Do Your Best to Be Last

I. Introduction (Mark 9:33-37; 10:31)

A. I hate being last

1. Most people hate it too if you would be honest
2. I hate arriving somewhere last, and being last in line
3. It seems like all the smart people, wealthy, popular people are always in the front
4. It’s the worst to be the very last in a long line

B. Well, Jesus loves those that are the last more than they who are thought to be the first

C. He wants everyone to try very hard to be Last

D. And He proves that it is GOOD to be bad

E. I’ll show you…

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II. Message

A. Children First? (Mark 10:13-16)

1. Parents were trying to bring their children to see Jesus and hear Jesus and to get Jesus to touch them and bless them - it’s still right to do

2. Little children are not seen as important in most cultures - only in Christian societies

   • Young children require a lot of our attention
   • Are usually inconvenient - get in the way
   • Cost a lot of money to feed and clothe and take care of
   • Take forever to become useful and productive in society
   • Basically have no place in an “Adult World”
   • So, the next time you hear people talking about how important Children are, remember it is only because JESUS said it - not the news media!

3. Well, the disciples of Jesus fell into that kind of thinking

4. But Jesus gently rebuked them

   • He said, “These who are the least important to men, are most important to God”
   • And need to be gotten to Jesus as soon as possible - as young as possible
   • Why?

5. Because THEY are what the kingdom of God is like

6. And everyone who wants to get into the kingdom of God needs to become just like LITTLE children

7. THIS sets the stage for Jesus to teach to today’s culture about settling for last place

B. A Rich Man’s Request (Mark 10:17-22)

1. Meet a rich Jewish man wanting eternal life - what a desire! To live forever!

   • Running to Jesus - shows great desire, very intent on something
   • Honouring Jesus - shows great respect to Jesus, even though a poor teacher
   • Basically wanted to find out what he had to do to get eternal life

2. Did you notice he called Jesus ‘GOOD’ - you don’t do that!

3. Jesus responds, “There is NONE good except God” - let that sink in

   • Jesus IS good - but only because He is God - no other reason
   • All other forms of ‘good’ men and women are only humanly good - but none are truly good - none!

4. Jesus asks, “Have you tried keeping the commandments?”

5. “Yes! Yes I have kept all those as long as I can remember! I am a good boy!” (At least in the eyes of the world)

6. Jesus loved this man (10:20) - truly loved this man’s soul

7. “Just One More Thing to Do…”

   • Obey the LAST commandment - Thou shalt not covet
   • God says Coveting is actually IDOLATRY (Eph 5:5; Col 3:5)
   • So, Let every THING you own go

8. But he went away grieved - hurt, disappointed, let down, very sad

   • He couldn’t keep THAT commandment - there will always be ONE (James 2:10)
   • He had to choose between:
     • Riches NOW or Riches LATER
     • Self-Righteousness, or NO righteousness
     • His crown, or a cross
     • Great possessions, or a great Saviour
     • A Rich Life, or Eternal Life
   • He chose the wrong one!

C. A Surprising Truth (Mark 10:23-27)

1. Rich people are NOT going to heaven!

2. It’s not money that keeps a man out of heaven, but the TRUSTING in it

3. Truth is: it IS hard to let go of our money and possessions

4. THAT’s why it will always be easier for a camel to squeeze through the eye of a sewing needle, than for a rich man to actually STOP trusting his riches and instead fully trust Christ!

5. Listen to the Apostle Paul’s secret of happiness… (1Tim 6:6-8)

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

6. So, here is their question… If RICH people, who everyone believed were GOOD, aren’t going to heaven, WHO CAN be saved?
   • Jesus responds, Anyone can…
   • Because Salvation is GOD’S work, not ours (Rom 8:33,34)
   • No one is outside of salvation - anyone can be saved

D. Peter’s Worry (Mark 10:28)

1. It’s strange, but Peter is worried whether HE has done enough to have eternal life

2. Listen to him…

   • So, WE have left everything and lost everything just to follow you
   • All that we now have is only YOU - is that really enough?

E. Jesus’ Promise (Mark 10:29-30)

1. Oh you have it good, Peter

2. Because no matter what you have lost by following Me…

3. Jesus promises to pay you back 100 times over - both now, and in the world to come

   • Mansions (John 14:1-3)
   • Family
   • Treasures in heaven

4. And best of all, eternal LIFE - what riches and power and religion can never buy (Romans 6:23)

F. The Way It Works (Mark 10:31)

1. Only those who are BAD (sinful and under the condemnation of God) get it this good
2. Only those LEAST worthy, ARE worthy
3. Only those who have NOTHING, can get everything FOR FREE!

Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. - Isaiah 55:1

4. Only those willing to LOSE everything, can GAIN everything and more
5. Only those who willingly follow Jesus, no matter the cost, have Him forever
6. THAT is how being in last place looks. And as hard as it is, it is OUR place as Christian!

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III. Invitation

A. You want to be made GOOD? Forgiven? Righteous? Admit that you are BAD

B. You want to be FIRST? Stand way back and be LAST

C. That’s where you will find Jesus looking for you - place where servants are made

D. And Christian… remember

1. We have it good
2. Even though we may have given up so much
3. We have invested in eternity
4. And our testimony and faithfulness WILL affect our children for generations to come
5. So don’t be disappointed that we seem to be last