He Changes Our Values
He Changes Our Values
- Greg Waybright
- Mark 10:31-46:0
- Life Changer
- 36 mins 34 secs
- Views: 1418
Pastor's Letter
He Changes Our Values - Week 7
All people exert influence in one way or another. We know that’s true of the boss or the teacher or the judge. But, I’m convinced it’s true of us all. Every time we have an encounter with another human being, we can encourage him with a positvie word, tear him down with a harsh criticism, or make him feel like a nobody by ignoring him. As I have studied the life of Jesus in Mark’s gospel over the years, I’ve become increasingly convinced that Jesus urged his followers to adopt with intentionality a distinctive way of using the influence we have. I believe that this “way of Jesus,” adapted and targeted to fit particular settings and contexts, is the only one that will build lasting and God-honoring relationships in our world. I am convinced about this for one reason, i.e., because it is what Jesus taught and did personally.
A
ll people exert influence in one way or another. We know that’s true of the boss or the teacher or the judge. But, I’m convinced it’s true of us all. Every time we have an encounter with another human being, we can encourage him with a positvie word, tear him down with a harsh criticism, or make him feel like a nobody by ignoring him. As I have studied the life of Jesus in Mark’s gospel over the years, I’ve become increasingly convinced that Jesus urged his followers to adopt with intentionality a distinctive way of using the influence we have. I believe that this “way of Jesus,” adapted and targeted to fit particular settings and contexts, is the only one that will build lasting and God-honoring relationships in our world. I am convinced about this for one reason, i.e., because it is what Jesus taught and did personally.
Never in history did anyone exert as much health-giving, hope-offering impact on people as Jesus. However, it is clear to me that for Jesus, the starting point for utilizing his influence was different from what many advocate in 21st-century America. The Christ-like person starts from the clear admonition to use any influence he has to serve. Jesus called us to serve in God’s mission, serve God’s people, and serve to God’s glory. As Jesus declared, “Even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).
Think of your family. What would happen if every person in the family made this commitment? “I will use every word I speak, every look on my face, and every deed that I do to bring peace and joy to my family today.” That kind of family would surely be different from most families in our community. This, of course, is what the Apostle Paul was longing for in our homes, churches, and communities when he wrote Philippians 2:3–5
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,
not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus
-Philippians 2:3–5
I know that this is not the way we are often taught to use authority in most current leadership books. But, Jesus’ way was rarely the way of the world. You have heard me say it before: “There is a paradoxical topography in the kingdom of God.”
In God’s eyes, the way up is down.
To His Glory,
Dr. Greg Waybright
Senior Pastor
Study Notes
He Changes Our Values - Week 7 - Study Notes
When people are asked what they most want in life, two things always come to the top of the list:
- Being happy (finding shalom, joy, abundant life…)
- Being successful (having my life count, establishing a good family, leaving a legacy, being productive, building something that lasts…)
When we read Mark 10, we discover Jesus teaches us that he is the one who is the key to both of these longings. Looking back on last week’s message about a wealthy young man, Jesus indicated that the shalom-filled life we are made for – what the young man called eternal life” – comes though placing our faith in the Lord Jesus. By faith, I mean the complete trust of all we are and have to Jesus. That man could not relinquish full control of everything to Jesus so he walked away from the “happiness” he wanted.
title="English
He Changes Our Values
Mark 10:31-46
When people are asked what they most want in life, two things always come to the top of the list:
- Being happy (finding shalom, joy, abundant life…)
- Being successful (having my life count, establishing a good family, leaving a legacy, being productive, building something that lasts…)
When we read Mark 10, we discover Jesus teaches us that he is the one who is the key to both of these longings. Looking back on last week’s message about a wealthy young man, Jesus indicated that the shalom-filled life we are made for – what the young man called eternal life” – comes though placing our faith in the Lord Jesus. By faith, I mean the complete trust of all we are and have to Jesus. That man could not relinquish full control of everything to Jesus so he walked away from the “happiness” he wanted.
Today, we return to see that the life of faith in which we find true happiness is also the life in which we are most “successful” – as God defines success. In our story today, Jesus talks to his closest followers about lasting greatness. In doing so, Jesus gave another of his shocking and utterly counter-cultural teachings. He said that the most successful life is a life focused on serving. If you ask, “How can I live a life that truly counts in this world?” then Jesus answers, “You find it through a life of service.” You don’t find many books being written today that teach us that, do you. So, let’s look at what happened. Imagine being one of the disciples being with Jesus and, at this time, begin very close to Jerusalem.
The Story: The Paradoxical Topography of the Kingdom of God
In 10:32-34, for the third time in his journey toward Jerusalem and the cross, Jesus took his disciples aside to tell them specifically about his impending death. The first was in 8:31-32:
He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this…
Even though Peter had just said Jesus was the Messiah, Peter’s response to Jesus’ words was this in v.32: Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. To this, Jesus rebuked him back, “Get behind me, Satan! You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but of men.”
With this kind of firm and plain talk from Jesus, surely the disciples would grasp that this man they had seen healing the sick, calming storms and raising the dead, knew why he had come and knew what he was doing. But, we see something quite shocking in Mark 9:31: Jesus spoke of his future a 2nd time, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.”
We expect the disciples to have grasped this point by now. But, look at what Mark tells us in 9:32-34: The disciples did not understand what Jesus meant and were afraid to ask him about it. Then, when Jesus was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.
At that point, Jesus simply told them, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the last, and the servant of all.” And, as you know, he took a little child – in their world the child was viewed as least significant person in a household – and Jesus welcomed him. Later, a man who was viewed as the greatest member of society, a wealthy and influential man, walked away from Jesus. The point: The last was first – the first was last.
So, Jesus taught clearly about his values. He followed up his teaching with the powerful real life applications of a child and a rich man. And he drove it home with the verse that ended last week’s text, i.e., 10:31 -- Many who are first will be last, and the last first. Surely the disciples understood now. Right?
Look now at the third time Jesus took up his teaching. It’s found in 10:32-24:
Again Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. “We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.”
I want you to look carefully at the very next sentence in the Bible’s report. 10:35: James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”
What a prayer! Have you ever prayed a prayer like that? I think many of our prayers have a lot of that self-seeking in them. Don’t you?
I imagine Jesus may have been a bit exasperated when he asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” And, callously they ask this man who has just said he is going to die in Jerusalem, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.” By that, they meant that they were sure that when he would enter Jerusalem, probably at that time a day away, he would set up his rule on the throne of David and would take up a position of prestige, power, wealth and authority. Life had been tough for the disciples up to this point and they thought that in Jerusalem, at last they would gain the positions of influence and affluence they desired so deeply. They would find happiness and greatness there. These were the values of their world and these were their values too. Do you remember Jesus words to Peter in 8:32? You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but of men. (Are your values those of God or of men?)
All week, as I’ve read and prayed about this text, I have sensed God saying, “Greg, you need to let me deal with you about what you value too. And, through my Word, I need to deal with what people at LAC value.” The “concerns of men” were so deeply rooted in these disciples that they became completely blind to the clear teaching of Jesus. I think we would be foolish to think that we’re immune to thinking the way the world thinks. We may not even be aware of how conformed to the world we are.
So, Jesus said to James and John, “You don’t know what you’re asking.” So, Jesus said, let me ask you this: Can you drink the cup I will drink and be baptized with what I will be baptized with? Jesus called his followers to “take up their cross” and deny themselves.” They want to tell others to carry their baggage. They want self-affirmation. Jesus would soon suffer and die to bring hope to a hurting world. Are they ready for that? Glibly they reply, “We can!”
“You will,” Jesus told them. He may have been shaking his head as he pondered their denseness. But, as you know, Jesus did not give up on these men. And, he knew the time would come when both of these men would suffer faithfully for the cause of Jesus.
Then, in 10:41, the other 10 disciples heard the conversation and became indignant. You know why, don’t you? James and John had been fast. They had been assertive. They had put themselves forward. They had done all the things that leadership books tell us to do. And, that meant that positions 1 & 2 in the new administration were now gone. The best available ones were 3-12. The other disciples were angry that, because of James and John getting to Jesus first, they could only get director level roles instead of vice-presidencies!! Come on, LAC folks – Isn’t this how the world thinks?”
To this, we read what I call “the hammer blow of Mark’s gospel.” Jesus, for the first time, declares specifically why he will die. He let them and us know how the greatest accomplishment in the history of the world would be brought about. Listen anew to Jesus’ words in 10:42-45 and ponder the meaning:
Jesus called his followers together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers in the world lord it over their people, and their high officials exercise clout over them for their own personal benefit. Not so with you! Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
And Jesus not only taught this but he lived it out. Jesus healed another man viewed as the “least of these”, a blind man named Bartimaeus, in 10:46-52. Then, he went directly into Jerusalem in chapter 11 where he would die as a ransom for these disciples and for us. As Pastor Tim Keller says so often, “Jesus alone lived the life we should have lived but haven’t -- and then died in our place the death we should have to die – but now don’t have to. When we place our faith in him, we find he is our ransom. He paid the penalty for our sins. He served us through incredible sacrifice on a cross. And, those of us who are ransomed by his death are sent to find our own greatness not through self-seeking but through service.
Do you remember that I began this message by saying that most people say that what they most want in life is happiness and productivity? Let me now say that Jesus declares that both are found not by thinking the way the world thinks but through faith in Jesus and service in his name. Let me try to put this into some real life situations for us:
A New Way of Life (which really is life as our Creator always been meant to be) – Two convictions:
- 1. A life of service is not about “lording over” others but about the intentional use of influence to bless others.
- 2. A life of service is the life that brings both lasting happiness and success.
Let me say a word about what I now call “a theology of power.” When we read Mark 8-10 about becoming like little children or about becoming servants of all, we may begin to think that we should run away from or deny those times when we are placed in roles of authority and influence. But, please notice that Jesus never denies the authority he has – nor does he tell us to. He simply—though forcefully – tells us not to use power the way the world usually does.
I have come to view power as a stewardship. Authority is a part of the world God has created. In Genesis 1-2, when God created us in his image, he created us with the ability to make a difference in this world. People were made to manage and care for the world. People were given the privilege of naming what God created. When we give a name, we exert authority. Surely, power can be misused and abused. We have countless examples of this throughout history and over all the world. I’m sure you can immediately bring to mind times in your own life when a boss, a teacher, a judge, a parent or even a church leader abused the authority he/she possessed. Still, I have had to come to grips with this, i.e., power vested in human beings is a part of the world as God made it. As a person made in God’s image, I have been entrusted with the ability to influence things around me. And you have been too.
Jesus says that the “concerns of man” (as he said to Peter in 8:32) make us want more and more power and incline us toward using our power “to get whatever we ask for (10:35).” We think that the more power we have, the greater we will be. And Jesus turns that way of the world on end. He says, “Those who are willing to be the least will be the greatest.”
But what that means is that we must think the way Jesus thought – not the way the world thinks. Daily, Jesus calls us to ask how we might use our words, our lives and our decisions to serve those around us. We are called to use whatever God gives us to seek justice where there is injustice, to show mercy when no one shows mercy and to walk humbly with God when everyone is living for himself.
And, I’m sure Jesus would say to each of us, “Don’t just apply this to others.” This past week, the Catholic Church has appointed a new Pope (Pope Francis I), a man who will have authority over 1.2 billion people! And, across the street, Fuller Theological Seminary has announced the apointment of a new president (Dr. Mark Labberton – a great choice), a man who will have authority over a slightly smaller number of people than Pope Francis. Our tendency might be to apply this text to people like them saying, “I hope they will use their roles to serve,” i.e., to deal with injustices, to bring blessing to others, and to speak for truth.” And let us pray for them that they will.
But let me tell you this: You have influence too. “How?” You might ask. “In countless ways,” I answer.
So, let me apply this to our homes. If you’re still living at home, imagine your family. Let’s say you have a sister. You know that you can get on your sister’s nerves simply by saying a phrase she hates. Sometimes you can do it by a certain kind of look on your face. You know that don’t you? What if you woke up each day making this commitment, “I am going to use my words and expressions to serve my sister.” Could things change around the house if you did that?
Parents, what would happen if you intentionally used the enormous influence you have over your children’s life – not perhaps to make them seem more successful or to control them but to help them flourish. My point is that each member of a family can destroy a family. Or, each member can use his words or actions to encourage others in the family. God has given us the power to do that. We are made in his image. You can destroy the peace in your family – or you can be the peace-maker. You can leave the whole family wondering where you are when the family has a big event planned or you can seek to communicate when you are late. You can live with the attitude of James and John saying, “I want you to do whatever I ask” or you can seek to make a contribution to benenfit the others. You and I have power! We’re made in the image of God. What we do makes a difference in our families. And we can use that influence either to further our own desires or to bless those those around us through service.
And the same thing is true with every walk of life. We have an impact on every relationship we have every day we live. Jesus was talking about a new way of life in this text. It was life lived as he lived it. This perspective of “looking to the interests of others as greater than our own” forces us to turn the world’s usual way of thinking on end. It affects how:
- We drive the car. Will we have our way and not let that other diver in our lane or…?
- We conduct our friendships. Will I go to the burger restaurant my friend loves or the vegetarian one I’ve asked for the last three times…?
- We work. Bosses, will we make the workplace a place of “just wages” for our employees and to provide opportunity for people to flouish under our authority or will we just think about more and more prodictivity? Workers, will you work as unto the Lord and make the workplace a joy for those who work near you or…”
- We affect our neighborhood – Will we can go out each day looking for opportunities to serve each one who crosses our paths with a smile, a word of encouragement or a sacrificial act of kindness? Or, will we ignore people – or irritate them almost to death?
A life of service as Jesus teaches us is a call to a way of life. What Jesus calls us to do is use whatever influnce – which is enormous -- we have to be a blessing to those around us.
And, Jesus wants us to trust him in this too: There is great joy in living a life not of self-seeking but of service to others. Do you believe that? Hebrews 12:2 says that Jesus found his joy in this service to you and me: Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith who, for the joy set before him, endured the cross, scorned its shame, and sat down with his work complete…” Do you see it? People say they most want happiness and success. Jesus responds to those human longings by saying true happiness (abundant life) and success (lasting greatness) come through service. The greatest act in history was accomplished through service (i.e., through Jesus’ cross) – and it brought Jesus joy to serve us. The same will be true of us. We will find joy not through self-centered living but through serving others.
A newer field of study called “positive psychology” seems to affirm this. Psychologists in this field study human behavior across cultures to find out what beings people lasting satisfaction. One finding is very interesting to me. In a series of studies conducted by researchers Brickman and Campbell called Hedonic Adaptation, extensive research demonstrates defintively that people do not find lasting happiness through money, beauty, or fame. Bottom line: When people focus on doing things that bring them personal happiness or getting things that give them pleasure, they do not find lasting happiness. They say this is true for all people in all cultures. Instead, they insist, you will enter the “hedonistic treadmill” on which you become addicted to pleasure and the need for the “pleasure fix” will keep escalating. The hedonic treadmill studies argue that the best way to increase happiness is to do acts of selfish kindness, to pour selves into the needs of people.
In last week’s message, I spoke about the fact that finding lasting happiness in life, i.e., finding eternal life, begins when we obey the first great command and put God first in our lives. The rich young ruler could not put respond to the call of God in his life because possessions weighed him down. He could not give up wealth even when Jesus called so he went away without the life he longed for.
Today, we find that we discover true greatness – godly success – in life by obeying the second great command, i.e., love your neighbor as yourself. And that love is demonstrated the way Jesus always did it – by serving those God brings across our paths.
Think about it: Just before going to Jerusalem to die, Jesus said that he had come to give his life to free us from our sin, shame and guilt. He came not to be served but to serve and to give his life for us. And he calls you and me to do the same. Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.”
If people say they most want happiness and success, Jesus says those two things are what he died to make available to us. Of course, they come with his definitions of the terms “happiness” and “success”. Happiness is not some giddy and fleeting moment of pleasure but finding the life God made you to have. And success is not personal prestige and productivity -- but greatness through service.
Jesus turns our world’s values upside down. In the eyes of the Son of God, the way up is down.
To His glory,
Dr. Greg Waybright
Senior Pastor
Chinese
耶穌改變我們的價值觀
馬可福音 10:31-46
當人們被問及在生活中最想得到什麼時,最常見的兩個答案是:
1. 幸福(得著平安、喜樂、豐富的生活)
2. 成功(生命有價值、建立好的家庭、留下遺產、對別人有益處、建立一些可以傳承的東西……)
當我們讀到馬可福音10章,我們發現耶穌教導我們,祂是這些盼望的答案。回溯上周有關年輕財主的信息,耶穌指出,我們期望得到的充滿平安的人生——就是那個年輕人所說的永生——來自於我們在主耶穌裡的信心。信心,我指的是把我們自己和我們所有的完全交托給耶穌。那個年輕人不能把所有的控制權交給耶穌,因此他離開了他想要的“幸福”。
今天,我們再來看看在信心裡的生活,就是我們可以找到真幸福的生活,也就是我們最“成功”的生活——神所定義的成功。在今天的故事裡,耶穌向祂身邊的追隨者講述永恆的偉大。在講述的過程中,祂又給人另外的一個震撼和完全反文化的教導。祂說最成功的人生在於服侍。如果你問:“我怎麼才能在世上活出真正的價值?”耶穌回答說:“你可以通過服侍的生活找到它。”你可以找到很多這方面的書。今天讓我們來看看聖經上說了些什麼。假如你是耶穌身邊的門徒之一,那個時候,已經離耶路撒冷很近了。
故事:神國中的吊詭形式
在10:32-34中,在朝向耶穌撒冷和十字架的行程中,耶穌把祂的門徒拉到一邊,第三次告訴他們祂即將面臨的死亡。第一次是在8:31-32:
“從此,他教訓他們說:‘人子必須受許多的苦,被長老、祭司長,和文士棄絕,並且被殺,過三天復活。’ 耶穌明明的說這話……”
雖然彼得剛剛說過耶穌是彌賽亞,但是彼得在32節中對耶穌的話語的反應卻是:彼得就拉著他,勸他。對此,耶穌責備彼得:“撒旦退我後面去!你體貼人的意思,卻不體貼神的意思。”
通過耶穌這種堅定而直白的話語,想必門徒們應該明白這個可以醫治病人、平靜風浪和讓死人復活的人,究竟為什麼來到世上以及祂正在做什麼。但是,我們在馬可福音9:31看到非常震驚的一幕:耶穌第二次談論祂的未來,“人子將要被交在人手裡,他們要殺害他;被殺以後,過三天他要復活。”
我們希望那時門徒都能明白耶穌的意思。但是,在馬可福音9:32-34中:門徒卻不明白這話,又不敢問他。耶穌在屋裡問門徒說:“你們在路上議論的是什麽?”門徒不做聲,因為他們在路上彼此爭論誰為大。
在那時,耶穌簡潔地告訴他們:“若有人願意做首先的,他必做眾人末後的,作眾人的用人。”你知道,接著耶穌帶來一個小孩子——在當時,孩子被看做是家庭中最重要的人——耶穌歡迎他。而後來,一個社會上的偉大人物,富足且有影響力的人,反倒離開了耶穌。觀點:末後的要成為首先的,首先的要成為末後的。
在這裡,耶穌清楚地講到了祂的價值觀。祂接下來的教導是關於小孩子和富人的現實生活的對比。上周我們帶著一句經文回家的,就是10:31:有許多在前的,將要在後;在後的,將要在前。想必門徒們現在已經明白了,是嗎?
現在讓我們第三次來看看耶穌的教導。這是在10:32-34:
他們行路上耶路撒冷去。耶穌在前頭走,門徒就希奇,跟從的人也害怕。耶穌又叫過十二個門徒來,把自己將要遭遇的事告訴他們說:“看哪,我們上耶路撒冷去,人子將要被交給祭司長和文士,他們要定他死罪,交給外邦人。他們要戲弄他,吐唾沫在他臉上,鞭打他,殺害他。過了三天,他要復活。”
我希望你仔細看看聖經中的下一句經文,就是10:35:“西庇太的兒子雅各、約翰進前來,對耶穌說:‘夫子,我們無論求你什麽,願你給我們作。’”
這是禱告啊!你是否曾經有這樣的禱告?我想我們的很多禱告是在追逐私利,不是嗎?
我想像耶穌在回答的時候已經有點憤怒:“要我給你們做什麼?”而門徒則冷漠地請求這個即將死在耶穌撒冷的人說:“賜我們在你的榮耀裡,一個坐在你右邊,一個坐在你左邊。”他們相信,當耶穌進入耶路撒冷,可能在某一天,祂將在大衛的寶座上建立自己的統治,擁有威望、影響力、財富和權力。門徒的生活一直很艱苦,因此他們認為在耶穌撒冷,最終他們會獲得權力和財富,他們對此充滿渴望。在那裡,他們會找到幸福和成功。這就是當時社會的價值觀,也是門徒的價值觀。你還記得耶穌在8:32中對彼得所說的話嗎!你不體貼神的意思,只體貼人的意思。(你的價值觀是來自神,還是來自人?)
在這一周裡,當我閱讀這段經文並進行禱告時,我感覺到神在說:“Greg,你需要讓我來處理你看重的東西。通過我的話,我要處理在LAC教會的人所看重的。”“人的意思”一直深深紮根在門徒之中,他們對耶穌的話充耳不聞。我想我們會愚蠢地認為我們不會受這個世界的價值觀的影響。我們甚至不知道自己是如何隨波逐流的。
耶穌對雅各和約翰說:“你們不知道所求的是什麼。”耶穌說,我來問你:我所喝的杯,你們能喝嗎?我所受的洗,你們能受嗎?耶穌呼召跟隨祂的人要“舍己並背起他的十字架”。而門徒想告訴大家要背起行李,要自我肯定。耶穌很快要受苦和受死,要給這個受傷的世界帶來希望。門徒做好準備了嗎?他們沒經過大腦就說:“我們能!”
而耶穌告訴他們:“你們要能。”當耶穌想到他們的愚蠢時,祂可能一直在搖頭。但是,你知道,耶穌沒有離棄這些人。祂知道時候將到,這兩個人將會因為耶穌而受苦。
在10:41中,另外的10個門徒聽到這段對話時就很惱怒。你知道為什麼,對吧?雅各和約翰動作一直很快,而且他們不顧別人,他們想讓自己超前。他們在做那些領袖書籍讓我們做的事情。這意味著新政府裡的頭兩把交椅已經被預訂了。後面的人只能排在3-12的位置了。其他的門徒對此很氣憤,因為雅各和約翰先趕到耶穌面前,他們本來是主管的水準,卻要做副總統!!LAC的弟兄姊妹們,這難道不是這個世界的想法嗎?
我把這個稱作“馬可福音的錘擊。”在這裡,耶穌第一次具體地講到祂為什麼會死。祂讓門徒和我們知道歷史上最偉大的成就即將發生。讓我們重新聽聽耶穌在10:42-45中的話,並思考其中的含義:
“你們知道,外邦人有尊為君王的,治理他們,有大臣操權管束他們。只是在你們中間,不是這樣。你們中間,誰願為大,就必作你們的用人;在你們中間,誰願為首,就必做眾人的僕人。因為人子來,並不是要受人的服事,乃是要服事人,並且要捨命作多人的贖價。”
耶穌不僅講論這些,而且實際做了。在10:46-52,在醫治巴底買的瞎子時,耶穌向我們展示了“之中最小的”。在11章中,祂徑直進入耶穌撒冷,祂為了拯救門徒和我們,要死在那裡。作為牧師,Tim Keller常說:“耶穌一個人活出了我們本該活出卻沒有活出的生命——祂在我們的地方替我們死了——而如今我們不必死了。當我們把信心放在耶穌身上,我們就知道祂是我們的拯救。祂為我們的罪受了刑罰。祂通過難以置信的十字架上的犧牲服侍了我們。我們這些因祂的死而得救的人,發現我們的偉大不是在於自我追尋,而是服侍他人。”
你記得在開頭我曾講過,多數人說他們最想要的是幸福和成功的生活。現在我要說,耶穌宣稱,要找到這種生活,不是靠這世界的方式,而是靠在基督裡的信心和奉祂的名的服侍。讓我來把這些和我們的實際生活連結一下:
全新的一種生活方式(其實實在是造物主創造我們的時候定意人類原有的 生活方式) -兩種信念
1。 服事的生活不是" 管轄"人,而是刻意用影響力來祝福人。
2。服事人的生活方式同時帶來幸福和成就。
我用一個叫做"能力神學" 的字來說起。我們念馬可8-10 節中有關像一個小孩和做眾人的僕人的經文,可能會想那麼我們就當遠離,或否定有時候擔任一個有權力和影響的位置和角色。可是,請留意耶穌從來沒有否定祂的權威,祂也從來沒有告訴我們要否定權威。祂只是說-強調我們不能用世界常用的方式來使用權力。
我看權力為一種管家的身份。權威是神創造世界的一部分。在創世界1-2 章神按著祂的形象造男造女。祂造我們的時候賦予我們權力可以給世界帶來影響。人類被造是為了管理和看守這個世界。人類賦予特權為神創造的來命名。人在命名時就行使權力。當然權力可以被誤用和濫用。 在世界人類歷史中有無數的這樣例子。相信你馬上會想到在你生活中曾經遇到過老板,老師,法官,家長甚至教會領袖濫用他或她擁有的權力。 雖然如此,我還是深信人类被赋予权力是神创造世界的一部分。作为一个按照神的形象被造的一个人,神託付我們能力來影響我們周遭的事物。你也一樣。
耶穌說" 體貼人的意思"(8:32 祂對彼得說的話) 使人渴求越來越多的權力,使人傾向於行使人的權力"無論求什麼,願你給我們做(10:35)。"我們以為權力越多就越偉大。耶穌把世界給倒轉過來。 祂說:"只是在你們中間,誰願為大,就比作你們的用人。"
但是這個意思是說我們要像耶穌一樣思想-不是像這個世界的思想。耶穌叫我們可以每天祈求我們怎樣用我們的言語,生活和決定來服事我們周圍的人。 神呼召人使用祂給我們的一切,在不公平的地方尋求公義,在缺乏憐憫之地給予慈愛和恩典,在人人為己而活的世界中,存謙卑的心,與上帝同行。
而且,我確信耶穌會對我們每個人說,“不要將這只是應用在別人身上。”在過去的這一周,天主教會任命了一位新教宗(教皇弗朗西斯I),他有權力統治十二億人!而且,在我們街道對面,富勒神學院公佈新近命名的一位校長。(馬克博士 - 真是個好選擇),比起教皇弗朗西斯,他的主權管理的人群為數稍少一些。我們的傾向可能是把這篇信息用在這些人身上,說,“我希望他們充分利用他們的職權地位和角色來服務大眾”,比如:對付不公義的事,帶給人祝福,並成為真理的出口。“ 我們為他們祈禱,使他們可以勝任。
但我告訴你:你也具有影響力。你可能會問,“怎麼會?” 我的回答是,“有無數的方法。”
所以,讓我以我們的家來舉例。如果你還住在家裡,想像你的家人。比方說,你有一個姐妹。你知道你可以用簡單地說了一句令她討厭的話來惹她不高興。有時候,你能用某種臉色來惹她。你知道,對嗎?如果你醒來的每一天,做這一個承諾,“我會用我的話語和表情,來幫助我的姐妹。”如果你這樣做,家裡面的情形會如何改變呢?
父母們,如果你們用心運用你們在孩子們生活中所具有的莫大的影響力,知道會產生什麼樣的結果嗎? - 不是讓他們看起來更加成功,或控制他們,而是幫助他們的生命蓬勃發展。我的意思是,每一個家庭成員可以摧毀一個家庭。或者,每個成員都可以用他的話或行動,鼓勵在家庭中的其他人。上帝給了我們權力這樣做。我們是在祂的形象中被造。你可以在你的家庭破壞和平 - 或者你可以做一個帶給家人和平的人。你可以當家人有計畫要做家庭活動的時候,讓全家人擔心不知道你在那裡,或者你遲到了,但尋求溝通。你抑或像雅各和約翰一樣的態度,說,“願你給我們做”。還是尋求為別人做些貢獻,做對別人有益的事。我和你是有能量的!我們在神的形象中被造。我們的行為對家人是有影響的。我們可以利用這種影響力,來促成自己的願望,或是通過服事別人,來祝福在我們身邊的人。
在我們日常生活中這依然是真理:我們可以影響自己的每一個關係。在這些經文中,耶穌談到一種全新的生活方式。耶穌就過著這樣的生活:“看別人的需要大過自己的需要”,這使我們得以扭轉屬世的觀點。這影響著:
- 我們開車時,是否允許別的車進入我的車道。
- 我們如何把握友誼。當我們決定去餐館時,是按朋友的喜好去一家漢堡店還是堅持我說,已經去了三次的素食店。
- 我們的工作中。作為一個老闆,我們是用我們的權力營造一個使員工不僅得到工資,也有機會發展的工作場所;還是僅僅向他們索取更高的效率?作為一個僱員,你是否像在為主做工,並努力使你的同事歡喜?
- 我們處理鄰里關係時,我們是否用一個微笑、一句鼓勵的話、或者一個謙讓的舉動來服事遇見的每一個人?還是我們對人們視而不見?還是我們打攪別人,令其煩得要死?
象耶穌教導的,過服事的生活是一種呼召。耶穌呼召我們用自己所有的影響—巨大的影響力—來祝福周遭的人們。
並且,耶穌要我們在這一點上信靠祂。當我們放棄追逐私利去服侍他人,我們的生活就滿有喜樂。你是否認同這點?希伯來書12:2說耶穌在服侍你我的時候感到喜樂。讓我們“仰望為我們信心創始成終的耶穌,祂因那擺在前面的喜樂,就輕看羞辱,忍受了十字架的苦難,直到完成了工就坐下…”。你看見了嗎?人們說渴望幸福與成功。耶穌的回應是:真正的幸福(豐盛的生命)及真正的成功(持久的偉大)來自事奉。歷史上最偉大的行動是通過事奉完成的(例如通過耶穌的十字架)--耶穌服事我們的時候帶著喜樂。在我們也一樣,我們可以通過放棄自我中心,通過服事他人找到喜樂。
一個較新的研究領域叫'積極心理學'證實了這點。心理學家們研究了不同文化人們的行為,試圖找到使人們持久滿足的關鍵。其中一個發現令我非常感興趣。由Brickman 和Campbell 領導的一系列研究叫'改編的享樂主義'。大量的證據毋容置疑地顯示,人們無法從金錢、美貌、名譽中得到持久的幸福感。底下註釋:當人們關注於尋求個人幸福或個人快樂時,他們無法找到持久的幸福。研究者們說這在不同文化中都是真理。取而代之的是:你會進"享樂主義走步機",你會對快感上癮,穩固快感的需要將逐步升級。 "享樂主義走步機"研究強調增加快樂的最佳方法就是要用自我仁慈的行為,對有需要的人傾出自我。
在上週的信息中,我談到生命中持久的幸福如找到永生,始於我們服從最大的誡命—將神放在我們生命中第一位。這個富有的年輕人被財產拖累,無法響應神在他生命中的呼召。當耶穌呼召他時,他無法放棄財富,於是無法得到他盼望的生命,空手離去。
今天,我們發現了真正的偉大—敬虔的成功—服從第二條誡命,愛人如己。而這種愛,正是耶穌每天這麼行、這麼教導我們的:服事神帶到你道路中的每一個人。
想像一下:就在前往耶路撒冷受死前,耶穌談到祂來就是要將我們從罪性、羞恥、罪行里釋放。祂來不是為了被服事,而是為了服事我們,並給我們生命。祂也呼召你我去做同樣的事。在你們中間,谁愿為首,就必作眾人的僕人。
如果說人們渴望幸福與成功,耶穌說祂的死就是要令這兩樣東西成為可能。當然,祂對這兩樣東西有自己的定義。幸福不是令人目眩的、飛逝的快樂瞬間,而是找到神預備給你的生命。而成功也不是個人的威望和效率(權勢與財富增長速度),而是通過服事的偉大。
耶穌完全顛覆了世界的價值觀。在神子眼中,向上的道路乃是往下走。
祂的荣耀,
格雷格Waybright博士
主任牧師
Greg Waybright • Copyright 2013, Lake Avenue Church
Study Guide
He Changes Our Values - Week 7 - Study Guide
He Changes Our Values
Mark 10:31-45
- Read the passage for the day. How did v. 31 lay the foundation for what happened in the episode that followed it?
- Read vv. 32–34. This is the third time Jesus insisted that he had come to die. How would you have responded to this if you had been one of the disciples?
- Vv. 35–37 contains a prayer by James and John. What do you think of this prayer? Have you ever heard anyone pray a prayer like this? Have you?
- Why do you think the other disciples were indignant with James and John in v. 41? Have you ever experienced anything like this happening?
- What lessons do you learn from vv. 42–45? How can they be applied in your family? In your workplace or school? In the church?
- What is the most important lesson you would like to apply to your life from this passage?
2013 Study Series • Copyright © 2013, Lake Avenue Church