38.940 --> 00:21:39.940 which one's going to go first, 00:21:40.100 --> 00:21:41.060 which is going to go first. 00:21:42.220 --> 00:21:42.760 You're trying to look 00:21:42.759 --> 00:21:43.500 at the checkout system. 00:21:43.599 --> 00:21:44.920 How fast are they going to be? 00:21:44.980 --> 00:21:45.819 They look efficient. 00:21:46.579 --> 00:21:47.059 And you start 00:21:47.059 --> 00:21:47.900 and you choose your queue 00:21:47.900 --> 00:21:48.779 and you stand in your queue 00:21:48.779 --> 00:21:49.279 and then what you do 00:21:49.279 --> 00:21:49.980 is you line up 00:21:49.980 --> 00:21:51.640 with someone next to you. 00:21:51.700 --> 00:21:53.000 So as long as I beat them, 00:21:53.740 --> 00:21:54.299 then I'm happy. 00:21:54.359 --> 00:21:55.379 I've chosen a good queue. 00:21:56.180 --> 00:21:56.839 Anyone else do this 00:21:56.839 --> 00:21:57.379 or it's just me? 00:21:59.599 --> 00:22:01.200 And you're moving forwards 00:22:01.200 --> 00:22:02.519 and suddenly this queue 00:22:02.519 --> 00:22:03.839 is going faster than you 00:22:03.839 --> 00:22:04.960 and it's awful. 00:22:04.960 --> 00:22:06.039 You find yourself 00:22:06.039 --> 00:22:07.119 getting very stressed 00:22:07.119 --> 00:22:08.180 and then someone spills 00:22:08.180 --> 00:22:09.160 all their little coins 00:22:09.160 --> 00:22:10.039 all over the thing. 00:22:10.140 --> 00:22:11.000 It's like, come on! 00:22:11.440 --> 00:22:12.079 And then someone 00:22:12.079 --> 00:22:13.279 opens a till over here 00:22:13.279 --> 00:22:14.119 and the people behind you 00:22:14.119 --> 00:22:14.639 whip round 00:22:14.639 --> 00:22:15.759 and get in before you 00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:17.199 and it's like so frustrating 00:22:17.199 --> 00:22:19.059 and you find your blood pressure rising 00:22:19.059 --> 00:22:20.980 and you find your stress levels increasing. 00:22:24.759 --> 00:22:25.659 There is a way 00:22:25.659 --> 00:22:26.559 in that situation 00:22:26.559 --> 00:22:29.419 to make all of your stress go away. 00:22:32.579 --> 00:22:33.519 All you need to do 00:22:33.519 --> 00:22:35.299 is turn to the person behind you 00:22:35.299 --> 00:22:36.799 and say, 00:22:36.919 --> 00:22:38.039 would you like to go in front of me? 00:22:38.039 --> 00:22:41.539 And the moment you do that, 00:22:41.700 --> 00:22:42.480 you don't care anymore 00:22:42.480 --> 00:22:45.859 because you've chosen 00:22:45.859 --> 00:22:47.399 to serve. 00:22:48.680 --> 00:22:50.059 Rather than this obsession 00:22:50.059 --> 00:22:50.779 with making sure 00:22:50.779 --> 00:22:52.159 that I get what I want 00:22:52.159 --> 00:22:53.059 and I'm noticed 00:22:53.059 --> 00:22:53.619 and I get, 00:22:54.879 --> 00:22:55.759 I don't miss out 00:22:55.759 --> 00:22:56.740 and I don't lose out. 00:22:56.819 --> 00:22:58.539 Instead, you choose to serve. 00:23:00.720 --> 00:23:01.879 If queuing in a supermarket 00:23:01.879 --> 00:23:02.680 doesn't work for you, 00:23:03.119 --> 00:23:04.339 perhaps driving in a traffic jam, 00:23:04.339 --> 00:23:06.699 apply it to wherever you 00:23:06.699 --> 00:23:07.699 have your little stresses. 00:23:10.079 --> 00:23:11.359 And if that doesn't apply to you, 00:23:11.419 --> 00:23:11.619 then 00:23:11.619 --> 00:23:13.980 think about all the ways 00:23:13.980 --> 00:23:14.659 in our hearts 00:23:14.659 --> 00:23:16.039 that we just try to make sure 00:23:16.039 --> 00:23:17.019 that we get 00:23:17.019 --> 00:23:18.439 what we think 00:23:18.439 --> 00:23:19.720 we deserve. 00:23:21.720 --> 00:23:23.599 As long as I'm seen 00:23:23.599 --> 00:23:26.119 and we will use 00:23:26.119 --> 00:23:27.399 whatever we can 00:23:27.399 --> 00:23:28.720 in order to make sure 00:23:28.720 --> 00:23:30.539 that I get what I want. 00:23:30.539 --> 00:23:34.659 it might be in the workplace, 00:23:35.359 --> 00:23:36.700 it might be in my family, 00:23:38.700 --> 00:23:39.720 that I make sure 00:23:39.720 --> 00:23:41.119 that I'm sorted out 00:23:41.119 --> 00:23:43.240 and I'm looked after. 00:23:46.299 --> 00:23:47.399 Happens in churches. 00:23:49.920 --> 00:23:50.759 Where as long as 00:23:50.759 --> 00:23:52.460 my preferences are met 00:23:52.460 --> 00:23:54.420 and my choices 00:23:54.420 --> 00:23:55.700 and my opinions 00:23:55.700 --> 00:23:56.819 are accepted, 00:23:57.440 --> 00:23:58.299 then I'm happy. 00:23:58.299 --> 00:24:00.319 but I feel like 00:24:00.319 --> 00:24:01.519 I'm being pushed to the back. 00:24:01.599 --> 00:24:02.059 If I feel like 00:24:02.059 --> 00:24:03.500 other people are going ahead of me, 00:24:03.619 --> 00:24:04.379 then we can become 00:24:04.379 --> 00:24:05.180 very stressed. 00:24:06.139 --> 00:24:07.180 It happens in terms 00:24:07.180 --> 00:24:07.819 of our gifting. 00:24:08.220 --> 00:24:08.859 Sometimes, you know, 00:24:08.940 --> 00:24:12.619 you have a particular gift. 00:24:14.980 --> 00:24:15.759 Perhaps you're all brilliant 00:24:15.759 --> 00:24:16.480 and I'm picking, 00:24:16.579 --> 00:24:17.480 I don't know this church, 00:24:17.539 --> 00:24:18.339 I'm picking things 00:24:18.339 --> 00:24:19.000 at random, right? 00:24:19.460 --> 00:24:20.460 Perhaps you're very gifted 00:24:20.460 --> 00:24:21.500 as a flower arranger 00:24:21.500 --> 00:24:24.299 or as a 00:24:24.299 --> 00:24:29.419 I used to be in an orchestra. 00:24:30.779 --> 00:24:31.700 I used to play clarinet 00:24:31.700 --> 00:24:32.680 in an orchestra 00:24:32.680 --> 00:24:35.339 and I was first clarinet. 00:24:36.200 --> 00:24:36.919 Like, I was the most, 00:24:37.039 --> 00:24:37.700 I was the best 00:24:37.700 --> 00:24:38.480 in the orchestra. 00:24:38.960 --> 00:24:40.079 It was very exciting 00:24:40.079 --> 00:24:41.559 and I would sit 00:24:41.559 --> 00:24:42.419 and I'd play my clarinet 00:24:42.419 --> 00:24:43.759 and feel very smug 00:24:43.759 --> 00:24:44.139 and proud 00:24:44.139 --> 00:24:44.960 and then one day, 00:24:45.740 --> 00:24:46.680 a girl walked 00:24:46.680 --> 00:24:48.180 into the orchestra hall 00:24:48.180 --> 00:24:50.500 and she was carrying 00:24:50.500 --> 00:24:51.460 a box that looked 00:24:51.460 --> 00:24:52.720 suspiciously like 00:24:52.720 --> 00:24:53.299 a clarinet. 00:24:55.660 --> 00:24:57.240 And she was third clarinet 00:24:57.240 --> 00:24:58.920 but she was clearly 00:24:58.920 --> 00:24:59.740 much better than me. 00:25:01.640 --> 00:25:02.799 And it didn't take long 00:25:02.799 --> 00:25:03.680 for the conductor 00:25:03.680 --> 00:25:04.680 to eventually say, 00:25:05.079 --> 00:25:05.720 John T, would you mind 00:25:05.720 --> 00:25:06.160 switch it? 00:25:06.480 --> 00:25:07.319 Would you mind switching? 00:25:08.039 --> 00:25:08.440 Would you mind 00:25:08.440 --> 00:25:09.600 if Carola was 00:25:09.600 --> 00:25:11.380 first clarinet? 00:25:12.600 --> 00:25:13.960 I can still remember 00:25:13.960 --> 00:25:15.400 the seething rage 00:25:15.400 --> 00:25:16.680 that she'd come in 00:25:16.680 --> 00:25:18.519 and taken my place. 00:25:19.259 --> 00:25:19.900 I kind of wanted 00:25:19.900 --> 00:25:21.000 bad things to happen 00:25:21.000 --> 00:25:21.660 like her fingers 00:25:21.660 --> 00:25:22.240 to drop off 00:25:22.240 --> 00:25:22.859 or something 00:25:22.859 --> 00:25:24.160 so that she could 00:25:24.160 --> 00:25:25.220 no longer play clarinet. 00:25:27.460 --> 00:25:28.440 Isn't it sad 00:25:28.440 --> 00:25:29.279 we can be like that 00:25:29.279 --> 00:25:29.819 in church? 00:25:30.799 --> 00:25:32.039 Rather than rejoice 00:25:32.039 --> 00:25:33.000 in someone else, 00:25:34.059 --> 00:25:34.940 we feel threatened. 00:25:36.599 --> 00:25:37.559 We feel angry 00:25:37.559 --> 00:25:38.380 because it threatens 00:25:38.380 --> 00:25:39.640 our sense of identity 00:25:39.640 --> 00:25:40.019 and we're like, 00:25:40.339 --> 00:25:41.460 no, this is my role, 00:25:41.500 --> 00:25:42.440 this is what I do. 00:25:43.819 --> 00:25:44.519 Rather than saying, 00:25:44.579 --> 00:25:45.480 no, we come to serve. 00:25:45.480 --> 00:25:50.860 And Jesus, 00:25:51.059 --> 00:25:52.319 as he asks this question, 00:25:52.460 --> 00:25:53.000 what do you want 00:25:53.000 --> 00:25:53.779 me to do for you? 00:25:54.039 --> 00:25:55.039 Perhaps the deepest, 00:25:55.299 --> 00:25:55.960 honest answer 00:25:55.960 --> 00:25:57.079 of our hearts is, 00:25:58.079 --> 00:25:59.019 Jesus, I want glory. 00:26:00.099 --> 00:26:01.380 I want you to make me great. 00:26:02.039 --> 00:26:02.599 I want you to fix 00:26:02.599 --> 00:26:03.299 all my problems. 00:26:03.759 --> 00:26:04.279 I want you to sort 00:26:04.279 --> 00:26:04.940 my life out. 00:26:05.420 --> 00:26:06.019 I want you to make sure 00:26:06.019 --> 00:26:07.400 that I get what I want. 00:26:07.400 --> 00:26:11.240 Do you know, 00:26:11.300 --> 00:26:11.800 when Jesus, 00:26:12.600 --> 00:26:14.660 if you are someone 00:26:14.660 --> 00:26:15.920 who finds yourself 00:26:15.920 --> 00:26:16.780 wanting to push 00:26:16.780 --> 00:26:17.759 to the front of the queue, 00:26:20.340 --> 00:26:21.600 what Jesus comes to you, 00:26:21.680 --> 00:26:21.980 he says, 00:26:22.320 --> 00:26:22.660 gently, 00:26:22.820 --> 00:26:23.580 he says to you, 00:26:24.580 --> 00:26:25.500 you need to learn 00:26:25.500 --> 00:26:26.240 to go to the back. 00:26:26.980 --> 00:26:27.860 Go to the back 00:26:27.860 --> 00:26:28.300 of the queue. 00:26:28.299 --> 00:26:31.659 Go to the back 00:26:31.659 --> 00:26:32.259 of the queue 00:26:32.259 --> 00:26:34.259 and learn to serve. 00:26:35.899 --> 00:26:37.099 And here's the weird thing, 00:26:37.259 --> 00:26:37.440 right? 00:26:38.159 --> 00:26:39.159 The weird thing is 00:26:39.159 --> 00:26:40.159 that the back of the queue 00:26:40.159 --> 00:26:41.399 is where freedom is found. 00:26:42.559 --> 00:26:43.440 Everybody thinks 00:26:43.440 --> 00:26:44.240 that to be at the front 00:26:44.240 --> 00:26:45.059 of the queue is freedom. 00:26:45.240 --> 00:26:46.139 I just want to be at the front. 00:26:46.240 --> 00:26:46.940 I want to be at the front. 00:26:47.019 --> 00:26:47.700 I want to be at the front. 00:26:47.899 --> 00:26:48.819 The front of the queue 00:26:48.819 --> 00:26:49.899 is not freedom. 00:26:50.619 --> 00:26:51.480 The front of the queue 00:26:51.480 --> 00:26:52.279 is slavery 00:26:52.279 --> 00:26:53.539 because you are stressed 00:26:53.539 --> 00:26:54.359 all the time 00:26:54.359 --> 00:26:54.919 that one day 00:26:54.919 --> 00:26:55.720 Carola is going to 00:26:55.720 --> 00:26:56.579 walk into your life 00:26:56.579 --> 00:26:56.980 and is going to 00:26:56.980 --> 00:26:57.680 take your place. 00:26:58.639 --> 00:26:59.639 The front of the queue 00:26:59.639 --> 00:27:00.119 is the place 00:27:00.119 --> 00:27:01.000 where you feel alone 00:27:01.000 --> 00:27:01.659 because you've had to 00:27:01.659 --> 00:27:02.159 push everyone 00:27:02.159 --> 00:27:03.680 out of your way 00:27:03.680 --> 00:27:04.680 to get to the front. 00:27:05.099 --> 00:27:05.980 The front of the queue 00:27:05.980 --> 00:27:06.799 is a slavery 00:27:06.799 --> 00:27:08.099 that you have to keep 00:27:08.099 --> 00:27:09.319 working to maintain 00:27:09.319 --> 00:27:10.019 your position 00:27:10.019 --> 00:27:11.039 and to not lose 00:27:11.039 --> 00:27:11.740 who you are. 00:27:11.960 --> 00:27:12.659 I want glory. 00:27:12.740 --> 00:27:13.399 I want glory. 00:27:13.500 --> 00:27:14.039 I want glory. 00:27:14.119 --> 00:27:14.720 And you'll never 00:27:14.720 --> 00:27:15.440 get to the front. 00:27:16.200 --> 00:27:17.200 The great irony 00:27:17.200 --> 00:27:18.619 that Jesus knows 00:27:18.619 --> 00:27:19.519 and what he shows us 00:27:19.519 --> 00:27:20.220 through his gospel 00:27:20.220 --> 00:27:21.059 is that freedom 00:27:21.059 --> 00:27:22.180 is found at the back 00:27:22.180 --> 00:27:23.339 when you go to the back 00:27:23.339 --> 00:27:24.220 and you serve others 00:27:24.220 --> 00:27:24.639 and you say, 00:27:24.839 --> 00:27:26.279 what do you want me 00:27:26.279 --> 00:27:26.859 to do for you? 00:27:28.299 --> 00:27:31.519 Jesus is the most 00:27:31.519 --> 00:27:32.639 free human being 00:27:32.639 --> 00:27:33.579 who's ever lived 00:27:33.579 --> 00:27:34.659 because he was not 00:27:34.659 --> 00:27:35.619 interested in getting 00:27:35.619 --> 00:27:36.359 to the front. 00:27:36.539 --> 00:27:37.619 He constantly went 00:27:37.619 --> 00:27:38.460 to the back to serve. 00:27:39.519 --> 00:27:40.960 He was so free. 00:27:43.059 --> 00:27:43.940 This is freedom. 00:27:43.940 --> 00:27:50.160 But it may be 00:27:50.160 --> 00:27:51.980 that some of you 00:27:51.980 --> 00:27:52.600 sitting here 00:27:52.600 --> 00:27:53.920 are thinking, 00:27:54.320 --> 00:27:55.059 huh, 00:27:55.380 --> 00:27:57.080 I just feel rubbish. 00:27:59.220 --> 00:28:00.240 I gave up 00:28:00.240 --> 00:28:00.880 trying to be the front 00:28:00.880 --> 00:28:01.200 of the queue 00:28:01.200 --> 00:28:01.900 a long time ago. 00:28:02.900 --> 00:28:04.180 I feel like I've got nothing. 00:28:04.279 --> 00:28:05.200 I feel like I'm useless. 00:28:05.380 --> 00:28:06.120 I feel like I'm 00:28:06.120 --> 00:28:09.160 I've got nothing to offer. 00:28:09.160 --> 00:28:09.560 Well, 00:28:11.680 --> 00:28:12.660 here's why Mark 00:28:12.660 --> 00:28:14.340 puts this story next. 00:28:15.320 --> 00:28:16.440 Because look what happens next. 00:28:17.140 --> 00:28:18.060 Just after we've had 00:28:18.060 --> 00:28:18.660 this discussion 00:28:18.660 --> 00:28:19.300 around greatness 00:28:19.300 --> 00:28:20.300 and pushing to the front 00:28:20.300 --> 00:28:21.259 and trying to get 00:28:21.259 --> 00:28:21.840 to the front, 00:28:22.140 --> 00:28:23.060 look what happens next. 00:28:23.940 --> 00:28:25.160 They come to Derrick Jericho. 00:28:26.540 --> 00:28:27.700 As Jesus and his disciples 00:28:27.700 --> 00:28:28.960 together with a large crowd 00:28:28.960 --> 00:28:29.740 were leaving the city, 00:28:29.820 --> 00:28:30.480 a blind man, 00:28:30.640 --> 00:28:31.320 Bartimaeus, 00:28:31.400 --> 00:28:32.460 which means son of Timaeus, 00:28:32.500 --> 00:28:33.600 was sitting by the roadside 00:28:33.600 --> 00:28:34.500 begging. 00:28:34.500 --> 00:28:36.680 It would be hard 00:28:36.680 --> 00:28:37.700 to imagine someone 00:28:37.700 --> 00:28:38.980 more at the back 00:28:38.980 --> 00:28:39.660 of the queue 00:28:39.660 --> 00:28:40.920 than Bartimaeus. 00:28:41.940 --> 00:28:42.660 James and John, 00:28:42.740 --> 00:28:43.599 we want to be at the front. 00:28:43.980 --> 00:28:44.759 Here is Bartimaeus 00:28:44.759 --> 00:28:45.420 who's at the back. 00:28:46.460 --> 00:28:47.140 He's begging. 00:28:47.779 --> 00:28:48.920 He's sitting by the roadside. 00:28:49.000 --> 00:28:49.799 He's got nothing. 00:28:49.940 --> 00:28:50.660 He's utterly, 00:28:50.900 --> 00:28:51.579 utterly dependent 00:28:51.579 --> 00:28:52.140 on others. 00:28:52.440 --> 00:28:53.519 He's got nothing to offer. 00:28:54.559 --> 00:28:55.420 He's just begging 00:28:55.420 --> 00:28:55.980 from others. 00:28:58.940 --> 00:28:59.539 Now he heard 00:28:59.539 --> 00:29:00.420 that Jesus of Nazareth 00:29:00.420 --> 00:29:01.200 was coming by. 00:29:03.420 --> 00:29:04.259 Maybe he'd heard 00:29:04.259 --> 00:29:05.539 some rumors about Jesus 00:29:05.539 --> 00:29:07.059 and something within him 00:29:07.059 --> 00:29:07.799 welled up 00:29:07.799 --> 00:29:08.779 and he began to think, 00:29:08.920 --> 00:29:09.420 what if, 00:29:09.539 --> 00:29:10.819 what if this Jesus 00:29:10.819 --> 00:29:12.220 might help me? 00:29:12.460 --> 00:29:13.019 And so he begins 00:29:13.019 --> 00:29:13.759 to cry out. 00:29:13.879 --> 00:29:14.559 Can you picture him 00:29:14.559 --> 00:29:15.599 like just crying out? 00:29:15.640 --> 00:29:16.099 He doesn't know. 00:29:16.220 --> 00:29:16.720 He's blind. 00:29:16.859 --> 00:29:18.259 He can't see where Jesus is. 00:29:18.319 --> 00:29:19.279 He's crying out. 00:29:19.680 --> 00:29:20.000 Jesus, 00:29:20.279 --> 00:29:21.480 son of David, 00:29:21.619 --> 00:29:22.980 have mercy on me. 00:29:25.000 --> 00:29:26.019 What did the crowd say? 00:29:28.019 --> 00:29:28.539 I'd say, 00:29:28.599 --> 00:29:28.940 shut up, 00:29:29.200 --> 00:29:29.680 Bartimaeus. 00:29:30.319 --> 00:29:30.980 You're the back 00:29:30.980 --> 00:29:31.379 of the queue. 00:29:32.339 --> 00:29:32.819 There are a lot 00:29:32.819 --> 00:29:33.660 of people ahead of you. 00:29:33.660 --> 00:29:34.300 There are a lot 00:29:34.300 --> 00:29:35.100 of people who have 00:29:35.100 --> 00:29:36.720 more demand 00:29:36.720 --> 00:29:37.240 on Jesus 00:29:37.240 --> 00:29:37.800 than you do. 00:29:38.180 --> 00:29:38.620 Bartimaeus, 00:29:38.660 --> 00:29:39.519 you need to be quiet. 00:29:41.680 --> 00:29:42.940 But he just keeps 00:29:42.940 --> 00:29:43.500 shouting, 00:29:44.180 --> 00:29:45.400 I love it. 00:29:46.960 --> 00:29:47.400 Jesus, 00:29:47.720 --> 00:29:48.420 son of David, 00:29:48.500 --> 00:29:49.940 have mercy on me. 00:29:51.259 --> 00:29:52.120 He's crying 00:29:52.120 --> 00:29:52.940 for mercy. 00:29:55.200 --> 00:29:56.160 He's not asking 00:29:56.160 --> 00:29:56.880 for glory. 00:29:56.880 --> 00:30:00.700 He is a blind beggar 00:30:00.700 --> 00:30:01.940 who is desperately 00:30:01.940 --> 00:30:02.980 in need 00:30:02.980 --> 00:30:04.040 of mercy. 00:30:07.440 --> 00:30:08.560 And then come 00:30:08.560 --> 00:30:09.880 my two favorite words 00:30:09.880 --> 00:30:10.460 in the whole 00:30:10.460 --> 00:30:11.100 of Mark's gospel. 00:30:13.740 --> 00:30:15.400 My two favorite words. 00:30:17.460 --> 00:30:18.700 Look at the first two words 00:30:18.700 --> 00:30:19.540 of verse 49. 00:30:19.539 --> 00:30:21.899 Jesus, 00:30:22.899 --> 00:30:23.839 stop. 00:30:28.500 --> 00:30:28.899 Remember, 00:30:29.019 --> 00:30:30.119 Jesus is on his way 00:30:30.119 --> 00:30:31.180 to die on a cross 00:30:31.180 --> 00:30:32.940 to save the universe. 00:30:34.539 --> 00:30:35.960 The eternal son of God, 00:30:36.019 --> 00:30:36.639 the son of man, 00:30:36.680 --> 00:30:37.039 who's worthy 00:30:37.039 --> 00:30:37.859 of all worship 00:30:37.859 --> 00:30:38.920 and all honor 00:30:38.920 --> 00:30:39.799 and all glory. 00:30:39.940 --> 00:30:40.920 He's going to a cross 00:30:40.920 --> 00:30:41.399 to die, 00:30:41.480 --> 00:30:42.319 then he'll rise again, 00:30:42.359 --> 00:30:43.220 he'll return to glory. 00:30:43.220 --> 00:30:44.720 What could possibly 00:30:44.720 --> 00:30:45.660 be important enough 00:30:45.660 --> 00:30:46.640 to make Jesus 00:30:46.640 --> 00:30:48.460 stop on his great 00:30:48.460 --> 00:30:49.740 eternal divine mission? 00:30:50.059 --> 00:30:50.920 What could possibly 00:30:50.920 --> 00:30:51.579 make him stop? 00:30:51.700 --> 00:30:51.839 I mean, 00:30:51.860 --> 00:30:52.779 it must be something 00:30:52.779 --> 00:30:54.279 incredibly important. 00:30:54.440 --> 00:30:55.160 It must be something 00:30:55.160 --> 00:30:56.579 incredibly significant. 00:30:57.059 --> 00:30:57.660 What is it? 00:31:00.420 --> 00:31:01.220 It's a blind beggar 00:31:01.220 --> 00:31:02.160 called Bartimaeus. 00:31:05.440 --> 00:31:06.980 Do you not see? 00:31:08.259 --> 00:31:10.079 Jesus stops 00:31:10.079 --> 00:31:11.819 for blind 00:31:11.819 --> 00:31:13.279 beggars. 00:31:16.559 --> 00:31:17.599 That's our Jesus. 00:31:18.679 --> 00:31:19.879 That's his heart. 00:31:20.240 --> 00:31:21.460 That's how he loves. 00:31:24.799 --> 00:31:25.960 He's not interested 00:31:25.960 --> 00:31:27.700 in the powerful 00:31:27.700 --> 00:31:28.519 and the rich 00:31:28.519 --> 00:31:29.460 and the influencers 00:31:29.460 --> 00:31:30.679 and the celebrity. 00:31:30.980 --> 00:31:31.519 He stops 00:31:31.519 --> 00:31:32.460 for blind beggars 00:31:32.460 --> 00:31:33.399 who've got nothing 00:31:33.399 --> 00:31:34.139 to offer him. 00:31:37.279 --> 00:31:38.119 And he says, 00:31:38.240 --> 00:31:38.679 call him. 00:31:40.359 --> 00:31:41.220 So they call 00:31:41.220 --> 00:31:41.900 to the blind man, 00:31:42.019 --> 00:31:42.519 cheer up. 00:31:43.019 --> 00:31:43.860 On your feet, 00:31:43.920 --> 00:31:44.660 he's calling you. 00:31:45.960 --> 00:31:47.079 Throwing his cloak aside, 00:31:47.180 --> 00:31:48.039 he jumped to his feet 00:31:48.039 --> 00:31:49.279 and he came to Jesus. 00:31:51.660 --> 00:31:52.400 And then we get 00:31:52.400 --> 00:31:52.900 our question. 00:31:54.640 --> 00:31:56.100 What do you want me 00:31:56.100 --> 00:31:57.759 to do for you? 00:31:57.759 --> 00:32:02.119 I mean, it's strange, right? 00:32:02.160 --> 00:32:03.420 Because Bartimaeus 00:32:03.420 --> 00:32:03.920 is blind. 00:32:04.500 --> 00:32:05.180 It's obvious 00:32:05.180 --> 00:32:05.720 what Jesus 00:32:05.720 --> 00:32:07.779 needs to do for him. 00:32:09.019 --> 00:32:10.200 But Jesus treats him 00:32:10.200 --> 00:32:11.079 with such dignity 00:32:11.079 --> 00:32:11.740 and respect. 00:32:11.839 --> 00:32:12.220 He doesn't go, 00:32:12.319 --> 00:32:12.740 oh, you're blind, 00:32:12.839 --> 00:32:13.480 fine, I'll heal you 00:32:13.480 --> 00:32:14.059 and off he goes. 00:32:14.480 --> 00:32:15.460 Instead, he treats him 00:32:15.460 --> 00:32:16.400 with such respect. 00:32:16.539 --> 00:32:16.879 He says, 00:32:17.140 --> 00:32:18.359 what do you want me 00:32:18.359 --> 00:32:18.960 to do for you? 00:32:20.240 --> 00:32:21.379 What is the cry 00:32:21.379 --> 00:32:22.259 of your heart? 00:32:22.259 --> 00:32:27.299 And this blind man 00:32:27.299 --> 00:32:28.779 simply says, 00:32:28.900 --> 00:32:29.180 Rabbi, 00:32:29.180 --> 00:32:32.220 I want to see. 00:32:34.319 --> 00:32:35.379 It's a cry 00:32:35.379 --> 00:32:36.579 of desperate need. 00:32:36.740 --> 00:32:37.339 It's a cry 00:32:37.339 --> 00:32:38.140 for mercy. 00:32:40.700 --> 00:32:41.960 And Jesus says, 00:32:42.379 --> 00:32:43.440 go, 00:32:43.559 --> 00:32:44.059 your faith 00:32:44.059 --> 00:32:44.640 has healed you. 00:32:46.759 --> 00:32:47.640 And immediately 00:32:47.640 --> 00:32:48.339 the man follows 00:32:48.339 --> 00:32:49.720 Jesus along the road. 00:32:49.720 --> 00:32:53.519 You see, 00:32:53.620 --> 00:32:54.480 if the people 00:32:54.480 --> 00:32:54.940 who want to be 00:32:54.940 --> 00:32:55.779 at the front of the queue, 00:32:55.920 --> 00:32:56.380 Jesus says, 00:32:56.460 --> 00:32:57.019 you need to learn 00:32:57.019 --> 00:32:57.799 to go to the back. 00:32:58.079 --> 00:32:59.200 What does people say, 00:32:59.299 --> 00:33:00.160 what does Jesus say 00:33:00.160 --> 00:33:00.680 to the people 00:33:00.680 --> 00:33:01.600 at the back of the queue? 00:33:03.220 --> 00:33:04.059 He says to them, 00:33:04.140 --> 00:33:04.799 come to the front. 00:33:06.539 --> 00:33:07.579 Come to the front 00:33:07.579 --> 00:33:08.860 and let me show you mercy. 00:33:10.420 --> 00:33:11.440 Come to the front 00:33:11.440 --> 00:33:13.440 and let me heal you. 00:33:13.440 --> 00:33:14.420 Come to the front 00:33:14.420 --> 00:33:16.539 and let me restore you. 00:33:19.720 --> 00:33:20.920 And so if you're sitting here 00:33:20.920 --> 00:33:22.079 in church this morning 00:33:22.079 --> 00:33:24.620 and you can identify 00:33:24.620 --> 00:33:26.079 with blind Bartimaeus, 00:33:26.220 --> 00:33:27.339 you feel like you're someone 00:33:27.339 --> 00:33:28.660 who has nothing to offer. 00:33:29.940 --> 00:33:31.100 You feel like you've made 00:33:31.100 --> 00:33:33.140 a complete disaster 00:33:33.140 --> 00:33:33.960 of your life. 00:33:36.180 --> 00:33:37.360 You're not impressive. 00:33:37.839 --> 00:33:38.960 No one notices you. 00:33:39.220 --> 00:33:39.900 No one seems 00:33:39.900 --> 00:33:41.019 to be bothered about you. 00:33:41.240 --> 00:33:42.400 No one really cares. 00:33:42.680 --> 00:33:43.259 You have things 00:33:43.259 --> 00:33:43.920 in your life 00:33:43.920 --> 00:33:45.420 that you feel ashamed of 00:33:45.420 --> 00:33:46.100 in the past. 00:33:46.440 --> 00:33:47.160 Things that you know 00:33:47.160 --> 00:33:47.660 you've done. 00:33:47.980 --> 00:33:48.740 Things that you think 00:33:48.740 --> 00:33:49.700 disqualify you. 00:33:49.920 --> 00:33:51.500 Things that keep you away. 00:33:54.700 --> 00:33:55.500 Is that you? 00:33:57.839 --> 00:33:59.319 Because if you find yourself 00:33:59.319 --> 00:34:01.400 sitting at the back 00:34:01.400 --> 00:34:02.100 of the queue, 00:34:02.900 --> 00:34:03.860 I want you to know 00:34:03.860 --> 00:34:04.360 this morning 00:34:04.360 --> 00:34:06.220 that Jesus stops 00:34:06.220 --> 00:34:07.339 for people like you. 00:34:09.260 --> 00:34:10.340 And he comes to you 00:34:10.340 --> 00:34:11.519 in your desperate need 00:34:11.519 --> 00:34:12.519 and in your weakness 00:34:12.519 --> 00:34:13.539 and in your frailty 00:34:13.539 --> 00:34:14.599 and in your sin. 00:34:14.840 --> 00:34:15.320 And he says, 00:34:15.500 --> 00:34:16.300 what do you want me 00:34:16.300 --> 00:34:17.019 to do for you? 00:34:17.179 --> 00:34:18.659 And if you can cry to him, 00:34:18.779 --> 00:34:19.059 Lord, 00:34:19.339 --> 00:34:20.460 please show me mercy. 00:34:20.599 --> 00:34:21.659 I want to see you. 00:34:24.839 --> 00:34:27.119 With the biggest smile 00:34:27.119 --> 00:34:29.119 and the widest arms, 00:34:29.319 --> 00:34:30.279 Jesus will say, 00:34:31.339 --> 00:34:31.839 yes. 00:34:34.440 --> 00:34:34.920 Yes. 00:34:35.699 --> 00:34:36.199 Come. 00:34:36.500 --> 00:34:36.859 Come. 00:34:37.079 --> 00:34:38.159 Come to the front 00:34:38.159 --> 00:34:39.839 and receive mercy 00:34:39.839 --> 00:34:40.420 from Jesus. 00:34:40.819 --> 00:34:41.219 Come. 00:34:41.219 --> 00:34:41.279 Come. 00:34:41.280 --> 00:34:41.380 Come. 00:34:43.880 --> 00:34:44.240 Come. 00:34:44.240 --> 00:34:44.560 That 00:34:44.560 --> 00:34:47.080 is the beautiful 00:34:47.080 --> 00:34:47.980 gospel of Jesus. 00:34:47.980 --> 00:34:48.179 Jesus. 00:34:50.780 --> 00:34:51.880 And so here is Jesus. 00:34:53.380 --> 00:34:54.159 And this morning, 00:34:54.219 --> 00:34:54.579 he says, 00:34:54.699 --> 00:34:55.679 what do you want me 00:34:55.679 --> 00:34:56.559 to do for you? 00:34:58.019 --> 00:34:59.059 If the honest cry 00:34:59.059 --> 00:34:59.500 of your heart 00:34:59.500 --> 00:34:59.679 is, 00:34:59.960 --> 00:35:00.139 Jesus, 00:35:00.240 --> 00:35:01.119 I want to be first, 00:35:01.400 --> 00:35:01.780 he says, 00:35:01.820 --> 00:35:02.360 go to the back 00:35:02.360 --> 00:35:02.740 of the queue. 00:35:05.300 --> 00:35:06.159 But if this morning, 00:35:06.240 --> 00:35:06.760 the honest cry 00:35:06.760 --> 00:35:07.280 of your heart 00:35:07.280 --> 00:35:07.500 is, 00:35:07.599 --> 00:35:07.760 Jesus, 00:35:07.860 --> 00:35:08.639 I've got nothing, 00:35:09.940 --> 00:35:10.519 he says, 00:35:10.579 --> 00:35:11.039 come to me. 00:35:11.699 --> 00:35:12.380 Come to the front. 00:35:12.380 --> 00:35:16.099 Do you know what I've 00:35:16.099 --> 00:35:17.740 experienced as I've 00:35:17.740 --> 00:35:18.720 lived the Christian 00:35:18.720 --> 00:35:18.960 life? 00:35:19.019 --> 00:35:19.559 What I find 00:35:19.559 --> 00:35:23.119 is there are times 00:35:23.119 --> 00:35:24.320 when I'm proud 00:35:24.320 --> 00:35:25.840 and he says, 00:35:25.920 --> 00:35:26.579 go to the back 00:35:26.579 --> 00:35:28.140 and he humbles me 00:35:28.140 --> 00:35:28.700 and I'm humbled 00:35:28.700 --> 00:35:29.360 and then I feel 00:35:29.360 --> 00:35:30.000 rubbish and I feel 00:35:30.000 --> 00:35:30.400 broken. 00:35:30.660 --> 00:35:30.940 He said, 00:35:31.039 --> 00:35:31.660 and I cry to him 00:35:31.660 --> 00:35:32.039 for mercy. 00:35:32.140 --> 00:35:32.280 He says, 00:35:32.300 --> 00:35:32.400 yeah, 00:35:32.440 --> 00:35:33.000 come to the front. 00:35:33.680 --> 00:35:34.400 And then I begin 00:35:34.400 --> 00:35:34.980 to get proud. 00:35:35.079 --> 00:35:35.200 He says, 00:35:35.260 --> 00:35:35.619 go to the back 00:35:35.619 --> 00:35:35.820 again. 00:35:37.660 --> 00:35:38.440 And the Christian 00:35:38.440 --> 00:35:39.320 life is a sort 00:35:39.320 --> 00:35:39.960 of experience 00:35:39.960 --> 00:35:41.360 of learning to live 00:35:41.360 --> 00:35:42.039 in this 00:35:42.039 --> 00:35:42.940 reality. 00:35:46.300 --> 00:35:47.340 Fighting pride 00:35:47.340 --> 00:35:47.980 by going to the 00:35:47.980 --> 00:35:48.719 back and serving 00:35:48.719 --> 00:35:49.719 and then receiving 00:35:49.719 --> 00:35:50.800 mercy as you come 00:35:50.800 --> 00:35:51.639 to Jesus at the 00:35:51.639 --> 00:35:52.300 front and then 00:35:52.300 --> 00:35:53.759 it's that. 00:35:56.380 --> 00:35:57.420 So here is Jesus. 00:35:58.480 --> 00:35:59.320 I think he's 00:35:59.320 --> 00:35:59.739 spectacular. 00:36:01.119 --> 00:36:01.920 I think he's 00:36:01.920 --> 00:36:02.440 magnificent. 00:36:02.719 --> 00:36:03.239 I think he's 00:36:03.239 --> 00:36:04.300 worthy of worship 00:36:04.300 --> 00:36:05.039 this morning. 00:36:07.900 --> 00:36:08.699 Because he says, 00:36:08.800 --> 00:36:09.340 what do you want 00:36:09.340 --> 00:36:10.119 me to do for you? 00:36:12.380 --> 00:36:13.019 Let's just take a 00:36:13.019 --> 00:36:14.199 moment as we 00:36:14.199 --> 00:36:14.460 finish. 00:36:14.539 --> 00:36:14.980 Just take a 00:36:14.980 --> 00:36:15.679 moment of quiet. 00:36:15.800 --> 00:36:16.619 Let's just think. 00:36:17.639 --> 00:36:19.139 As Jesus asks that 00:36:19.139 --> 00:36:19.599 question, 00:36:19.779 --> 00:36:20.579 what do you want 00:36:20.579 --> 00:36:21.579 me to do for you? 00:36:24.739 --> 00:36:25.599 Do you feel him 00:36:25.599 --> 00:36:26.019 saying, 00:36:26.440 --> 00:36:27.860 you need to be 00:36:27.860 --> 00:36:28.119 humbled, 00:36:28.219 --> 00:36:28.800 you need to go to 00:36:28.800 --> 00:36:29.659 the back and serve 00:36:29.659 --> 00:36:30.619 others rather than 00:36:30.619 --> 00:36:31.579 being about yourself? 00:36:31.579 --> 00:36:34.360 Or perhaps you hear 00:36:34.360 --> 00:36:34.880 him saying, 00:36:35.500 --> 00:36:36.940 let me show you 00:36:36.940 --> 00:36:37.279 mercy, 00:36:37.759 --> 00:36:38.799 let me restore you, 00:36:38.940 --> 00:36:39.840 let me forgive you, 00:36:39.980 --> 00:36:40.840 let me heal you this 00:36:40.840 --> 00:36:41.099 morning. 00:36:42.539 --> 00:36:43.440 Take a moment just 00:36:43.440 --> 00:36:43.779 to pray. 00:36:43.780 --> 00:37:11.380 Lord Jesus, 00:37:11.380 --> 00:37:12.380 we worship you. 00:37:13.380 --> 00:37:14.579 We worship you as 00:37:14.579 --> 00:37:17.680 the son of man in 00:37:17.680 --> 00:37:21.119 magnificent glory who 00:37:21.119 --> 00:37:22.380 came to serve. 00:37:23.380 --> 00:37:25.240 We went not just to 00:37:25.240 --> 00:37:26.119 the back of the queue, 00:37:26.220 --> 00:37:26.920 but to the very 00:37:26.920 --> 00:37:29.059 lowest of places at 00:37:29.059 --> 00:37:29.559 the cross. 00:37:32.360 --> 00:37:33.960 And we ask today that 00:37:33.960 --> 00:37:34.720 we would hear your 00:37:34.720 --> 00:37:35.039 voice. 00:37:35.140 --> 00:37:37.380 We ask today that you 00:37:37.380 --> 00:37:38.260 would help us to 00:37:38.260 --> 00:37:39.460 learn to serve. 00:37:41.079 --> 00:37:42.059 That we would not 00:37:42.059 --> 00:37:43.260 seek our own honor 00:37:43.260 --> 00:37:44.960 and glory or comfort, 00:37:45.500 --> 00:37:47.039 but that we learn to 00:37:47.039 --> 00:37:47.740 serve one another. 00:37:48.240 --> 00:37:49.500 I really pray that 00:37:49.500 --> 00:37:50.539 this church family 00:37:50.539 --> 00:37:51.440 would be a church 00:37:51.440 --> 00:37:52.599 full of people who 00:37:52.599 --> 00:37:53.400 want to serve each 00:37:53.400 --> 00:37:53.660 other. 00:37:54.760 --> 00:37:55.180 Lord, 00:37:55.200 --> 00:37:55.960 I pray that this 00:37:55.960 --> 00:37:57.860 merger with Redeemer 00:37:57.860 --> 00:37:58.619 Queens Park, 00:37:58.680 --> 00:37:58.760 Lord, 00:37:58.780 --> 00:37:59.539 that's going to take a 00:37:59.539 --> 00:38:00.460 lot of serving one 00:38:00.460 --> 00:38:00.720 another. 00:38:01.099 --> 00:38:02.160 And we pray for that 00:38:02.160 --> 00:38:02.619 heart. 00:38:02.760 --> 00:38:03.760 We pray for that 00:38:03.760 --> 00:38:05.519 attitude of Jesus. 00:38:05.519 --> 00:38:09.820 And Lord, 00:38:09.880 --> 00:38:10.539 for those of us who 00:38:10.539 --> 00:38:11.280 just feel broken, 00:38:11.460 --> 00:38:12.079 for those of us who 00:38:12.079 --> 00:38:13.079 just feel worthless 00:38:13.079 --> 00:38:14.500 and like we have 00:38:14.500 --> 00:38:15.280 nothing to offer, 00:38:16.460 --> 00:38:17.420 pray this morning we 00:38:17.420 --> 00:38:18.659 would hear the great 00:38:18.659 --> 00:38:20.280 beautiful invitation of 00:38:20.280 --> 00:38:22.300 Jesus to come 00:38:22.300 --> 00:38:23.179 and receive mercy. 00:38:25.099 --> 00:38:25.500 Lord, 00:38:25.559 --> 00:38:26.159 we pray to you. 00:38:26.500 --> 00:38:26.759 Amen.