The Way Up Is Down PARADOX Series [2] Mark 10:35-45

PARADOX: JESUS’ COUNTER-INTUITIVE TEACHINGS Paradox is truth standing on its head and waving its legs to get our attention. G. K. Chesterton Paradox #1: “To find your life, you must lose it.” Paradox #2: “The way up is down.”

PARADOX: JESUS’ COUNTER-INTUITIVE TEACHINGS Paradox is truth standing on its head and waving its legs to get our attention. G. K. Chesterton Paradox #1: “To find your life, you must lose it.” Paradox #2: “The way up is down.” [TODAY]

THE “iGENERATION”: POPULAR ADVICES, ERRONEOUSLY BELIEVED “Only those who promote themselves will get ahead.” “Only those who assert themselves will be respected.” “Only those who aspire to be number one will be successful.”

HOW TO BE GREAT IN JESUS’ WAY 1)If you want to be great in Jesus’ way, change your paradigm [= the way to think about greatness]. 42 And Jesus called them to him and said to them, "You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 But it shall not be so among you...” (vs a)  The way of the world: Greatness means achieving yourself all the way to the top—self-empowernment.  The way of Jesus: Greatness means humbling yourself all the way to the bottom—self-debasement.  The shift begins when we empty ourselves to Christ.  So, unless we change the way we think about greatness, we cannot be great in Jesus’ way.

HOW TO BE GREAT IN JESUS’ WAY 2)If you want to be great in Jesus’ way, change your direction [= the way you pursue greatness]. 43 “... But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (vs. 43b-45)  The way up is down: It does NOT mean… Having no passion, healthy-drive, hard work. Giving up on dreams, visions, aspiration for excellence. Doing the more “humble work” that I am not good at or seeking the role outside of my strength and gift. Serving others externally—not from humility.

HOW TO BE GREAT IN JESUS’ WAY 2)If you want to be great in Jesus’ way, change your direction [= the way you pursue greatness] 43 “... But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (vs. 43b-45)  The way up is down: It does MEANS… To humble myself in self-forgetfulness (vs. in self-consciousness). Giving up my “rights/privileges” to serve others’ best. To be motivated by love for Christ and others. To seek God’s reign in all human relationships.

HOW DO WE CULTIVATE A SERVANT HEART IN EVERYDAY LIFE? 1)Cultivate a servant heart by CONFESSING YOUR PRIDE. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. (1 Timothy 1:16, NIV)  Confess your prideful heart to yourself.  Confess your prideful heart to GOD.  Confess your prideful heart to the brothers and sisters around you.  Ask yourself: “Do I confess that I am not all that— admitting my own need for a changed humble heart?”

I am like James and John by Robert Raines I am like James and John. Lord, I size up other people in terms of what they can do for me; how they can further my program, feed my ego, satisfy my needs, give me strategic advantage. I exploit people, ostensibly for your sake, but really for my own sake.

I am like James and John by Robert Raines Lord, I turn to you to get the inside track and obtain special favors, your direction for my schemes, your power for my projects, your sanction for my ambitions, your blank checks for whatever I want. I am like James and John. Change me, Lord. Make me a man who asks of you and of others, what can I do for you?

HOW DO WE CULTIVATE A SERVANT HEART IN EVERYDAY LIFE? 2)Cultivate a servant heart by FOCUSING ON ETERNAL REWARD. His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.” (Matthew 25:23)  Who vindicates you?  What rewards you for your servant heart and action?  How do you cope with disappointments, mistreatments, and sufferings?  Ask yourself: “Am I seeking recognition and appreciation from people or from Christ—focusing on the eternal reward?”

HOW DO WE CULTIVATE A SERVANT HEART IN EVERYDAY LIFE? 3)Cultivate a servant heart by FOLLOWING CHRIST’S EXAMPLE. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:5-8)  Christ is our true Master.  Christ is our true Example.  Christ is our true Source of our motivation.  Ask yourself: “Am I a servant, following my Master’s example—the way he humbled himself even to the cross?”

Lord, Break Me by Roy Hession He humbled Himself to the manger, And even to Calvary's tree; But I am so proud and unwilling, His humble disciple to be. He yielded His will to the Father, And chose to abide in the Light; But I prefer wrestling to resting, And try by myself to do right. Lord break me, then cleanse me and fill me And keep me abiding in Thee; That fellowship may be unbroken, And Thy Name be hallowed in me.

Lord, Break Me by Roy Hession He humbled Himself to the manger, And even to Calvary's tree; But Paul is so proud and unwilling, His humble disciple to be. He yielded His will to the Father, And chose to abide in the Light; But Paul prefers wrestling to resting, And try by himself to do right. Lord break Paul, then cleanse him and fill him And keep him abiding in Thee; That fellowship may be unbroken, And Thy Name be hallowed in Paul.

THREE PRACTICAL QUESTIONS FOR OUR EVERYDAY LIFE 1.What must be changed in me in order to embrace this paradoxical truth: “the way up is down”? 2.What can I do in order to cultivate a servant heart? 3.What is my first step toward putting “this way of Jesus” into practice daily?