Serving the Saviour - Studies in the Gospel of Mark - 8
The Servant's Values
This time we are studying Marks Gospel chapter 10. The theme of the Gospel is Jesus Christ the servant of the Lord. We see in Jesus what the servant of the Lord is, and how he lives. In chapter 10 we see the values God's servant holds.
Verses 1 to 12 teach us the value God's servant places on marriage. The Pharisees ask Jesus a question about marriage and divorce. They say in verse 2, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?". The Lord replies in verse 3, ".. what did Moses command you?" Their reply is in verse 4: "Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away". Their question began from the wrong starting point. Jesus reminds them of the purpose of marriage. He says in verses 5 to 7, "It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law. but at the beginning of creation God made them male and female. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife and they two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two but one. Therefore, what God has joined together, let man not separate". It involves a man and woman, committing themselves to one another forever until death.
Clearly marriage is for life. Divorce is not part of the divine ideal. It is only permitted as a last resort when every attempt at reconciliation has been made. It is only permissible on the grounds of adultery by one of the partners. The lesson is clear: the servant of God should hold a high view of marriage. We who serve God must maintain God's standards.
The servant of God will support family life. We read in verse 13, "People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them." It is the responsibility of parents to bring their children to Jesus. You can do this by praying for them; bringing them - not sending them - to church. Be an example to them. Jesus loves families and he has a special place for children. We read in verse 13, "The disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this he was indignant. He said to them, 'Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them'".
Children are an illustration of salvation. Jesus said in verse 15, "Anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it". A child is dependent. To be saved you must depend solely on Christ and his finished work on the cross. .A child is trusting and looks to his parents for all his needs. To be saved you must trust Jesus Christ and look to Him to have your sins forgiven. God's forgiveness is your greatest need. A child believes what his parents tell him. So you must believe the claims of Christ that he is the Saviour of sinners and ask Him to save you.
The servant of God has a proper view of discipleship. In verses 17 to 31 we read of the rich young ruler. He had a question for the Lord Jesus. He asks in verse 17, "Good teacher what must I do to inherit eternal life?". Jesus challenges him about keeping the law, but the young man tell him that he's done this from his youth. Jesus says to him in verse 21 "One thing you lack go, sell everything you have and give to the poor". The young man went away sorrowful. He would not let go of his material possessions.
Materialism and the desire for riches are a big stumblingblock to committed discipleship. Jesus said in verse 25, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God". Why is that? Well, riches give a false sense of security. Everything appears all right. But it is a deception. Riches can be lost overnight. Then you are left with just your soul. God said to another foolish man in Luke 12 verse 20, "You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you." The secret of effective service for God is to have a loose grip on material things. Peter said in Mark 10 verse 28, "We have left all to follow you". Yet, God's servants do not lose out. Jesus promised in verses 29 and 30, "No-one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the Gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age".
The work of Christ on the cross should be central to the thinking of God's servants. We must have a sense of its glory. The disciples were afraid as Jesus led them on their journey to Jerusalem. Jesus knew this. We read in verse 32, "Again he took the twelve disciples aside and told them what was going to happen to Him. The Son of man will be betrayed to the chief priests, they will condemn him to death." As God's servants we emphasise the necessity of Christ's death in our witness for Him. It should be a source of joy and bring a sense of victory as we serve Him.
In verses 35 to 45 the disciples learn a lesson in servanthood. James and John approach Jesus with a request. We read in verse 37, "Let us sit one on your right and the other on your left in your glory''. They missed the way of true greatness. True greatness is found in suffering for Christ and serving one another in love.
The servant of God must not be self-seeking, but God glorifying in his life, Christ asked them in verse 38, "Can you drink the cup drink, or be baptised with the baptism I am baptised with?" The cup he spoke about is the cup of suffering, and the baptism is the baptism of suffering. Jesus identifies greatness for us in verse 43. He says, "Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant." We are to follow His example. He said in verse 45, "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many." Why do you want to serve God? I trust it is not for selfish gain. I trust you serve him so that your life is a blessing to others.
Chapter 10 closes with the account of the healing of blind Bartimaeus. Christ the servant of the Lord shows once again his concern for the needy. We read in verse 47 that Bartimaeus cried out, "Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me!". Jesus will always respond positively to our cry for help whoever we are, no matter what our situation is. After he had been brought to Jesus, the Saviour said, in verse 52, "Go ... your faith has healed you". He went away seeing. Faith always brings sight, salvation and fellowship.
May the Lord enable us to be his servants showing his values in a sinful world.