8 March 09
Second Sunday in Lent
Serving Jesus for Personal Gain
Mark 9:31-38
The disciples knew Jesus was the Messiah, This was indeed commendable, since many in the Jewish nation didn’t. If Jesus was the Messiah, then serving Him would be the greatest vocation, or so the logic went. If Jesus was the Messiah, then they were destined for greatness. Such logic appear unassailable. But the disciples’ concept of greatness was warped even if it was common. Their eyes were on themselves. If it wasn’t corrected, they would be following Jesus only to serve their own agenda. Jesus would then become a tool instead of being the Lord.
Furthermore, such a concept did not factor in the most important consideration. God is love, and His love drives Him to humble Himself in order to serve. Jesus’ response to the disciples’ confession that He was the Christ was to teach that, as Messiah, He was destined for suffering and death. Being God’s Messiah wasn’t about fame and fortune but service, even to the point of death.
Following Jesus, then, isn’t about self-aggrandisement but self-denial for service. It means taking up the cross after Him. The disciples must be servant of all, including the little child who has no status or clout. Unfortunately, what afflicted them is still affecting us today. There are people who appear to follow the Lord, preach in His Name, welcome thousands into the Kingdom, but are actually following their own agenda. This is not serving; this is using. The new world that God will bring in will be a very strange place to them, if they are in it at all. Isaac Watt’s words are instructive here:
When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of Glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.
(Dr Tan Kim Huat,
Dean of Studies, Trinity Theological College)
Commitment:
Before God, I consign my glory and pride to the rubbish heap of human ambition. Embracing Christ to be my all in all, I shall use whatever God has graciously given me to serve.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, teach me the way of the cross. Dispel the mists created by human hubris, so that I can see clearly the path that Christ wants me to take. Amen.
Second Sunday in Lent
Serving Jesus for Personal Gain
Mark 9:31-38
The disciples knew Jesus was the Messiah, This was indeed commendable, since many in the Jewish nation didn’t. If Jesus was the Messiah, then serving Him would be the greatest vocation, or so the logic went. If Jesus was the Messiah, then they were destined for greatness. Such logic appear unassailable. But the disciples’ concept of greatness was warped even if it was common. Their eyes were on themselves. If it wasn’t corrected, they would be following Jesus only to serve their own agenda. Jesus would then become a tool instead of being the Lord.
Furthermore, such a concept did not factor in the most important consideration. God is love, and His love drives Him to humble Himself in order to serve. Jesus’ response to the disciples’ confession that He was the Christ was to teach that, as Messiah, He was destined for suffering and death. Being God’s Messiah wasn’t about fame and fortune but service, even to the point of death.
Following Jesus, then, isn’t about self-aggrandisement but self-denial for service. It means taking up the cross after Him. The disciples must be servant of all, including the little child who has no status or clout. Unfortunately, what afflicted them is still affecting us today. There are people who appear to follow the Lord, preach in His Name, welcome thousands into the Kingdom, but are actually following their own agenda. This is not serving; this is using. The new world that God will bring in will be a very strange place to them, if they are in it at all. Isaac Watt’s words are instructive here:
When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of Glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.
(Dr Tan Kim Huat,
Dean of Studies, Trinity Theological College)
Commitment:
Before God, I consign my glory and pride to the rubbish heap of human ambition. Embracing Christ to be my all in all, I shall use whatever God has graciously given me to serve.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, teach me the way of the cross. Dispel the mists created by human hubris, so that I can see clearly the path that Christ wants me to take. Amen.
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