Jesus and "human greatness"

These are my notes from the sermon at Apex.
Matthew 20:20-28
When I first heard the title it somehow seemed wrong but the fact is if we're honest we all want to be "great" at what we're doing whether it's being a great parent,a great friend,a great teacher,etc.
The problem is...when we want to be great..we often do it in the wrong direction and in the wrong power.
In the bible the word "cup" had different meanings

1. cup of position...sphere of position
Psalm 16:5.
Psalm 23:5

2. cup of thanksgiving
Psalm 116:13

3. cup of blessing
1 Corinthians 10

4. cup of wrath
Isaiah 51:17
Revelation 14
Zechariah 12:2
Ezekiel 23:33

The cup of wrath is what is being referred to in this passage and we all would like to avoid this cup.

If you want to be "great" you need to be"

1 Willing to suffer..there is a price to pay

Often we create "Christian Karma"..when things happen we tend to think that God is placing judgment/punishment on us. What you need to remember is that suffering is part of the Christian life. In order to live a life for God...you need to realize you are going to have suffering...Christ never promised that life would be easy. It strengthens our faith.

2 Trust God's control over your position of greatness

Be obedient..let God take are of the position. Our human nature is for us to want to be in control. Even in how we serve...When you are OK with your position in Christ ..you can bloom anywhere..whether you are the CEO of a Fortune 500 company or you are a trash man.

3 Place yourself under others

Do you want a reputation where you seek the most people or you serve the most people?
Serving others is what success is

How do I place myself under others?

1 See servant hood as something you are not something you do
2 See Christ as your pattern and power for your serving
3 See the totality of your life as purchased..not something you deserve
If you feel you are "entitled" you will place yourself above others not under.

The word for ransom is "lutron". It stands for a specific amt of money for a specific person and in biblical times it was for condemned criminals.
We were the condemned criminals that God gave his son as a ransom .