DEPTH PERCEPTION: SEEING THINGS AS THEY TRULY ARE

“Jesus told them, ‘Are you not deceived because you don’t know the Scriptures or the power of God?’” (Mark 12:24 HCSB)

We do not live in a flat world, but in a three dimensional one.  Things have depth and our eyes are designed to recognize that.  When we lose depth perception it is difficult to walk without falling and to grab something without failing. 

Depth perception helps us see things as they truly are. 

In the twelfth chapter of Mark, we observe those with a distorted spiritual vision.  Jesus highlights this in verse twenty four, “Jesus told them, ‘Are you not deceived because you don’t know the Scriptures or the power of God?’”   

If we understand what Jesus is teaching in this chapter, it is because we have spiritual depth perception—we see things as they truly are, knowing both the Scriptures and the power of God.

For example, we see GOVERNMENT: SUBMISSION AS IT TRULY IS.

“Then they sent some of the Pharisees and the Herodians to Him to trap Him by what He said.   When they came, they said to Him, ‘Teacher, we know You are truthful and defer to no one, for You don’t show partiality but teach truthfully the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?  Should we pay, or should we not pay?’  But knowing their hypocrisy, He said to them, ‘Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a denarius to look at.’  So they brought one.  ‘Whose image and inscription is this?’ He asked them.  ‘Caesar’s,’ they said.  Then Jesus told them, ‘Give back to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’  And they were amazed at Him.”  (Mark 12:13-17) 

There was the perception among the Herodians that submission to Caesar was something merely of self-interest.  They were willing to compromise with Rome, and thus, secure their status.  They were sell-outs like their namesake King Herod.  They were blinded by materialism.

The Pharisees, on the other hand saw this as a matter of selling-out.  Rome was a pagan oppressor.  Romans were filthy Gentiles whose very presence defiled the land.  The Pharisees dreamed of the day Israel would be delivered out of Rome’s heathen hands.  They were blinded by legalism.

These political polar opposites joined forces against a common enemy—Jesus.  They sought to draw Jesus into the middle of the conflict—knowing He was bound to alienate someone.  These men were not seeking truth, but setting a trap.  If Jesus took the Herodians’ side and surrendered to Rome, the common people would attack Him.  If he took the Pharisees side and strove against Rome, the Roman government would arrest Him.  But, these two groups lacked depth perception and so Jesus was going to teach them how to walk the tightrope of truth and not lose your spiritual equilibrium.

These lessons apply to us today, as well.  Jesus tells us that we do have a Christian duty to the state.  As bad as we might hate to pay taxes and maybe disagree with how much of it is spent, we receive benefit from the government and are responsible to fund it. 

Primarily government has a mandate to protect the citizens from lawless people from within and those menacing us from without our borders.  We are responsible to be good citizens by submitting to the laws of the land.  This gives us a good testimony. 

We are to respect human government because God has established it.  In the United States, Christians are to be involved in government for we have been blessed with the privilege of doing so.  We can be part of the political process through our voting, our running for office and supremely by our prayers as we intercede for government leaders before the throne of the Eternal King. 

Make no mistake however, ultimate allegiance is to God.  If man’s laws call on us to contradict God’s laws, then we must choose to set aside the former and follow the latter.

Having spiritual depth perception means that we see submission as it truly us, but also, we will see the GRAVEYARD: RESURRECTION AS IT TRULY IS.

“Some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him and questioned Him: ‘Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, leaves his wife behind, and leaves no child, his brother should take the wife and produce offspring for his brother. There were seven brothers.  The first took a wife, and dying, left no offspring.  The second also took her, and he died, leaving no offspring.  And the third likewise.  So the seven left no offspring. Last of all, the woman died too.  

In the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be, since the seven had married her?’ 

Jesus told them, ‘Are you not deceived because you don’t know the Scriptures or the power of God?  For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like angels in heaven.  Now concerning the dead being raised — haven’t you read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the burning bush, how God spoke to him: I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob?  He is not God of the dead but of the living. You are badly deceived.’” (Mark 12:18-27) 

The Sadducees did not understand the resurrection as it truly is.  It was a doctrine they rejected.  Not believing in the resurrection is what made them “sad you see!”  They were the liberals of their day.  While the Herodians were blinded by materialism and the Pharisees by legalism, the Sadducees vision was distorted by liberalism.

Liberalism still blinds people to the truth.  Many denominations are headed for the ecclesiastical garbage dump because they have abandoned the faith once and for all delivered unto the saints.  They have turned their ears from the Word of God unto fables.  Liberal preachers have sown the seeds of error and we are reaping the bitter harvest of evil in America.  The moral collapse of the country can be in large measure attributed to the theological compromise of the church—the light of truth has gone out in the pulpit and the salt of the sermon has lost its potency. 

Jesus says of the Sadducees that they neither knew the Word of God nor the power of God.  That would characterize the apostates of our day—religious professionals doing a job, collecting a salary, while they are devoid of the truth and power of God. 

Jesus tells us the truth and that there is a resurrection and it is to a new and higher relationship—a superior love.  The argument hinges on the tense of the text and that says much about the reliability of Scripture!  Christ points to the power of God to overcome death with life.

Spiritual depth perception means we see submission and resurrection as they truly are.  But, this chapter opens our eyes to also see GIVING: DEVOTION AS IT TRULY IS.

“One of the scribes approached.  When he heard them debating and saw that Jesus answered them well, he asked Him, ‘Which command is the most important of all?’  ‘This is the most important,’ Jesus answered: Listen, Israel! The Lord our God, the Lord is One.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.  This is the first commandment.  The second is: Love your neighbor as yourself.  There is no other command greater than these.’  Then the scribe said to Him, ‘You are right, Teacher! You have correctly said that He is One, and there is no one else except Him.  And to love Him with all your heart, with all your understanding, and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself, is far more (important) than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.’

When Jesus saw that he answered intelligently, He said to him, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’  And no one dared to question Him any longer.

So Jesus asked this question as He taught in the temple complex, ‘How can the scribes say that the Messiah is the Son of David?  

David himself says by the Holy Spirit:

The Lord declared to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand until I put Your enemies under Your feet.”

David himself calls Him “Lord”; how then can the Messiah be his Son?’ And the large crowd was listening to Him with delight.

He also said in His teaching, ‘Beware of the scribes, who want to go around in long robes, and who want greetings in the marketplaces, the front seats in the synagogues, and the places of honor at banquets.  

They devour widows’ houses and say long prayers just for show. These will receive harsher punishment.”

Sitting across from the temple treasury, He watched how the crowd dropped money into the treasury. Many rich people were putting in large sums.  And a poor widow came and dropped in two tiny coins worth very little.  Summoning His disciples, He said to them, ‘I assure you: This poor widow has put in more than all those giving to the temple treasury.

For they all gave out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she possessed — all she had to live on.’” (Mark 12:28-44)

Devotion to God is the main thing and love is the preeminent virtue.  It is the great commandment, encompassing all of God’s commands.  It is the attribute of God and the mark of the Christian.  The Pharisees were devoted to rules and ritual.  Their distorted view was that legalism pleased God, when in reality it is love.

Jesus illustrated their spiritual blindness in verses 35-37.  If you err on who Jesus is, then nothing else matters.  Christianity is Christ—it is devotion to Him! 

Jesus saw clearly the hypocrisy of the Pharisees.  Their religious robes and prolonged prayers were all for show (v.38-40). 

But there’s a model of true devotion seen in this little widow who puts a pittance into the offering.  Actually, she gave more than anyone else—more than the rich—because she gave all!  You can give without loving, but you can’t love without giving.

The disciples didn’t even understand the reality of real generosity.  Jesus had to explain it to them.  Let’s make sure we get it!  It isn’t just the dollar amount that God is looking for, but the devoted attitude He wants.  The mark of sacrifice is not how much we give, but how much is left after we give.  For some to give even a tithe—ten percent—is a great sacrifice because of their poverty.  For others to give a tithe is being stingy because of their plenty.

Do you have spiritual depth perception?  Do you see the world as it truly is?

When we come to the voting booth, the funeral parlor and the church house, our attitude toward government, the graveyard and giving reveals whether we see things from a heavenly or a human perspective.  Biblical truth is a corrective lens for our blurred vision.

ROAD TO RUIN

“But He looked at them and said, ‘Then what is the meaning of this Scripture: The stone that the builders rejected —this has become the cornerstone?  Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and if it falls on anyone, it will grind him to powder!’” (Luke 20:17-18 HCSB)

Bob Hope and Bing Crosby made a series of successful comedic movies with Dorothy Lamour often referred to as, “The Road Pictures.”  There were seven all total, with names like “Road to Singapore” and “Road to Zanzibar.”  An eighth movie was planned in the series when Crosby died of a heart attack in 1977.   Ironically, that movie was to be entitled, “Road to the Fountain of Youth.”  Bing Crosby died before he could get there!

I recall watching them as a child.  I saw them as they were rerun on TV.  Now, I can still do that, as I have some of them on DVD.  The difference is that years ago I watched them in black and white and now I can see them in color.  One thing never changed about those films—whatever road Bing Crosby and Bob Hope were on, it was funny!

There is another road which is no laughing matter.  This one many are travelling today—a well worn path.  It is deadly and destructive—eternally so.  It is the road to ruin.  That is the path that the religious leaders in Christ’s time had chosen.  The saddest part is that they were convinced they were on the right road and rejected the One who had come to turn them around and deliver them.

The vast majority of people are on the road to ruin.  Now, they may not take it seriously, but God does.  They may laugh and party and indulge their sensual desires—for today.  But, one day the laughter will end in lament, and the party will become the Pit, and the temporal pleasure will be lost in timeless pain.  The Lake of Fire is the destination of those who travel the road to ruin.

Observe that THE ROAD TO RUIN COMMENCES WITH CONFRONTATION in Luke 20:1-8.  Jesus confronts A WICKED SPIRIT.

“One day as He was teaching the people in the temple complex and proclaiming the good news, the chief priests and the scribes, with the elders, came up and said to Him: ‘Tell us, by what authority are You doing these things? Who is it who gave You this authority?’  He answered them, ‘I will also ask you a question. Tell Me, was the baptism of John from heaven or from men?’  They discussed it among themselves: ‘If we say, “From heaven,” He will say, “Why didn’t you believe him?”  But if we say, “From men,” all the people will stone us, because they are convinced that John was a prophet.’  So they answered that they did not know its origin.  And Jesus said to them, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.’”

The religious elite had come to this point: “We’ve made up our minds, don’t confuse us with facts!”  They had purposed to reject Him and nothing Jesus might say—no matter how Scripturally authoritative—and nothing He might do—no matter how supernaturally attested—would persuade them to change their minds.  In refusing to change their minds, they were refusing to change their course.  They shifted into overdrive on the road to ruin, as they determined to silence Jesus, intolerant of any rival to their authority.

They believed that authority was vested in them and that Jesus, not being a product of their rabbinical schools, had no authority.   The questioning of Christ’s authority disclosed the attitude of their rejection of God’s authority.  When a man sets himself up as the authority, he has disclosed his spirit of autonomy—that which turned Lucifer, Son of the      Morning, into Satan, Prince of Darkness. 

Rebellion is a contagious thing—the Serpent’s autonomy soon infected one third of heaven’s host and spread to earth, enticing Adam and Eve into sin.  Now, we have a human race held in the grip of moral anarchy.  “Every         man does that which is right in his own eyes” is the repeated drumbeat recorded in the Book of Judges and we recognize the sound echoing in our era.  That is the result of rejecting the rule of the Kingdom of Heaven. 

It is the road to ruin.

Jesus responds to their question concerning His authority with a question about the authority of John the Baptist’s message.  He turns the tables on them and the Pharisees find themselves on the horns of a dilemma. 

That’s where truth always places us.  It brings us to the point of decision.  There is no middle ground in this issue of authority—we bow to God or we set ourselves up as our own god.  There is but one throne in our heart—both God and self cannot occupy it simultaneously.

They rejected the King’s herald before they rejected the King—something Christ will underscore in the parable He will tell.  For now, Jesus is content to leave them twisting in the wind. 

Nothing would have suited them better than to openly attack the preaching of the uncouth John the Baptist.  He had dared to call them vipers and demand repentance!  He poured the gasoline of truth on the flame of their self-righteousness and it was incendiary in effect.  But, they let the fire die down and just smolder because they feared the common people who respected John.  Still, they will not give voice to their hatred of John.

They were religious politicians.  Their consuming purpose was to preserve their position and power with all its perks.  The supreme motivation was not the glory of God but their own.  These tried to use God as a stepping stone to fulfill their ambition.  Instead of following truth to its conclusion, they tailored it to fit their purposes.  That is the road to ruin.

Next we note that THE ROAD TO RUIN CONTINUES DESPITE CAUTION in Luke 20:9-15.  Jesus conveys A WARNING SIGN.

“Then He began to tell the people this parable: ‘A man planted a vineyard, leased it to tenant farmers, and went away for a long time.  At harvest time he sent a slave to the farmers so that they might give him some fruit from the vineyard. But the farmers beat him and sent him away empty-handed.  He sent yet another slave, but they beat that one too, treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed.  And he sent yet a third, but they wounded this one too and threw him out. Then the owner of the vineyard said, “What should I do? I will send my beloved son. Perhaps they will respect him.”  But when the tenant farmers saw him, they discussed it among themselves and said, “This is the heir. Let’s kill him, so the inheritance will be ours! “  So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.’ Therefore, what will the owner of the vineyard do to them?”

If you were on the road to ruin, would you not want someone to warn you—to try to stop you and turn you around?  But, the Pharisees and scribes would not heed the warning. 

Rather than receiving the Savior who had come, they had decided to devise a salvation of their own religion and ritual.  It was nothing new, as the Lord indicated in this parable.  They were heirs of a long-standing legacy of rejecting God’s authority.  It was in their spiritual DNA.

Look at the parable’s portrayal of their stubborn sinfulness. 

The man who planted a vineyard is God and the vineyard is the nation of Israel.  The tenant farmers were the religious leaders who had been charged with a stewardship to cultivate the spiritual welfare of the nation.  The slaves who were sent one after another and terribly abused—even killed—represent the prophets. 

They could find no spiritual fruit in Israel and called the people to repentance, wielding the sharp pruning shears of truth.  The religious establishment wanted no such painful penitence and so beat and butchered God’s messengers.  John was another in a long line of God’s messengers that the religious leaders spurned.  Prophets are never popular because they confront people with their sin and the seriousness of it.  They expose the ugly evil for the world to see and the wicked don’t want that! 

God made one last ditch effort in sending His Beloved Son—heir to the vineyard.  God the Father, gave His Son, the Lord Jesus, to be their Savior and their response would be to nail Him to a cross.  They throw Him out of the vineyard and kill Him—and so Jesus was taken outside the walls of Jerusalem to be crucified.

It was their choice.  They were warned that they were on the road to ruin, but they would not turn around.  This is the sad reality of millions today, marching with resolute steps down the road into the darkness of the Abyss.

Beckoning those on the death march to turn—standing at the crossroad—there is Jesus.  Our destination is determined by our decision in what we are going to do with Him.

Finally, THE ROAD TO RUIN CONCLUDES WITH CONDEMNATION in Luke 20:16-18.  Jesus communicates concerning A WRECKED SOUL.

“‘He will come and destroy those farmers and give the vineyard to others.’  But when they heard this they said, ‘No — never!’  But He looked at them and said, ‘Then what is the meaning of this Scripture: The stone that the builders rejected —this has become the cornerstone? Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and if it falls on anyone, it will grind him to powder!’”

The Pharisees rejected truth and supplanted it with their traditions.  They didn’t like what they saw in the mirror of God’s Word and despised it.  Jesus, in contrast, lived by the Book.  We witness Him here as He appeals to the authority of Scripture, quoting Psalm 118:22. 

God’s Word cannot be broken; His will cannot be thwarted.  In their very act of rejecting Christ, trying to deny fulfillment of God’s plan, they instead are bringing about the Lord’s sovereign purpose, as Christ becomes the cornerstone of salvation.  His very condemnation becomes the means of ushering in God’s plan of redemption. This fact did not alter their responsibility in making that decision, however. 

Again, we can look back into the Old Testament and find help in understanding this.  Nebuchadnezzar dreamed of a great image.  He was the head of gold, while the other various metals described, picture the kingdoms of men who would succeed him—one empire rising and then falling successively.  This is the course of the age—“The Times of the Gentiles.”   The king also saw in this dream a huge stone falling from heaven and crushing the image (Dan.2:34-35) showing the ultimate conclusion of man’s rebellion against God.  The kingdoms of men will give way to the kingdom of God (Rev.11:15). 

This is a picture not only of the destiny of nations but of each individual.  This is the choice before us.  We can fall on that Rock in repentance and Christ becomes our solid foundation, or we can let the Rock fall on us in our rebellion and Christ becomes our sure destruction.  There is a highway to heaven and a highway to hell.  Jesus stands at the intersection showing us the way to glory—He is the Way, the only way.

Are you on the road to ruin?  Turn around before it is too late!

 

 

 

 

 

SPIRITUAL BARRENNESS: ITS CAUSE AND CURE

“After seeing in the distance a fig tree with leaves, He went to find out if there was anything on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs.  He said to it, ‘May no one ever eat fruit from you again!’  And His disciples heard it.” (Mark 11:13-14 HCSB)

What does the fruit of your life reveal about your relationship with Christ? Jesus said, “So you’ll recognize them by their fruit.” (Matt.7:20)  It is impossible for Christ to indwell us and there not be some evidence of it in our lives.  The fruit may be sparse, it might be shriveled, it might be scant—but there will be some.  If there is no fruit of righteousness evident, can it be that there is no root in Christ present?  I realize there also may be seasons for the saint where we may be somewhat barren, and need to prune some activities that hinder and cultivate some activities that make us fertile, in order to be more fruitful.  But, to be entirely without fruit is to be without faith. 

In the eleventh chapter of Mark we see the subject of spiritual barrenness: its cause and cure.  So, let’s explore this together. 

I want you to notice first there is FAVOR TO CELEBRATE in verses 1-11.

When the favor of God rests upon us, the fruit of godliness will reside in us.  Grace within generates goodness without. 

Jesus was the perfect expression of a Man who had the favor of God resting on Him.  The result is the clear and convincing fruit seen in His life. 

The disciples recognized it and so were responsive to Him.

“When they approached Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany near the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples and told them, ‘Go into the village ahead of you. As soon as you enter it, you will find a young donkey tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here.  If anyone says to you, “Why are you doing this?” say, “The Lord needs it and will send it back here right away.”’

So they went and found a young donkey outside in the street, tied by a door. They untied it, and some of those standing there said to them, ‘What are you doing, untying the donkey?’  They answered them just as Jesus had said, so they let them go.  Then they brought the donkey to Jesus and threw their robes on it, and He sat on it.”  (v.1-7)

The life of the Son was vitally connected with His Father.  He had authority because He was under authority (read Matt.8:5-13).  If we want spiritual authority, we must be submissive to it.

The people recognized God’s favor and so were rejoicing in Him.  The life of Christ was visibly connected with His Father.  The common people declared the blessedness of the Son because the blessing of the Father rested upon Him.

“Many people spread their robes on the road, and others spread leafy branches cut from the fields. Then those who went ahead and those who followed kept shouting:

Hosanna! He who comes in the name of the Lord is the blessed One!

The coming kingdom of our father David is blessed!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!

And He went into Jerusalem and into the temple complex.

After looking around at everything, since it was already late, He went out to Bethany with the Twelve.” (v.8-11)

Can people see the hand of God upon us?

Consider this carefully: what was the source of Christ’s fruitfulness? 

While we acknowledge that Jesus was and is and ever shall be fully God, He was also fully man.  He came to show us how man was to live when God is in the man. 

“Then Jesus replied, ‘I assure you: The Son is not able to do anything on His own, but only what He sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son also does these things in the same way.’” (John 5:19)

During the days of His flesh, Christ lived rooted in the life of the Father and the fruit of that was seen in Him.  How do we know this same favor of God?

“‘I am the true vine, and My Father is the vineyard keeper.  Every branch in Me that does not produce fruit He removes, and He prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit.  You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.

 

Remain in Me, and I in you.  Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me.

I am the vine; you are the branches.  The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me.’” (John 15:1-5)

Do people celebrate the blessing of your life—the fruit of your faith—that your presence brings to them? 

What Jesus did that day was the fulfillment of Scripture (see Zech.9:9).  The Word was abiding in Him and thus the Word was fleshed out in His daily life.  It can be so with us.

“If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you.  My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be My disciples.” (John 15:7-8)

A life grounded in the Word is a life glorifying the Lord.  With truth as our root, we have the testimony of our fruit.

But, from this positive example, we turn to a negative one and note there is FRUITLESSNESS TO CURSE in verses 12-14. 

Here we have another reminder of Christ’s humanity.  He was hungry, “The next day when they came out from Bethany, He was hungry.” (v.12) 

Now, He had the power as God to turn stones into bread, but He had already overcome that temptation.  He would rely on the Father, instead of living on His own resources—as the Perfect Man dwelling among men, to show us how man is to live in reliance on God.  When we a need and face a test, it is good to know we have a High Priest in heaven who understands and sympathizes (see Heb.4:15-16).

Jesus came expecting to find fruit on a fig tree and discovered that it had none.

“After seeing in the distance a fig tree with leaves, He went to find out if there was anything on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs.” (v.13)

The question we might have is, “Why did He expect fruit, when it wasn’t the season for fruit?”  Because it wasn’t the season for foliage either! 

New Testament scholar, F.F. Bruce clarifies this:

“Towards the end of March the leaves begin to appear, and in about a week the foliage coating is complete. Coincident with [this], and sometimes even before, there appears quite a crop of small knobs, not the real figs, but a kind of early forerunner. They grow to the size of green almonds, in which condition they are eaten by peasants and others when hungry. When they come to their own indefinite maturity they drop off." These precursors of the true fig are called taqsh in Palestinian Arabic.  Their appearance is a harbinger of the fully formed appearance of the true fig some six weeks later. So, as Mark says, the time for figs had not yet come. But if the leaves appear without any taqsh, that is a sign that there will be no figs. Since Jesus found "nothing but leaves" — leaves without any taqsh — he knew that "it was an absolutely hopeless, fruitless fig tree" and said as much.”

It is essentially a message of hypocrisy—professing fruit but not producing it!  The fig tree is symbolic of Israel. It was a nation filled with hypocrisy.  Are we that way?

As we consider spiritual barrenness, we have witnessed favor to celebrate, fruitlessness to curse and next we find there is FILTH TO CLEANSE in verses 15-19.

“They came to Jerusalem, and He went into the temple complex and began to throw out those buying and selling in the temple. He overturned the money changers’ tables and the chairs of those selling doves, and would not permit anyone to carry goods through the temple complex.

Then He began to teach them: ‘Is it not written, My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations?  But you have made it a den of thieves!’  Then the chief priests and the scribes heard it and started looking for a way to destroy Him.  For they were afraid of Him, because the whole crowd was astonished by His teaching. 

And whenever evening came, they would go out of the city.”

Here is an example of the very hypocrisy that was symbolized by the fig tree.  The Temple had become a den of thieves rather than a house of prayer.  Jesus needed to cleanse the temple because it was polluted with the greedy. 

It is a sobering warning to hypocrites in the house of God today.  Such a church as this is no church at all—it is a sham.  We are either a house of prayer or a den of thieves! 

Our prayerlessness makes us thieves.  We rob God of glory.  We rob people of opportunity.  We will not be fruitful if we are not faithful in prayer.  Prayerlessness is not just a slip-up, it is a sin!

Again, don’t miss the relationship between vital union with Christ which is rooted in prayer and the visible action of Christ in responding to prayer:

“I assure you: The one who believes in Me will also do the works that I do.  And he will do even greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.   Whatever you ask in My name, I will do it so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If you ask Me

anything in My name, I will do it….

If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you.  My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be My disciples.” (John 14:12-14; 15:7-8)

Did you get that?  The pivotal point of connection is faith!  So, next we observe there is FAITH TO COMMEND in Mark 11:20-24.

We noted how Christ approaching the fig tree hungry and hopeful of fruit—fruit that wasn’t there—demonstrated His humanity, but what happens to the fig tree is a proof of Christ’s Deity.  He curses it and it withers from the roots up. 

You see the real problem wasn’t just a fruit problem—that was the symptom of barrenness.  The real problem was a root problem—it had to do with the source of barrenness! 

Is our life rooted in God?  If not we are headed for God’s wrath.  What makes the difference between fruitfulness and fruitlessness? Faith!

“Early in the morning, as they were passing by, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots up.  Then Peter remembered and said to Him, ‘Rabbi, look! The fig tree that You cursed is withered.’

Jesus replied to them, ‘Have faith in God.  I assure you:

If anyone says to this mountain, “Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,” and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.  Therefore I tell you, all the things you pray and ask for — believe that you have received them, and you will have them.’” (v.22-24)

Faith brings us into a right relationship with God and empowers us to be fruitful.

The grace that brings forgiveness enables us to bestow forgiveness.  The life rooted in God’s forgiveness enables us to bear the fruit of forgiveness.  With this in mind we come to our next point and that is FORGIVENESS TO CLAIM in verses 25-26.

“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven will also forgive you your wrongdoing.  But if you don’t forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your wrongdoing.”

Perhaps we think our prayers aren’t very productive?  Maybe this is the reason—we are nursing grudges instead of granting grace.  Bitterness brings a blockage to the flow of grace.  Look at this:

“Make sure that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and by it, defiling many.” (Heb.12:15)

The sad conclusion of the chapter is that even though the cause of spiritual barrenness was diagnosed and its cure was declared—the Great Physician’s prescription was rejected.  Thus, we read of FAILURE TO COMPREHEND in verses 27-33.

They came again to Jerusalem.  As He was walking in the temple complex, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came and asked Him, ‘By what authority are You doing these things? Who gave You this authority to do these things?’

Jesus said to them, ‘I will ask you one question; then answer Me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.  Was John’s baptism from heaven or from men? Answer Me.’

They began to argue among themselves: ‘If we say, “From heaven,” He will say, “Then why didn’t you believe him?”’  But if we say, “From men”’ — they were afraid of the crowd, because everyone thought that John was a genuine prophet.  So they answered Jesus, ‘We don’t know.’

And Jesus said to them, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.’”

They just didn’t get it.  Basic spiritual principles were gibberish to them.  They say that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but you can’t teach a dead dog anything!  These were spiritually dead and so couldn’t grasp the truth.  They didn’t understand who Jesus was!  Until we meet Him we can never be fruitful for the life of God is not in us.  It is only a life rooted by faith in God that evidences a life of fruitfulness in a relationship with God.

GOD'S GAUGE OF GREATNESS

“Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, approached Him and said, ‘Teacher, we want You to do something for us if we ask You.’ ‘What do you want Me to do for you?’ He asked them.  They answered Him, ‘Allow us to sit at Your right and at Your left in Your glory.’  But Jesus said to them, ‘You don’t know what you’re asking. Are you able to drink the cup I drink or to be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?’  ‘We are able,’ they told Him.  Jesus said to them, ‘You will drink the cup I drink, and you will be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with.  But to sit at My right or left is not Mine to give; instead, it is for those it has been prepared for.’  When the ⌊other⌋ 10 ⌊disciples⌋ heard this, they began to be indignant with James and John.  Jesus called them over and said to them, ‘You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles dominate them, and their men of high positions exercise power over them.  But it must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be a slave to all.  For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life — a ransom for many.’” (Mark 10:35-45 HCSB)

Sit down in your car, and look at the instrument panel.   You will notice all kinds of gauges—oil pressure, amps, fuel level, temperature, speedometer. These are important—or you might find yourself stranded on the highway! It is also vital that the gauges be accurate, or a minor problem may lead to a major expense.

Did you know that God has given gauges for our spiritual life? Specifically, I want to examine our text for God’s gauge of greatness. We could get all kinds of opinions about what constitutes greatness. Only God has an accurate gauge.

First, we hear THE REQUEST FOR GREATNESS.

“Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, approached Him and said, ‘Teacher, we want You to do something for us if we ask You.’ ‘What do you want Me to do for you?’ He asked them.  They answered Him, ‘Allow us to sit at Your right and at Your left in Your glory.’” (v.35-37)

Were James and John wrong to request a position of greatness in the kingdom of God?

Spiritual ambition springing from the wrong motives or using the wrong means to attain it is a vice. Yet spiritual ambition rooted in a desire to glorify God and using godly means is a virtue.

I challenge you to find any Bible heroes who were not ambitious for the things of God. Paul pursued Christian excellence relentlessly. He challenged us, “Don’t you know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize?  Run in such a way to win the prize.” (1 Cor.9:24)

What can we discover about the request of the two brothers?

THE REQUEST SHOWS THEIR FAITH.

“Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, approached Him and said, ‘Teacher, we want You to do something for us if we ask You.” (v.35)

On the positive side, they used the right approach, expressing belief in His ability to answer.  This is pleasing to God: “Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him.” (Heb.11:6)

Many muddle along in mediocrity, never attaining the high calling of God because they never trust the power of God to do in them what they could never do themselves.

The request not only shows their faith, but THE REQUEST SHOWS THEIR FOCUS.

“‘What do you want Me to do for you?’ He asked them.  They answered Him, ‘Allow us to sit at Your right and at Your left in Your glory.’” (v.36-37)

Have you had a child ask, “Will you do something for me?” If you rashly agree to such a blanket request, you’re foolish.  Jesus isn’t going to agree to such. Though He who knew the hearts and minds of men, knew what they wanted, they needed to express it. Jesus wasn’t seeking information, but soliciting confession.

A similar incident follows in verse 46-52:

“They came to Jericho.  And as He was leaving Jericho with His disciples and a large crowd, Bartimaeus (the son of Timaeus), a blind beggar, was sitting by the road.  When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out, ‘Son of David, Jesus, have mercy on me!’ Many people told him to keep quiet, but he was crying out all the more, ‘Have mercy on me, Son of David!’

Jesus stopped and said, ‘Call him.’

So they called the blind man and said to him, ‘Have courage!  Get up; He’s calling for you.’  He threw off his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus.

Then Jesus answered him, ‘What do you want Me to do for you?’

“Rabbouni,” the blind man told Him, ‘I want to see!’

‘Go your way,’ Jesus told him. ‘Your faith has healed you.’  Immediately he could see and began to follow Him on the road.”

Too many prayers are generic—when God wants specifics.  Otherwise, if God answers how will we know and if we don’t know how can we give Him glory?  But, when we ask God for a particular thing and it happens, then we know it is God and express gratitude.

It is virtually useless to pray in sweeping generalities, “God bless the missionaries,” “God heal the sick,” “God save my neighbors.” Prayer becomes powerful when it becomes focused.

Maybe you remember one of the “Our Gang” comedies where Alfalfa decided to bring some firecrackers to school.  Some of them were hanging out of his back pocket.  No problem—until Porky took a magnifying glass and focused the sunlight on them.  That brought explosive results!  Such is the power of focus.

When James and John declare their request, we are not surprised at their hesitancy in asking at first.  It was, after all, rather audacious!  They wanted to be vice-president and secretary of state in Messiah’s administration! 

Do you long for something more in your spiritual life?  Do you believe in a big God who can do a big thing for you? What are you waiting for?  ASK!

Next we note THE REQUIREMENT FOR GREATNESS.

“But Jesus said to them, ‘You don’t know what you’re asking. Are you able to drink the cup I drink or to be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?’  ‘We are able,’ they told Him.  Jesus said to them, ‘You will drink the cup I drink, and you will be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with.  But to sit at My right or left is not Mine to give; instead, it is for those it has been prepared for.’” (v.38-40)

Christ gives the brothers a gentle rebuke.  James and John had calculated reward, but had not factored in the price.

We all have picked up an item in a store, and thought, “I’d like to have that.” Then we flipped it over and saw the price, and set it back down so fast, you’d have thought it burned our hand!  Some things are very expensive.  As I have heard John Maxwell say often, “You have to give up to go up.”

Consider THE PRICE OF POSITION IN THE KINGDOM.

“But Jesus said to them, ‘You don’t know what you’re asking. Are you able to drink the cup I drink or to be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?’  ‘We are able,’ they told Him.  Jesus said to them, ‘You will drink the cup I drink, and you will be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with.’” (v.38-39)

Jesus addresses the personal aspect of the cup and baptism. They are His. The cup is that which He drank in Gethsemane, and the baptism is that in which He was immersed on Calvary.

“They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. They were astonished, but those who followed Him were afraid.  Taking the Twelve aside again, He began to tell them the things that would happen to Him.

‘Listen! We are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn Him to death. Then they will hand Him over to the Gentiles, and they will mock Him, spit on Him, flog Him, and kill Him, and He will rise after three days.’”  (v.32-34)

If we would reign with Him, we must suffer with Him.

James drank the cup of martyrdom, being the first of the Apostles to die for the faith. John, as an old man, would be baptized in suffering, exiled to a rocky island of Patmos.  Doubtless, their status in the Kingdom will be great, but their suffering on earth was commensurate with it.

The price of position in the kingdom brings us to THE PRIVILEGE OF POSITION IN THE KINGDOM.

“But to sit at My right or left is not Mine to give; instead, it is for those it has been prepared for.’” (v.40)

One day, the rewards will be handed out. But the honors will not be passed out to friends as favors, as politicians often do to their patrons, but this privilege is reserved for those who earn it by faithfulness in life and service to God. How we sit in heaven will be determined by how we stand on earth. If you want to excel in your spiritual life, are you willing to pay the price? 

But, importantly, there is a need to grasp THE REVELATION OF GREATNESS.

“When the ⌊other⌋ 10 ⌊disciples⌋ heard this, they began to be indignant with James and John.  Jesus called them over and said to them, ‘You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles dominate them, and their men of high positions exercise power over them.  But it must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be a slave to all.  For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life — a ransom for many.’” (v.41-45)

The hypocritical reaction of the other apostles is interesting. This jockeying for position in the kingdom was a regular pastime of these men. They occupied themselves with frequent arguments about who was the greatest.  Sometimes spiritual sibling rivalry in the church is as bad—or worse—as the biological variety in the home.

Weigh for a moment THE HUMAN STANDARD REVEALED.

“When the ⌊other⌋ 10 ⌊disciples⌋ heard this, they began to be indignant with James and John.  Jesus called them over and said to them, ‘You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles dominate them, and their men of high positions exercise power over them.’” (v.41-42)

Power and might, possessions and influence, superior status and strength—this is greatness as the world measures it. Those standards are often carried into the church. A church is great if it has a big crowd, a large building, and a big budget. A preacher is great if he preaches to thousands, baptizes hundreds and is on T.V. each week. A Sunday School teacher is great if they have a huge class and a choir member is great if they are the featured soloist in the cantata.  Maybe, but, not necessarily.

It isn’t ultimately about the applause of men, but the approval of the Master that counts. Our Lord declares:  So, let us contemplate THE HEAVENLY STANDARD REVEALED.

“But it must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be a slave to all.  For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life — a ransom for many.’” (v.43-45)

At the close of this devotional, we come to the bottom line. God’s gauge of greatness is measured by our service and modeled by our Savior.

It is measured by our service.  “But it must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be a slave to all.” (v.43-44)

The Greek word for servant is the word from which we get our term “deacon” and it literally means, “through dust.”  It is a picture of one speeding along, sweeping up, stirring dust by their activity. 

Somebody has to do the dirty work. Have you kicked up any dust lately?

The even stronger word, “slave” is used.  A slave has no will of their own. He or she lives to do the will of their master. 

The great soul is one who fully obeys the will of God without question or hesitation.

Jesus set the standard.  He never demands what He is not willing to demonstrate.  It was modeled by our Savior.  “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life — a ransom for many.’” (v.45)

By man’s standards Jesus was a failure.  The more He preached, the smaller the crowds got.  The more love He showed, the more hate He received.  In the end, all His followers fled, the leader of the pack denied Him three times, and one of them betrayed Him with a kiss of affection.  Instead of a crown of gold, they thrust on His head a crown of thorns.  There was no throne—He was mounted on a cross.  He died and was locked up in a borrowed tomb. Yet, that supposed failure was the greatest of triumphs and this is the testimony:

“Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage.  Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death —even to death on a cross.  For this reason God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow—of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth—and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil.2:5-11)

I heard someone say years ago that the test of having a servant’s heart is how you react when someone treats you like one!

Remember the TV commercial, “How do you spell relief? R-O-L-A-I-D-S” 

How do you spell greatness? S-E-R-V-I-C-E!

What does your greatness gauge indicate right now?