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?
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.
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.
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