Blinded by Pride
Series: The Gospel Can't Be Contained
November 21, 2021
Frank Foreman
Since we don't always know the exact chronology of biblical events, sometimes a passage follows another that makes us wonder if some time had passed. In the case of this week's passage that Frank will be using, one can only hope so. ---------- After Jesus shared that he would go to Jerusalem--that he would suffer and die--it seems rather calloused for James and John to put in a seating request for when everyone would be in the kingdom of Heaven together, but that is essentially what happened. They asked for seats of prominence (in human thinking, at least) on the right and left hand of Jesus. ---------- At best, the request comes off as tacky. At worst, it is a horribly insensitive and prideful response to what Christ had just shared with them. Whatever the timing or thought process might have been involved, it indicates a high level of spiritual blindness for what Christ's kingdom would look like and be. So he uses the opportunity to teach deeper truths.
Episode Notes
(Journal) Mark 10:35-45
Big Idea: God hates pride and honor humility.
- Pride is dangerous, has devastating consequences, and must be avoided.
James 4:6, God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
Proverbs 16:18, Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
1st Peter 5:5b-6, Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you….
2nd Corinthians 4:3-4, And even if our Gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
Blinded by pride…. The apostles were:
1. Motivated by selfish ambition.
Matthew 20:20, Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to Him with her sons, and kneeling before Him she asked Him for something.
2. Filled with arrogant overconfidence.
Matthew 26:56, Then all the disciples left Him and fled.
3. Participants in ugly competitiveness.
Ephesians 6:12, For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
- Having given the greatest sacrifice…. Jesus received the greatest honor.
Philippians 2:9-11, Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in Heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
(Journal) Mark 10:46-52
- The King of Heaven was never too busy to serve the lost and hurting.
Next Step: Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. (Philippians 2:3)
Content Copyright Belongs to New Horizons Christian Church
6607