Greetings Church,
Jesus is moving closer to Jerusalem and will soon enter into what we call Passion Week. In Mark 10:32-52, Jesus will give his most detailed description of his passion yet, he will once again teach us what true greatness is, and he will perform the last healing miracle in Mark’s gospel- healing blind Bartimaeus.
Read Mark 10:32-52.
Questions for Small Groups:
To start your group, have everyone share one way they have seen God at work in their life this week.
I. The Desire for Greatness.
1. Is it wrong to desire to be great? In what area(s) of your life do you desire greatness? More practically- in what areas of your life do you find yourself comparing yourself to others.
2. How do James and John demonstrate that they do not understand true greatness?
3. Pastor Mark said that the desire for greatness can be seductive, like a drug. Have you seen this in your own life?
II. True Greatness is Servanthood
4. Read Mark 10:43-44. What is Jesus’ definition of true greatness? How is it radically different from the world’s definition?
Read the fighter verse: Mark 10:45. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
5. What does it mean that Jesus is a “ransom for many?” How does Jesus’ substitutionary death on the cross demonstrate true greatness and power?
6. Have you embraced the identity of servant? What makes this difficult for you?
III. Humility and Mercy
7. Re-read v.46-52. In what ways does Bartimaeus show humility? How does he show self- awareness; awareness of his need for grace?
Note: Like the Rich Young Ruler (Mk.10:17-31), Blind Bartimaeus is an example of coming to Jesus as a child (Mk. 10:13-16). Bartimaeus does come with child-like faith, whereas the Rich Young ruler did not.
8. Do you still come to God needy? Broken? Do you think you need God’s grace less now than when you were first saved? Do you think you need it less than others?
9. The gospel teaches us that true greatness comes by embracing the cross. It also tells us that our value is found in Christ not in ourselves or our own achievements. How can you preach this gospel to yourself this week?
10. In what areas of your life do you need to be reminded of your worth in Christ, and the greatness of being a “slave to all?”
