Think You Can Follow?

Of course, having the Gospels to read, we know rather quickly what all is going on and where things are going,  But, for the Disciples, they were having to live it day by day and they never saw that train coming!

In Mark 10:32-45, Jesus spells it out to them - again!- what is going to happen only weeks away.  And they did not get it ...  They wanted to be great in Jesus' foretold kingdom, the bad news, well let us just skip over that and get to the good stuff here Lord!

Live With The Consequences of Your Convictions
Jesus: I am going to die!
He says this eight times in the book of Mark.
It is the plan, it is His goal.
His accepted conviction: I am going to carry a cross and die on it.

Do you really think you want to follow me?

Live "Its not about me" Life
To the world, greatness is me, white teeth, hair, car, home, beautiful people, perfect lives.
To Jesus, greatness is my being a servant, lifting up others.

James and John wanted power, position, wealth - and they called first debs!
The others were jealous that they got caught unawares and could not call debs first!

The Disciples were CLUELESS!

Give Yourself Away
Remember:

• Be like a child
• Be like a slave
• Lead by example

This is crazy talk in this "all about me" culture and society!

But, in Jesus' Kingdom,  there is not a hierarchy of elite.  Wealth, power, fame, beauty, money. position, pedigree are all meaningless.  It is the humbleness of your spirit before God that He desires.

Anyone can be a servant.
Therefore, anyone can be amongst the greatest before God.

I have often thought on these verses.  At one Bible study a guy named Dave said that Billy Graham surely would be amongst the greatest.  I commented that it was probably the janitor that had to clean the toilets after Dave had been in there!  Some laughed, Dave hauled off and hit me - making my point for me.

Nothing against Billy Graham, I wish I had been called to spread God's Word to the world's millions.  But, that is not the role I was cast in.  Nor it seems was I to be the one to clean the toilets.  But, you have to do as asked - to serve Him, not yourself and often against the very fiber of your being.  God seems to like to stretch us beyond what we ever thought we were capable of.

I wish I knew the future.  I wish I knew what God is going to do with me.  But, in time, clueless Kris will learn - just as those Disciples did - what is coming and I hope I am ready for that train when it appears!