JESUS' CONTINUED GOSPEL TEAHCING - HUMILITY

 

                        5.  JAMES AND JOHN: SEEKING TO BE GREATEST
                                                  Read Mark 10:35-45         

James and his brother John, the Sons of Zebedee, were called the "Sons of Thunder". They were quick to get angry at times, and also had a spirit of PRIDE, which they seemed to develop from their father. One day they were wer encouraged by their parents, specifically their mother, to seek some "special privlidges" from Jesus.

They wanted to follow their mother's wishes, but they were embarassed. They felt a little rejected when Peter was renamed annd was given "leadership" in as the Rock in the future Church. 

James & John: "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask."

Jesus: "What do you want me to do for you?"

James and John: "Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and one on Your left hand, in your glory."

Jesus: "You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink from the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized?"

James & John: "We are able."

Jesus: "You indeed will drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism that I will be batized, but to sit on My right hand and My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared."   Mark 35b-40 (NKJV)     

Like John and James, I was often jealous of the leadership my sister had in her Church. I always wondered why God never made me an elder in my Church. I felt Jesus was disapointed in me, as he with the brothers of Zebedee, and they needed to learn TRUE HUMILITY. I later leant as I served the Lord with my SERVICE IN MY CHURCH that this was what I had been chosen for. 

Jesus forgave me, as He did John and James , and in the New Testament, we discover that this main them was HUMILITY AND SERVICE. Just like the "culture of Jesus", HUMILITY is not just something we have, but something "we are called to do". 

"If we see HUMILITY as a discipline, not merely a virture, we better understand the task before us.  It has more to do than what we seek than what we become."                                                                                                                      Charles Swindoll

"If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all."                                                                                                                          Mark 9:35 (NASV)                      

TRUE HUMILITY comes from a place from "STRENGTH" - they have a desire to see the "well being of others".  Peter, like James and John, learned HUMILITY the hard way. He clothed his letter to the persecuted Christians with some spiritual advice.

"All of you, clothe yourself with HUMILITY toward one another, for god opposed the proud, but give grace to the HUMBLE. Therefore HUMBLE YOURSELF under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you." 1 Peter 5:5-7 (NASV)

In Christ's Kingdom John and James wanted to LIVE LIKE JESUS - HUMBLE SERVANTS. HUMILITY and SERVANTHOOD  was demonstrated later by Jesus ON THE CROSS!

     

 

                                       6. JESUS BLESSES THE CHILDREN 
                              Read Matthew 18:1-5, Mark 13-17 & Luke 18:15-17

"Thos who exalt themselve will be HUMBLED and those who HUMBLE THEMSELVES will be exalted." Luke 8:14b (NIV)

"Let the children comes to me and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone will not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." Luke 18:16&17 (NIV)

The disciples grew tired of the children and babies always being brought to Jesus by their mothers, but Jesus LOVED THEM. The children were the "picture of humility". Jesus wants us to be like children - he wants us to become "humble and childlike". 

"HUMILITY is not something that happens to us, it is something we we are supposed to do for ourselvelves. We do this by sacrificing our lives and serving Jesus. We, as His followers want to do this." Nicky Gumbel

"We need to take our focus of the things of the world and need set our hope on spending eternity with Jesus. As children of God, we need to "deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him". In way are you, as a child, "living for yourself, rather than God". Max Lucado

 

"THE HOLY BIBLE - NEW KING JAMES VERSION", 1982, Thomas Nelson

"THE HOLY BIBLE - NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE",1995, The Lockman Foundation

"THE HOLY BIBE - NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION", 2011, Biblica

"The Request of James and John" - The Chosen Series - Season 5 (2025), You Tube

"All to Jesus I Surrender/I Give it All", 2021, Josiah, Nathan and Sophia Lim: The Creative Trio (Performers), Judson Wheeler Van De Venter/Winfield Scott Weedon (Composer); Nicholas Hung and Grace Lim (Composers); Anticoch Music Publishing/You Tube

SWINDOLL, Charles.R, "So You Want to Be Like Christ?: Lesson 6: Humility - Bowing Lowing" (2005), W. Publishing Group, Thomas Nelson.

LUCADO, Max, "And the Angels Were Silent - The Final Week of Jesus", 1987,                                                                                                      Thomas Nelson

        GUMBEL, Nicky & Pippa, "Humble Yourself/Be Childlike - The Bible in Onr Year", Luke 18:15-17", 2009/2026, Alpha International/You Version