An Outrageous Instinct
Tim Rice
January 16, 2023

Mark 10:32-45 (ESV)

32 And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him, 33 saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. 34 And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.” 35 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” 36 And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” 37 And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” 38 Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” 39 And they said to him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, 40 but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” 41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. 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. 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.”

Intro: What is the most outlandish request you’ve ever heard of?

GENTILE LORDS, JAMES, JOHN, & US
How are we enslaved to self-serving motivations?

THE AMAZING RANSOM
What did Jesus do about it?

A RE-WIRED WAY OF LIVING
What is ahead for all of us?

YOU CAN PRAY WITH US …
1 - Worship the LORD for His wisdom and mercy. Praise Him, Father, Son and Holy Spirit for His willingness to bear the costs of our destructive ways in order to save us as His own people.

2 - How have you lived as if you are blind to how broken you really are and ignorant of what is really on God’s heart? Confess your blindness to Jesus asking Him to open your eyes and heal you from your sin and ruin.

3 - Give thanks to Jesus for humbling Himself to serve and save us from all of our guilt and ruin. Thank Him for suffering the punishment we deserve for our sin, and obeying the Father in the life we owe Him in His good design.

4 - Who do you know that lives as if God has not conquered our greatest threats (living in fear or worry)? Pray for them asking the Lord Jesus to make His power and mercy known to them.

5 - Ask the Holy Spirit to work hope into your heart. Pray for His work of transformation, opening your eyes to His resurrection power and courage to humble yourself in a life of service.