"Exposing Our Motives"

Series: Jesus, the Provocative Teacher

Sunday, August 10, 2008; Mark 9:33-37

Introduction: In the book “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,” by Mark Twain, there is a story where Tom has been told to paint the fence. Like any boy who doesn’t want to work, he does not want to do it. But he knows he has to, so he starts painting. In time some of the other boys come around to see what Tom is doing. Tom acts as if the job is great fun. He tricks other boys into believing this. His trick is so successful that in the end they agree to pay him money to let them finish his work.

This story is well known, and shows how there are some people like Tom Sawyer who can talk others into doing anything; even that which they don’t want to do. But, the truth is, that those who manipulate others in time will have their agenda exposed. But let us not judge Tom Sawyer too harshly, for we all act at times with impure motives. This morning, we will see how Jesus provokes the truth out of His followers to show them that their motives are not just and pure.

I. The Story- (Mark 9:33-37, 10:44-45)

a. Jesus and the Disciples- We just read the story in Mark 9:33-37,

but let’s look at it again. You have Jesus and the disciples going to Capernaum. And along the way they had been arguing. I’m sure that Jesus heard what they were arguing about, but Jesus pretended not to know. Why? Because He knew that to get them to acknowledge before Him what they were saying, would be more convicting than Him trying to outright rebuke them.

So He asks them the question in verse 33: “What were you arguing about on the way?” This causes them to be silent. Why? Because they knew that what they were arguing about, wouldn’t be looked at well by Jesus. They were feeling guilty for their behavior. They knew that this would show their selfish motives. They realized that Jesus actually knew that they were arguing about: who was the greatest.

This actually shows how the disciples were still not getting it. Jesus had talked to them about what He was going to be doing (going to the cross to die for the sins of the world). This argument that they were having shows how the disciples still had their minds on earthly glory, and earthly kingdoms. They still didn’t understand what it meant for Jesus to be the Messiah, and that His kingdom was the Kingdom of heaven; His Lordship was that of heaven.

So Jesus sets it to them straight. To be first, to be great, you have to be a servant. Jesus is saying that the world has it all wrong. A great person isn’t one who can get others to serve him; it isn’t someone who can get others to do all the work; it isn’t a person who can order others around. The real strength of a person comes in being one who seeks to love and care for the needs of others.

Jesus, Himself gives this example. We see this in the scripture passage that is on the front of your bulletin; Mark 10:44-45, “and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. ⁴⁵For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Jesus tells them again, that He has come to be a servant; to give His life for the sake of others. This is what real greatness is about.

b. The story more contemporary- Let me give you a couple of

modern day examples of servants who are believed to be great:

1. Albert Schweitzer- Albert Schweitzer is best known for

founding and sustaining the hospital Lambarene in French Equatorial Africa. He and his wife worked to establish this hospital for the people in the area. In the first 9 months of being there, they examined and treated 2,000 patients (some traveling many days and miles to get there). They treated heart disease, tropical dysentery, malaria, leprosy, tumours, and much more. After being there a few months they were able to build a more secure hospital with 2 rooms, instead of the hut they were using. He was a theologian, a musician, a philosopher, and a physician.

But even with all of his great skills and talent, Schweitzer knew that greatness came in serving others. That is why he gave himself to this hospital and to those who could not care for themselves. Schweitzer believed that people need to respect life, and the universe we live in. Ethics, according to Schweitzer, consists in showing the same reverence for the life of others as you do for your own.

Albert Schweitzer nourished hope in a humankind that is more profoundly aware of its position in the Universe. He had a great optimism for people and for what we could do when we give our lives for the sake of others. Norman Cousin’s, who spent a considerable amount of time with Schweitzer at his hospital, had this to say: “The biggest impression I had in leaving Lambarene was the enormous reach of a single human being…”

2. Mother Theresa- A second example is that of Mother

Theresa. Mother Theresa is known as a humanitarian and advocate for the poor, especially in Calcutta, India. At the time of her death, her “Missionaries of Charity” was operating 610 missions in 123 countries, including hospices and homes for people with HIV/AIDS, leprosy and tuberculosis, soup kitchens, children's and family counseling programs, orphanages, and schools.

As Jesus came to give His life as a ransom for many, so examples like Schweitzer and Mother Theresa give us a modern day example of greatness through service!

II. Jesus Peers Into Our Hearts- (Romans 5:8; Psalm 139)

a. Nothing is hidden- One of the aspects of this passage is how Jesus

is able to peer into our hearts. This was a real surprise for the disciples, because they still saw Jesus as being human. When Jesus confronted them in their sin here, they realized that Jesus knew the motives of their heart. They realized that Jesus, being God, could know their thoughts and intentions. Nothing was hidden.

This is a truth we need to understand about Jesus. Jesus looks into our hearts and knows what is going on. This can be scary in a way, but also freeing, because we can know that not only does God know our thoughts and intentions, but loves us in spite of them. As Romans 5:8 says, “For while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Christ’s intention here is not to belittle or embarrass. Jesus was always using opportunities of life for teaching. In fact, when we learn through experience, it is much more profound than when we sit and listen to a lecture. So Jesus takes advantage of the opportunity to point out to them their short sightedness. It was vital for them to understand the importance of them being servant’s. When Jesus left this earth, it was going to be up to them (and ultimately to us as well) to carry on these acts of service. Without the right frame of mind, they would not be able to do this.

b. God knows us- Of course this concept of God knowing our

thoughts and ways was spoken about even in the Old Testament. All of Psalm 139 reminds us of this. The psalm starts out in verse 1: “O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.” Here we see that God can search us, and by searching us knows us. The psalm goes on to talk about how God knows when we sit and when we rise. God knows our thoughts. God is acquainted with all of our ways. But even more, there is nowhere that we can go, where God can’t go. We see this in verses 7-12, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? ⁸ If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. ⁹ If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, ¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. ¹¹ If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," ¹² even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.”

In the end, the psalmist realizes that this is good; as we read in vrs. 23-24: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. ²⁴ See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” By God knowing our thoughts and intentions, we can seek after God to help our way be more pure & just.

III. Impure Motives and Disunity- (Mark 9:33; 1:11; Philippians 2:4-5)

a. Impure motives-Jesus helps them to see that their motives for

wanting to be great, was impure. But we need to ask the question: “What might have prompted the disciples to have this argument?” To understand this, let’s take a brief look at what they had experienced as followers of Jesus.

First, they see Jesus get baptized by John the Baptist, and they realize that there is something different about Jesus, because at the end of the baptism, the Spirit of God descends on Jesus, and a voice from heaven speaks out: “You are my Son, the Beloved, with you I am well pleased.”

Then, they are called by Jesus, set apart as special above others. As they walk with Jesus they see Him exorcise an unclean spirit, heal many people, preach to many people with authority, cleanse a leper, heal a paralytic, speak against the Pharisees on several occasions, teach in parables (a teaching unlike any they had heard before). And on and on this went. They got to the point where they were thinking about Jesus’ greatness, and how as His followers they would be able to ride His coattails to greatness and power.

Jesus exposes their impure motives, because Jesus knows that there is nothing good that comes from this kind of attitude.

b. Disunity- EX. There is a story about a woman who lived in a

neighborhood that was going downhill. The area was becoming overcrowded, dirty, and noisy. She knew that something needed to be done, and that it would take money to change the situation. So she started a fund-raising drive. She called people, sent out letters, talked to private foundations, and in the end she raised $85,000. She then used the money to move to another neighborhood!

Now you hear this story, and it probably makes you angry. How terrible that someone would do that. How could she lie in that way, saying that she needed money to fix up the neighborhood she lived in, only to use it for herself?

And that is exactly the point of this passage. Jesus knew that when we have

impure motives, what it causes in others in anger, disunity, bitterness, and so forth. When people act selfishly, it causes anger, because there is no love, no kindness, no caring. It causes disunity, because unity only comes with common purpose, common goals, and mutual caring. It causes bitterness, because when we act from impure motives, we end up stepping on others to get our way. JESUS KNEW THAT THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS TO BE A KINGDOM OF UNITY, AND ONLY WHEN WE LOOK BEYOND OURSELVES CAN WE ACHIEVE THIS UNITY. That is why the apostle Paul tells us in Philippians 2:4,5- “Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.”

For Jesus to let this attitude persist in the disciples would only lead to more self-ishness, anger, and disunity. The Kingdom of God could not survive in this manner.

IV. The Purity of a Child- (Mark 9:36-37; Matthew 25:40)

a. The child- At this point, Jesus has told them about how greatness

is more about being a servant. Jesus wants to illustrate this point further by using a child as an example. So Jesus brings a child into the midst of His disciples. Jesus is trying to make several points here with the child:

First, a child has no real influence at all, especially in Jesus’ time. A child cannot help one advance their career. A child cannot give us the things we want. In fact, it is the other way around; a child needs things and must have things done for him or her. Secondly, a child has no power. They do not, and cannot hold a position of power. Thirdly, they cannot have or achieve wealth on their own. Even if their parents were wealthy, and died, the wealth would not go to them.

So this child represents the supreme example of one who is a servant, for they are completely subject to the authority all around them. They serve their parents and others. So to welcome a child, one who cannot advance their place in any way, and cannot benefit them at all, is a noble act. In fact, in having this attitude of welcoming those who cannot benefit you, you welcome God Himself.

Why is this? Because God wants us to come to Him, not for the purpose of what God can do for us, but for the purpose of loving Him, and desiring to serve Him. As we must serve the children around us, by taking care of their needs, we must have this same attitude when we come to God.

b. The warning- There is an underlying warning here. It is easy to

cultivate friendships with those who we believe can do things for us, or who we believe can be useful to us. That is what the disciples were thinking when they talked about being the greatest. They believed that Jesus’ presence in their lives would help them to be seen as great; would help them achieve a higher and more powerful status.

But Jesus is trying to help them (and us) understand that life is really to be about who we can help, not who can help us. That is why Jesus said in Matthew 25:40, “As you did it to one of the least of these brethren, you did it to me.”

This is a truth you and I need to grasp as well. How often do we gravitate to those who can benefit us? How often are we motivated to be in relationships with people who have things? I know that in my life there have been times I have come across people with influence, power, or wealth. It is tempting to let them lead you into that lifestyle. It is an important time in our lives when we do not give in to this temptation.

I know for me, I am much more satisfied with life when I give, than when I take. I know that life is more fulfilling when I seek to be there for others, instead of having the attitude that others need to be there for me. I know that I am much freer to live a purposeful life when I seek to be a servant, as opposed to trying to be a ruler. This is the lesson that Jesus is trying to impress upon the disciples and us.

Conclusion: Jesus is being provocative here by turning their thinking upside down. In fact, Jesus is not just talking about behavior, but about leadership style. You see, the disciples were going to be put in power by Jesus to be the leaders of the Christian movement. Jesus needed them to institute a leadership practice for all ages. The leader must be the servant. Jesus Himself modeled this behavior.

Jesus has exposed here the disciples’ (and our) deepest motive; self-preservation, instead of selfless servanthood. Servants are not usually thought of in high regards. So this teaching sets us on edge; sets us against the world. But if we believe in Jesus, then we must believe in His teaching, and trust that as we are servants to others, we will be great in the kingdom of God, and like Albert Schweitzer, and Mother Theresa, and others, the fruit that we bear will be great. Let us seek to live out this teaching, today, and every day. Amen.