Chapter # 9 Paragraph # 5 Study # 3
May 16, 2023
Moss Bluff, Louisiana
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Thesis: "Greatness" in the Kingdom is rooted in prior "
ministry" effort.
Introduction: In our last study we looked into the extreme paganism of the attitude of The Twelve. It is "pagan" in that it is the extreme opposite to the actual character of God's Kingdom attitude. In our study this evening we are going to begin to look into what God is eventually going to establish: an everlasting Kingdom of "ministry-focused" participants. It might be profitable for us to realize just how great is the divine commitment to this "purpose":
Matthew 10:42 highlights the positive side of the degree to which God is going to go, and
Revelation 14:11 highlights the negative side of this "degree to which God is going to go".
- I. Jesus Describes His Kingdom In Terms Of Status In It.
- A. The fundamental issue is "kingdom inheritance", not "kingdom presence".
- 1. This major section of Mark's record is focused upon "seeing the Kingdom of God come with power" (this is the opening segment of the extended chiasm from 9:1-11:11).
- 2. "Seeing" the Kingdom of God signifies some apprehension of its essential nature.
- a. In the paragraph 9:1-13, this "seeing" is presented as 1) a vision of Jesus transfigured into One possessing the characteristics of The King, and 2) as it is coupled to a conversation with Moses and Elijah, and 3) associated with a deliberate "Voice From God" making a sharp distinction between Jesus and Moses and Elijah.
- b. These three parts to the "vision" are not at all about "who is allowed to enter", but, rather, "who is preeminent in the kingdom".
- 1) There is an element of "receiving" in 9:37 that is significantly involved, but that element is secondary to the more basic issue of 9:35 where "placement" in the kingdom is tied to the development of a "servant of all" mindset.
- 2) This issue of "servant of all" is developed by the issue of "receiving a child" as a basic contrast to the more general mindset of the disciples who are dismissive of children in respect to the "really important" issues of kingdom participation (10:13-14).
- B. The fundamental principle of "kingdom inheritance".
- 1. The striving of The Twelve for recognition as "superior" brought about an entirely new revelation regarding the nature of The Everlasting Kingdom of God.
- a. Above all is this: being "first" is directly connected to "greatness" (meizon; 9:34).
- 1) In 1:26 (and 5:7 and 15:34 and 37) this term describes "loudness" as a characteristic of one who thinks that what he has to say is sufficiently important to attempt to drown out all of the sounds of others.
- 2) In 4:32 it is used twice to refer to the stature of a plant compared to all other plants.
- 3) In 4:37 it is translated "fierce" in respect to a storm on the sea and in 4:39 it is used to refer to the "perfect" calm of the sea once Jesus has commanded the winds to cease. Then, in 4:41 it is used to describe the level of fear involved in the disciples who witnessed this great power of Jesus.
- 4) In 5:11 the "greatness" is of the number of swine (about 2,000) which were drowned.
- 5) In 5:42 the observers of the living daughter of Jairus are "completely" astounded.
- 6) In 9:34, 42, and 43 this "greatness" is of "status" in terms of "authority (10:42)" over others to dominate their choices and actions.
- 7) In 10:43 we have an exact parallel to our current text (9:34).
- 8) In 12:31 we are in the same context as above: "primary importance" (12:28-29).
- 9) In 13:2 it is the "impressiveness" of the temple and the stones with which it was built.
- 10) In 14:15 it describes a "large upper room" where the Passover could be celebrated by The Twelve.
- 11) In 16:4 it is used of the stone used to seal the tomb.
- b. There is an admission of the strength of "motivation": the longing to be "first".
- 1) Mark uses the word in respect to time where "first" means the initial circumstance(s) (as in 3:27; 4:28; 7:27; 9:11, 12; 9:35; 12:20; 13:10; and 14:12).
- 2) He also uses this word in respect to "the ones who possess a significant level of authority over others so that they are compelled to yield to this authority" (as in 5:21; 10:31; and 10:44).
- 3) Then there is the idea of "primary importance" (as in 12:28-29).
- c. Included in these uses is a kind of mixing/mingling in that sometimes all three ideas are wrapped up together.
- 2. The stated principle is: "If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all".
- a. This is a statement that addresses the absolute contradiction that exists between God and men in respect to what constitutes "greatness". It is the "greatness" of the need that is involved, to which the "greatest" in the Kingdom are subjected for their "ministry" (diakonia) labors for all eternity.
- b. What men "want" reveals their most basic values.
- c. "Wanting to be first" indicates the enormous bondage that came into creation when Lucifer introduced his "lust for preeminence".
- d. It is obvious that this insidious "lust" has, pretty much, captured humanity.
