Grasping for Power in and through Ministry (12 October 2025 PM)

Grasping for Power in and through Ministry (The following is from Sunday evening's sermon on Mark 10:35-52. You can listen to the sermon here, Grasping for Power in and through Ministry, while you follow the notes below).

Lord Jesus, you came not to be served, but to serve and give your life as a ransom for many. May we, like Bartimaeus, cry out to you for mercy, hear your voice, and run to meet you. Amen!

Warren Wiersbe wrote a little book for ministers way back in 1991. I love it for numerous reasons, but the title catches the aim of the book well and why I like it so much: “In Praise of Plodders.” In that book he makes this observation, “One day our Lord gave a sermon on the Bread of Life and lost his whole congregation: and yet false prophets always seem to have a crowd” (Warren Wiersbe, “In Praise of Plodders,” pg. 111). Now, decades later, crowd gathering through social media is much easier. This thought actually jabs into the ribs of many of us in ministry, because we are all (secretly, and some not so secretly) grasping for power in and through ministry. Chapter 10 is all very much about power. Supremacy without surrender, crown without the cross, has been a driving aim for the disciples since at least chapter 8. And it continues in chapter 10. Tonight, we will take a few minutes to dive into the disciples grasping for power in and through ministry (10:35-52).

First, our Lord had just declared he was going to the cross (10:32-34). And yet, they still want to be the top of the pack: 9:33-41, 8:31-38! That is the setting for what happens next…

Not Lairds and Ladies (10:35-41): (a) The desire of James and John (35-37): ‘Lord, let us just go straight for the top! We are entitled, don’t you know!’ As David Garland states it, “The Zebedee brothers are not asking for the honor of being crucified with Jesus. What they really expect is a kingdom for themselves, where they can impose their own will on others. They hope to replace the self-serving oppressive power structure of the Romans with their own self-serving oppressive power structure. Nothing changes except the names of the rulers. Oppressive power gets recycled and new tyrants rise on the scene. The worldly ambitions to be at the top and to beat down others still rules” (David Garland, “The NIV Application Commentary,” 411). The disciples want a Jewish Caeser, not a jailed and suffering Messiah! (b) The direction of Jesus (38-39). (c) The self-righteous derision from the others (40-41). From here Jesus takes another stab at shaking his disciples loose from their grab for power.

Not Sovereigns and Saviors (10:42-45): (a) Muscle, might or merit might gain the advantage in a world built on muscle, might and merit, but it has no place in Jesus’ kingdom (42-43a). Leaders in God’s world rescue operation, in his family, aren’t supposed to lead in that way. Our perceptions of what makes a good leader are being corrected here. Instead, following Jesus means (b) being humble and last (10:43b-45). Follow that pattern: 10:31, 10:13-16, 9:35-37.

Example – the last Healing (10:46-52): Bartimaeus knows he has nothing – “Nothing in my hands I bring, Simply to Thy cross I cling; Naked, come to Thee for dress, Helpless, look to Thee for grace: Foul, I to the fountain fly, Wash me, Savior, or I die.” Empty handed, trusting, relying on Jesus, even submitting to him, Bartimaeus cries out the announcement of Christ’s rulership: “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (47-48). Jesus responds, not to muscle, might, or merit, but to the humble suppliant (51-52). Coming hard on the heels of the disciples grasping for power in and through ministry, is this last healing scene in the Gospel of Mark. This is the way! And what does the once blind Bartimaeus do with his newfound health, strength, wellbeing? “Immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way” (52). The way to where? To Jerusalem, to the trial, to the false accusations, to the cross and the tomb! But eventually to the crown – this blind man is immortalized by being placed in the Gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God! Bartimaeus is a flashing signpost showing us an important lesson: here's how we run to meet Jesus! The first made last, and the last made first! And for leaders, this is how you lead.

Paul Tripp wrote a book for pastors back in 2012. It’s titled “Dangerous Calling: Confronting the Unique Challenges of Pastoral Ministry.” Much of what he writes about could actually apply to anyone serving in any church function, whether elders, deacons, musicians, teachers, women’s ministry, men’s ministry, and more. Toward the back of the book, Tripp pushes on the pride of grasping for power in and through ministry. “Let’s be honest. There are too many power struggles in the local church. Gospel ministry easily becomes politicized. Pride causes you to hunger for power…; the hunger for power causes you to collect ministry allies, and the desire for control causes you to locate ministry enemies. Somehow, someway, gospel ministry has become a political battleground for human power.” It “has lost its center. Jesus has left the building. A king is being put forward, but not the King. A kingdom is being built, but not the kingdom” (Paul Tripp, “Dangerous Calling,” pg. 160).

How do we, as Christians, as followers of Jesus, as rescued Bartimaueses, make sure we are serving The King in his Kingdom? How do we gut the pride and politicization of ministry? We submit to Jesus and rely on him (10:45, 47). The lover sacrifices for the beloved! And then, with the once blind Bartimaeus, we believe Jesus’ words “Go your way; your faith has made you well,” and with recovered sight and wellbeing we follow Jesus on the way through the cross to the crown (52). As I pointed out two weeks ago, “Unable to preach Christ and him crucified, we preach humanity and it improved” (William Willimon, Peculiar Speech, pg. 13). Grasping for power and making power-grabbing the main goal of Christianity and the church – whether in a leftward way or rightward way – makes us like the rich noble making an idol of fortune, James and John wanting crowns and thrones, or Peter rebuking Jesus, and receiving our Lord’s sharp rebuke, “Get behind me Satan. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on thee things of man” (8:33). Are you power-grabbing like James, John, Peter and the rest? Or are you being grabbed by the power of God, like Bartimaeus?