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Series B – Fifth Sunday in Lent – Sunday, March 22, 2015 | Pr. Chris Rosebrough

Welcome to the Teaching Ministry of Kongsvinger Lutheran Church. Kongsvinger is a beacon for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and is located on the plains of Northwestern Minnesota. We proclaim Christ and Him crucified for our sins and salvation by grace through faith alone, and now, here’s a message from Pastor Chris Rosebrough:

Time Stamp	Transcript
0:27	The holy Gospel According to
0:30	Saint Mark chapter 10 verses 32-45
0:35	they were on their way up to Jerusalem
0:36	with Jesus leading the way and the
0:39	disciples were astonished while those
0:41	who followed were afraid again he took
0:43	the twelve aside and told them what was
0:45	going to happen to him we are going up
0:47	to Jerusalem he said and the son of man
0:50	will be betrayed by the chief priests
0:52	and teachers of the law they will
0:54	condemn him to death and will hand him
0:57	over to the Gentiles who will mock him
0:59	spit on him flog him and kill him
1:03	three days later he will rise
1:06	then James and John the sons of Zebedee
1:08	came to him teacher they said we want
1:11	you to do for us whatever we ask
1:13	what do you want me to do for you he
1:14	asked they replied let one of us sit at
1:17	your right and the other at your left in
1:20	your glory
1:22	you don’t know what you’re asking Jesus
1:24	said can you drink the cup I drink or be
1:26	baptized with the baptism I am baptized
1:29	with we can they answered
1:32	Jesus said to them well you will drink
1:34	the cup that I drink and be baptized
1:36	with the baptism I am baptized with but
1:40	to sit at my right or left is not for me
1:42	to Grant these places belong to those
1:45	for whom they have been prepared when
1:48	the ten heard about this they became
1:50	very indignant with James and John
1:52	because Jesus called them together and
1:53	said and Jesus called them together and
1:55	said you know that those who are
1:58	regarded as rulers of the Gentiles
2:00	lorded over them and their High
2:03	officials exercise authority over them
2:05	not so with you instead whoever wants to
2:10	become great among you must be your
2:12	servant whoever wants to be the first
2:13	must be slave of all for even the son of
2:16	man did not come to be served but to
2:19	serve and to give his life as a ransom
2:22	for many
2:24	in the name of Jesus
2:27	so our text this morning is quite an
2:29	interesting text let me recap for you it
2:31	will begin back at the beginning of it
2:33	in the gospel of Mark it says this they
2:36	were on their way up to Jerusalem with
2:38	Jesus leading the way the disciples were
2:40	astonished while those who followed were
2:43	afraid interesting little dichotomy
2:45	there again he took the twelve aside so
2:48	he pulls the 12 aside so think of it
2:50	this way is that when
2:52	people are going to be executed in
2:55	prison you know they make that long
2:56	Death March it’s called the dead man
2:58	walking this is what Jesus is doing
3:01	right now he’s on the Long March the
3:03	dead man walking to Jerusalem he knows
3:06	exactly what’s going to happen to him so
3:08	he pulls the disciples aside and decides
3:10	he’s going to let them in make it very
3:12	clear this is what’s going to happen
3:15	boys pay attention and he said the son
3:18	of man will be betrayed to the chief
3:19	priests teachers of the law they will
3:21	condemn him to death and will hand him
3:24	over to the Gentiles who will mock him
3:26	spit on him flog him and kill him three
3:30	days later he will rise
3:33	seems pretty straightforward right
3:36	well here’s their response so then James
3:40	and John the sons of Deputy came to him
3:42	teacher they said we want you to do for
3:44	us whatever we ask
3:46	what do you want me to do for you he
3:48	asked they replied let one of us sit at
3:50	your right and the other at your left in
3:52	your glory
3:54	now let’s kind of pause for a second
3:55	right here
3:57	men again I do things from the pulpit
4:00	that from time to time I understand
4:01	require me to turn in my man card this
4:04	is another one of those moments okay now
4:07	I’ve noticed that there’s a tendency in
4:10	marriages and the tendency is is that
4:12	the wife has a lot that she needs to say
4:15	guys have a tendency to get focused on
4:18	what they’re doing and sometimes when
4:21	those two things are happening
4:22	simultaneously guys have a tendency to
4:26	not hear the words of their wife
4:28	and you can tell you’re in trouble when
4:31	you hear these words because these are
4:33	the ones that come ringing through and
4:35	Pierce the Veil if you would are you
4:37	even listening to me
4:40	yeah now I’m sure this has never
4:42	happened in your marriage this is just
4:44	clearly mine but
4:47	one of those moments Okay g
4:51	Ianna lays this out I’m going to
4:53	Jerusalem they’re going to betray me
4:54	kill me mock me spit on me and I’m going
4:57	to die and Rise Again
4:59	that’s great Jesus hey can we have the
5:01	right and left hand seats of power when
5:04	you come into your glory
5:10	okay now if it was me I would actually
5:12	kind of freak okay it’s like
5:15	what’s going on here okay so notice
5:19	Jesus is kind of response you know first
5:22	of all he knows what’s coming and so
5:25	they ask him the question teacher we
5:27	want you to do whatever we ask what do
5:29	you want me to do for you you can almost
5:30	kind of hear it like
5:32	you know right they replied let one of
5:34	us sit at your right hand the other in
5:36	your left in your glory
5:37	and Jesus rather than become frustrated
5:40	with them says you don’t know what
5:42	you’re asking okay clearly none of the
5:45	words he just said
5:47	sunken it’s I mean it they just it’s
5:50	like a bullet ricocheting off of a brick
5:51	wall pure
5:53	Pew you know never penetrated right you
5:56	don’t know what you’re asking Jesus said
5:58	can you drink the cup that I drink or be
6:01	baptized with the baptism I am baptized
6:05	with now notice the dichotomy here Jesus
6:08	is the suffering servant he has not come
6:12	to be served but to serve this is the
6:17	way of the Cross this is the way of the
6:19	kingdom of God humble service love for
6:23	neighbor ultimately expressed in what
6:25	Christ has done for us while our old
6:28	Adam under the influence of sin death in
6:30	the devil thinks about power thinks
6:33	about Authority I want that cushy
6:36	position I want that promotion at work I
6:39	can’t wait till I’m in middle management
6:41	or even a senior vice president and I
6:43	have that corner office know what I’m
6:45	talking about because then people are
6:47	going to be listening to me all have
6:50	that personal assistant who is there for
6:53	my every beck and call and if I’m really
6:55	good at this man I can think about
6:57	making a run for Congress because then I
7:00	can write laws that everybody has to
7:02	obey because if they don’t
7:05	they’re going to be arrested and thrown
7:07	in prison that’s how powerful I am this
7:09	is how we operate is it not
7:11	you know I hate to say this but we’ve
7:13	all had similar thoughts you know we
7:16	kind of look at the way the world you
7:18	know operates and look at those people
7:19	in power and authority and we’re
7:21	thinking Hmm and so this is what James
7:24	and John are doing because they’re not
7:27	questioning whether or not Jesus is king
7:29	of course Jesus you’re the dude you’re
7:30	the man but since none of the other guys
7:32	have been shrewd enough to kind of come
7:34	in and ask for those cushy appointments
7:36	I mean the guy on the right and the left
7:38	those are the most influential power
7:41	positions in a kingdom after the king
7:43	all right
7:45	oftentimes the guy on the right and the
7:47	left they have a little bit of control
7:48	over who has access to the king
7:51	so this they want these cabinet
7:54	positions
7:55	yeah but see Jesus has not come to
7:59	establish the kingdom of God on Earth
8:02	his Kingdom’s not of this world
8:05	in fact
8:06	Jesus’s power is made perfect
8:09	in weakness
8:11	this is not how we operate so then they
8:14	talk so Jesus asked that question
8:18	can you drink the cup I drink or be
8:21	baptized with the baptism without which
8:24	I am baptized it’s a little confusing
8:26	words I like to quote
8:28	a pastor friend of mine Pastor swirly he
8:31	was my pastor for many years long ago
8:34	and his preaching on this text I think
8:36	he Nails it here’s what he said he said
8:38	Jesus’s cup and his baptism they are his
8:42	death where he drinks the poison cup of
8:45	sin and death the cup of God’s Wrath
8:47	poured out against sinful Humanity it is
8:50	where he is baptized into death for us
8:53	washed with our sin drowned in the flood
8:56	of God’s Wrath poured out on the world
8:58	rescued to this one man from Heaven his
9:01	death on a cross is a cup and it’s a
9:03	baptism his alone to drink and to be
9:06	baptized with only he can drink this cup
9:08	only he can endure this baptism with
9:10	which he immerses himself in the depths
9:13	of our sin and suffering and misery but
9:17	then Jesus says but you will be
9:19	baptized with my baptism you will drink
9:22	my drink they will have a share in
9:25	Jesus’s suffering and death they will
9:27	drink from his cup at his table when he
9:29	gives it to them and says take drink
9:31	this is my blood of the Covenant shed
9:33	for you Jesus drinks the Cup of Wrath so
9:37	that they and you and I may drink his
9:39	cup of forgiveness he drinks Jesus
9:42	drinks the accursed cup of the God’s
9:44	Wrath down to the dregs so that you
9:47	might drink the cup of blessing and with
9:49	the cup and the bread of his supper
9:51	Jesus gives you a share in his death in
9:54	his life and in his suffering and
9:55	sacrifice and His glory so you kind of
9:58	get the idea of what’s going on there
10:00	Jesus is going to be baptized into
10:02	suffering and death so that we can be
10:04	baptized also into God’s forgiveness and
10:07	blessing but as Christians we do partake
10:10	and share in Christ’s sufferings and
10:12	it’s notable to note this that James and
10:15	John
10:16	they suffered greatly suffered greatly
10:20	in fact John they tried to
10:22	execute him and failed James was
10:26	beheaded
10:27	so they did share in Jesus’s sufferings
10:29	so we come back to our text
10:32	James and John say well we can
10:35	and Jesus says you will drink the cup I
10:37	drink you will be baptized with the
10:39	baptism I am baptized with but to sit at
10:42	my right or left is not for me to Grant
10:45	now remember this the question was grant
10:47	us one decision you’re right and the
10:49	other at your left when you come into
10:50	your glory
10:52	which kind of begs the question
10:54	when did Jesus come into His glory
10:57	what was the most glorious moment for
11:00	Jesus
11:01	and you have to think the way Jesus
11:03	thinks in order to get this right you
11:04	can’t think of the way the world thinks
11:07	where was Jesus crowned where was this
11:11	coronation ceremony as king where was
11:13	Jesus declared to be the king of the
11:15	Jews truly as he is
11:17	he was on the cross
11:19	beaten scourged spit on mocked crucified
11:25	there’s Jesus on the cross suffering for
11:29	your sins and for mine and Stark naked
11:32	as a blue jay too with a crown of thorns
11:35	pressed into his head and that is his
11:38	greatest moment of Glory the placard
11:41	above him read this is Jesus the king of
11:44	the Jews
11:46	and there he is suffering and dying and
11:48	who was it that the father had chosen to
11:51	be on his right and his left when he he
11:53	came into his glory
11:55	two thieves
11:56	two thieves one of them confesses Christ
11:59	and is Forgiven the other mocks and
12:03	scorns Jesus and is not forgiven in a
12:07	sense kind of representing the sheep and
12:09	the Goat the sheep on Jesus is right the
12:11	goats on Jesus is left and yet Jesus is
12:14	King even of those who do not believe in
12:16	him that’s the sad part about it because
12:19	the one Thief is is going to be in
12:22	Paradise With Jesus that very day the
12:24	other Thief he’s going to spend eternity
12:26	in Hell foolishly too because there’s
12:28	Jesus dying on the cross for his sins
12:32	and so
12:34	who did God pick
12:36	not stately politicians Kings or princes
12:40	to be a Jesus is Rider left
12:42	the two common thieves
12:45	bleeding and dying for their sins while
12:48	Jesus was suffering the innocent one for
12:50	theirs
12:51	so this is why Jesus says
12:54	it’s I it’s not for me to Grant these
12:57	spots only the father can do that
12:59	and then Jesus the the text says this
13:03	then the ten yeah the other 12 disciples
13:05	they heard what John James and John did
13:07	and they became indignant with them
13:10	well it’s like oh why didn’t we think
13:13	about this I was like oh you know here
13:16	we are we’re going to Jerusalem great
13:18	things are going to happen of course
13:20	they’re not hearing any of Jesus’s words
13:22	about his suffering and death and these
13:24	guys got to Jesus first
13:27	and so they’re going to have the great
13:29	positions of Power and Jesus just puts
13:32	an end to all of it
13:33	here’s what he says you know that those
13:36	who regarded as rulers of the Gentiles
13:38	they lorded over them their High
13:41	officials exercise authority over them
13:44	not so with you
13:48	not so
13:51	God’s kingdom is not about building
13:54	kingdoms
13:56	at least in the human sense
13:58	you know I’m going to build a kingdom to
14:00	myself and the pastors fall into this
14:03	too I describe some of the churches out
14:05	there as kingdoms that are not kingdoms
14:08	of Christ but kingdoms of the pastors
14:10	who’ve built them huge multi-site
14:12	campuses with smoke and light shows and
14:15	tens and hundreds of thousands of people
14:17	watching and listening and sending in
14:19	millions
14:21	right yeah I think of Creflo Dollar this
14:25	last week
14:26	he put out a plea to the people in his
14:28	congregation to Pony up 300 bucks a
14:32	piece so that he can buy a 65 million
14:34	dollar jet
14:37	of course his justification was he needs
14:39	to fly around the globe to preach the
14:41	gospel
14:42	why can’t you go coach but
14:46	right
14:49	so the Gentiles they lorded over them
14:52	their High officials exercise authority
14:55	over them not so with you instead
14:59	whoever wants to become great among you
15:01	must be your servant whoever wants to be
15:04	first must be slave of all by way of
15:07	kind of a little digression on this
15:08	point if you’ve never read C.S Lewis’s
15:10	book The Great divorce it’s a
15:12	fascinating little book and it’s the
15:14	story of people in Hell who take a bus
15:18	ride to heaven and they’re met by the
15:21	people in heaven who love them now it’s
15:23	kind of a fascinating idea and the way
15:24	C.S Lewis puts it is is that anybody in
15:26	hell is welcome to come take the bus
15:28	trip to Heaven any time they want you
15:31	know it leaves on a regular basis and
15:33	sure enough you know as the story opens
15:35	up there’s a line a cue to get onto the
15:37	bus and people get on the bus and they
15:39	take the trip from hell to heaven and
15:41	you would think that that would convince
15:45	them I really want to be in heaven but
15:48	kind of the sad punch line in all of
15:49	this
15:50	is that all but one of them
15:52	go back to hell because that’s where
15:55	they would prefer to be fascinating
15:57	thing but while they’re there you get
15:59	this little vignette within the story
16:01	itself and um there’s a conversation
16:04	taking place between one of the
16:05	residents of hell and a loved one who is
16:07	in heaven who comes to plead with this
16:09	person to you know to stay and while
16:12	they’re talking all of a sudden there’s
16:14	this ginormous procession there’s horses
16:17	and trumpeters and you know this this is
16:20	a big commotion going on somebody
16:22	important is coming through right and so
16:25	you know the the guy from Hell says well
16:27	that person must have been you know a a
16:29	an amazing important powerful person
16:32	while they were on Earth
16:34	and the response was no she was a wash
16:37	lady from the south of London
16:40	I mean her big contribution was is that
16:43	she loved and cared for the orphans and
16:46	the street Urchins in her neighborhood
16:47	and fed them from her own food
16:52	wow
16:53	you think about that I think that’s what
16:55	Jesus is getting at here what we
16:58	consider great Jesus considers
17:01	judging you know it’s worthy of judgment
17:04	what we in this world consider to be
17:07	scornful and shameful and well lowly and
17:11	beneath us
17:12	those are the things that Christ
17:14	considers to be the most precious
17:17	we’re not here to rule people but to
17:20	serve
17:21	and that means go and find the lowliest
17:24	the most needy
17:25	the person who’s Down and Out cast to
17:28	this curb that Society overlooks
17:31	that’s where Jesus is
17:34	loving and serving them and he wants to
17:36	do that through you
17:37	these words challenge Us in the way we
17:39	think it’s completely backwards from
17:42	everything intuitively that we’re taught
17:43	in this country in the society and yet
17:47	this is how our Jesus is
17:50	so much so that like he said
17:53	he went to Jerusalem
17:55	and he suffered the shame of dying on a
17:57	cross for our sins
17:59	rather than flexing his political muscle
18:01	as king of kings and Lord of lords and
18:04	being able to call a legion of demon not
18:06	demons but Legion of angels to his
18:08	assistance if he had wanted to right to
18:11	come rescue him instead he stays on the
18:14	cross
18:15	to the very last
18:17	so that what was said by the Prophet
18:20	Jeremiah
18:21	time is coming declares the Lord
18:24	when I will forgive their wickedness and
18:27	I will remember their sins no more and
18:29	the reason why God does not remember
18:31	your wickedness in mind is because our
18:34	wickedness and our sins were accounted
18:38	for and punished they were punished by
18:41	God
18:42	and they were taken upon Christ he
18:45	suffers the punishment in your place
18:48	so the kingdom of God is nothing like
18:51	the kingdoms of Earth it’s not about
18:53	power flexing muscle and Authority it’s
18:56	about love and service that begins with
18:59	the King of Kings himself loving and
19:00	serving you and being found in the form
19:03	of a servant being born of the Virgin
19:05	Mary suffering under Pontius Pilate for
19:08	your sins and mind and now he calls us
19:11	because of what he has done for us to
19:13	take up our crosses and follow him and
19:16	love and serve our neighbors and not
19:19	Flex our Authority and try to Vie for
19:22	the greatest positions in the world it’s
19:26	all about service for neighbor
19:29	something to think about in the name of
19:31	Jesus Amen

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