Mark 10
January Memory Verse: Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. Mark 8:34 (NIV)
Read: Mark 10
I hope you’ve had a good week! Friday’s are great days… they allow us to finish our week well and are the doorway to a time of rest with our friends and families. Let’s get this one started by reading Mark 10 together…
Where do I begin to address this passage in my few allotted words? Today’s reading contains:
Strong teaching by Jesus on divorce and the value of marriage (1-12)
The value of children and their heart (13-16)
The story of the Rich Young Ruler (17-31)
Clarification of a selfish request by James and John (35-45)
The powerful story of Blind Bartimaeus (46-52)
See why we say Mark is a fast-paced journey through the life of Jesus? That’s just one chapter!
I think I will spend my few words examining our hearts for selfishness and self-centeredness. It seems like those things are the mainstay in many people in the world around us. We see this in politics, we read it abundantly on social media, we har it in our friends and family. Life is about… ME! This is a temptation that all of us feel, but is it of God?
We can learn about this from the lips of the Savior in this story… look at it again – verses 35-45. James and John, two of Jesus’ inner circle, ask a selfish, self-center request of Jesus. Can we have the best seats in heaven?
Why did they think they deserved these? Because they followed Jesus? Because they were close to Him? Or were they just trying to get there first? This of course did not sit well with the rest of the disciples. Jesus used this as a teachable moment – a time to teach His men about servant hood and what really matters.
Don’t be like the rulers around you that you resent. They flaunt their power and authority. They use it for their own gain – not for the purpose that it was given to them for – helping others. Be better than that! Be different!
How does this apply to you and your life this Friday morning? Are you scratching and clawing your way up the corporate ladder? Do you live your life like life is about you? Want to take a good look in the mirror today? Take a few minutes and look back through your Instagram and Facebook posts from the last couple of months. What do you see? Are they kind? Other’s focused? Or… are they images of you? Pointing others to Jesus or to you?
Then Jesus continued with His teaching… Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else.
This must have blown their minds kind of like it is yours right now. Jesus said, make your focus being a servant – a slave of others. What would THAT look like today? How would that change the feel at the office? What impact would that make on your roommate? How would that revolutionize your family? Would your parents think you were sick? Would your sister call 911 to come and check you out? Would your kids wonder if you got saved?
Then Jesus hit them with the Big Idea… He said, that’s exactly what I’m doing right now. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Paul said it this way…
Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Philippians 2:3-8
Simple idea, but a challenging task. Be like Jesus today. Put others ahead of yourself. Work on being a servant. You’re never more like Jesus than when you do.
By: Tim Parsons
Read: Mark 10
I hope you’ve had a good week! Friday’s are great days… they allow us to finish our week well and are the doorway to a time of rest with our friends and families. Let’s get this one started by reading Mark 10 together…
Where do I begin to address this passage in my few allotted words? Today’s reading contains:
Strong teaching by Jesus on divorce and the value of marriage (1-12)
The value of children and their heart (13-16)
The story of the Rich Young Ruler (17-31)
Clarification of a selfish request by James and John (35-45)
The powerful story of Blind Bartimaeus (46-52)
See why we say Mark is a fast-paced journey through the life of Jesus? That’s just one chapter!
I think I will spend my few words examining our hearts for selfishness and self-centeredness. It seems like those things are the mainstay in many people in the world around us. We see this in politics, we read it abundantly on social media, we har it in our friends and family. Life is about… ME! This is a temptation that all of us feel, but is it of God?
We can learn about this from the lips of the Savior in this story… look at it again – verses 35-45. James and John, two of Jesus’ inner circle, ask a selfish, self-center request of Jesus. Can we have the best seats in heaven?
Why did they think they deserved these? Because they followed Jesus? Because they were close to Him? Or were they just trying to get there first? This of course did not sit well with the rest of the disciples. Jesus used this as a teachable moment – a time to teach His men about servant hood and what really matters.
Don’t be like the rulers around you that you resent. They flaunt their power and authority. They use it for their own gain – not for the purpose that it was given to them for – helping others. Be better than that! Be different!
How does this apply to you and your life this Friday morning? Are you scratching and clawing your way up the corporate ladder? Do you live your life like life is about you? Want to take a good look in the mirror today? Take a few minutes and look back through your Instagram and Facebook posts from the last couple of months. What do you see? Are they kind? Other’s focused? Or… are they images of you? Pointing others to Jesus or to you?
Then Jesus continued with His teaching… Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else.
This must have blown their minds kind of like it is yours right now. Jesus said, make your focus being a servant – a slave of others. What would THAT look like today? How would that change the feel at the office? What impact would that make on your roommate? How would that revolutionize your family? Would your parents think you were sick? Would your sister call 911 to come and check you out? Would your kids wonder if you got saved?
Then Jesus hit them with the Big Idea… He said, that’s exactly what I’m doing right now. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Paul said it this way…
Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Philippians 2:3-8
Simple idea, but a challenging task. Be like Jesus today. Put others ahead of yourself. Work on being a servant. You’re never more like Jesus than when you do.
By: Tim Parsons
22 Comments
Thank you, Tim. I have always thought getting married shook up my self-centered life and the love for my husband moved my focus outward. And then came our child Wow that REALLY makes you sacrifice self. And we parents love to give to our children. God often speaks in those terms. We are the children to Him.
This passage also reminded me, that even at work, especially if we have been given a position of authority our work and the decisions we make serve those that we supervise. I will keep that in mind today.
Good word Christy & Tim. Fighting selfishness and self centeredness is a constant battle. I have been in sales my entire career and the organizations I have worked for place a high premium on performance and recognition before your peers. I have seen people become obsessed with recognition and destroy their lives in pursuit of money and accolades from others. God calls believers to honor Christ in all areas of our lives including in the marketplace. It’s critical that we succeed with humility and recognize the role others play in our success. Ultimately we need to give praise to God for the gifts we are given and whatever success He allows us to have.
I’ll bet it’s super hard in your line of work. I know you’re a great example to others around you Mike. Keep it up. Praying for a great day!
Thanks Christy! Praying for a good day!!
Great word today Tim! Our church leadership exemplifies this well and has set a good example for us to imitate. This is probably the sin that I struggle with the most.
That’s really encouraging Jordan! Thank you so much! Praying for a good day for you!
(v.22) the rich man was saddened went away grieving.
Jesus exposed this man's heart to himself...but instead of repentance you see worldly grief. He would not acknowledge his sin and repent. And would not submit to his Sovereign Savior.
Friend, there is no sacrifice too high -- this is the test of the heart's affections. Loving Christ first yields all the everlasting benefits and abundant grace that you will ever need.
Thanks for reading and sharing Korbet.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer has an amazing commentary on the rich young ruler in The Cost of Discipleship. After pointing out the ruler’s selfish attitude, Bonhoeffer goes further in saying that this entire conversation is the ruler’s attempt to feel reassured in his disobedience to God’s simple commands.
Bonhoeffer then says, “Doubt and reflection take the place of spontaneous obedience. The grown-up man in his freedom of conscience vaunts his superiority over the child of obedience. But he has acquired the freedom to enjoy moral difficulties only at the cost of renouncing obedience. In short, it is a retreat from the reality of God to the speculations of men, from faith to doubt.”
Thanks Kaylee. Grateful for you and Vince.
I think we are seeing a theme here in the book of Mark. Think of yourself less, and think of others more. To be a leader, you must serve others. To be Christlike, you need to serve those around you. Great words today, Tim! Thanks for this reminder!
I agree Scottie! You model this so well!
The main take away for me in studying Mark is : that I should ask God daily for a continued heart change that will lead to a change in my thoughts and actions!! Asking once is just not enough for our spirit is willing but our flesh is weak.
Right! The power of the Holy Spirit in us is amazing!
Convicting passage and post today. It definitely challenged me to think of practical ways I can start each day focused on Jesus and others.
I’ll be praying for that Emily.
Scottie says exactly what I was thinking...now to be a doer of the Word!!!
Thanks Reva
Some ideas to be selfless are ask others how they are and what they are going through and what they need. And asking God what He wants you to do. I could use prayer for this area please! Lord please give our church the gift of love (selflessness) and help us to see the hope you bring through it amen
Good ideas TK!
Great verse (Mark 10:45). It helps us remember our purpose and mission on earth when we see how Jesus lived his life. We serve our of a love for God and others
Yes! Praying God uses it!