Sermon Audio

Jesus Marches On The City

Jesus has taught us that discipleship is cross bearing. We must die to ourselves so that we can live in Him. We have been called by Jesus to lay down all that is precious to us so that we will have empty hands with which to hold on to Him. In this scene, we witness Jesus striking out as our courageous leader who will be the first to lay down his life, first to suffer, first to forsake riches for the suffering of the cross. And he will do it because of the joy that is set before him. Jesus is the Courageous Leader.

Jesus Teaches His Disciples

Jesus is a courageous leader leading his disciples boldly into the hard place, and Jesus is at the same time teaching his disciples that leadership in the Kingdom of God looks like humble, servant leadership.

Bar-Timaeus Proclaims Jesus’ Davidic Identity

Previous to this moment in the book of Mark, Jesus has hushed, commanded to be quiet, and concealed all similar appellations. Here Jesus accepts the proclamations of honor from this Son of Honor and even rewards him by restoring his sight.

Before we leave this “Son of Honor”, notice what becomes of him. Jesus says to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way. Bartimaeus immediately becomes a disciple! He joins the troops of Jesus as He leads them on The Road to the cross. He follows Jesus and Jesus does not stop him. Jesus leads on. Jesus the Courageous Leader is servant of the downtrodden as he makes his way up the steep ascent to the city that slays its prophets.

Jesus Fulfills Zechariah 9:9-10 as The Humble King

9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. 10 I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall speak peace to the nations; his rule shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth. (Zechariah 9:9-10)

Jesus takes meticulous initiative in this his grand royal entrance into the City of David as the Great Son of David. The thing that his initiative accomplishes is to dramatically illustrate the very point that he has been teaching and demonstrating all day. Jesus is not the Messiah King that the Jewish people were expecting. Jesus is a humble Messiah King that comes to bring peace to his people. All of the weapons of war that The Lord had unleashed on them in fulfillment of the curses of the Old Covenant, Jesus is breaking. Jesus is bring peace between God and Man. Jesus is the ultimate Rich Young Man who is laying down all the riches of Glory and bowing his head down to death, even death on a cross. Jesus is the returning King of Jerusalem who brings righteousness and peace where his fathers were driven out in rebellion and shame.

The Crowds Proclaim Jesus’ Praise as Messiah King

At this moment in Jesus’ mission, the time for discretion was past. The time for the messianic secret was over and done. Jesus was now in the fight of his life. The fight to overcome the Evil One. The fight to defeat death by death. Jesus, the only Road to God, is leading his followers into the fray. He is indefatigably courageous. He is flawlessly humble and servant hearted. He is meticulously intentional in his initiative. Jesus is our perfect leader! Will you follow him?

Conclusion

This is the vision of leadership for disciples. Courageous, humble initiative. Disciples in leadership positions are not afraid to follow their Courageous Leader Jesus when the stakes are high. Disciples in leadership positions are not afraid to step out when they hear the call of Wisdom Himself (Jesus) showing them the right way. Disciples in leadership positions are courageous in the face of all opposition to the commands of Jesus. Disciples in leadership positions are courageous.

Disciples in leadership positions are courageously humble. Disciples in leadership are courageously humble when the Enemy mounts an attack on their humility. Disciples in leadership are courageously humble so that all who follow are drawn into the fellowship of our Great, Humble, Leader King, Jesus Christ.

Finally, Disciples in leadership positions are courageously humble initiators.] When you know that it’s the right thing to do, speak up. Initiate the conversation. Whatever it is, a plan for family worship, a proposal at work, an idea for outreach, speak up. Initiate. Then when there is criticism, be correctable. When there is push back, have the discussion.

Leadership is a different thing than authority. If you have been given the position of authority, you are the buck stopper, then you will have to draw lines in the sand at certain points, but that is not what I’m talking about today. Jesus, wasn’t acting in his role of authority when he was leading his disciples on the road to the cross. He was acting as a leader. He stepped out in courage. He led in humility. He initiated with boldness. “Therefore, let us look to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.” (Heb 12:2–3)