Snapshot Series: "Nobodies are Somebodies"

Snapshot23 Mark 9:30-41 "Nobodies are Somebodies"

Community Group Questions
1. Have you ever felt like people have treated you like a nobody?
2. Have you ever felt that people treated you like a somebody and it went to head?
3. Do you feel it is hard to willing serve people who do not seem to matter to society?
4. What are some acts of service that get no recognition from this world?
5. Have you fallen into the trap of trying to be a "somebody" but in so doing you fell into sin?

kids in neighborhoods across the world engage in the same argument "I am better then you" We all have a natural tendency to want to be a "somebody". We want to leave a legacy, we want to make a difference, we want to be noticed, we want to be important.

Dr. Robert Fuller Earned his PHD in physics in 1961 and in 1970 at 33 became the president of Oberlin College with made him one of the youngest College presidents in US history. Through his travels to India and the USSR he realized the social problems of the world in regards to rank and worth of individuals.

Reflecting on the different roles he had played, he came to understand that he had, at various times, enjoyed the status of a "somebody" while at other times he had embraced the position of a "nobody." His experiences in “nobodyland” led him to identify rankism--a term he coined.

His work is the area of rankism is a book called Somebodies and Nobodies: Overcoming the Abuse of Rank
Rankism is what people who take themselves for "somebodies" do to those they mistake for "nobodies."

Basically, it is people who have an important position that take advantage of those who do not and people thinking they are worth more because they have important positions.

This is nothing new and in todays passage we see Jesus deal with the disciples with issues of rank, who is a "somebody" and who is a "nobody".

Jesus' counsel..."nobodies" are "somebodies".
-Jesus is the "somebody" that became a "nobody". Vrs 30-32 and allowed sinful men to abuse and kill Him like He was a nobody. GOSPEL

-We have a wrong definition of "somebodies". Vrs 33-34

Matters of rank were important to the Jews (cf. Luke 14:7-11) so it was natural for the disciples to be concerned about their status in the coming messianic kingdom. Perhaps the privileges given to Peter, James, and John (cf. Mark 5:37; 9:2) fueled the argument. BKC

In todays world people put a sense of importance on, what you have accomplished, earned or what you have made of yourself. And in many senses people are labeled good or bad because of those things.

The book of James challenges the Christians because they were giving "somebodies" in the world's eyes higher places of honor.

We need to understand that Jesus definition is much different and

-Recognize that the "nobodies" are "somebodies" Vrs 35-37a
Here “servant” (diakonos) depicts one who attends to the needs of others freely, not one in a servile position (as a doulos, a slave). BKC

Jesus did not condemn the desire to improve one’s position in life but He did teach that greatness in His kingdom was not determined by status but by service. BKC

Jesus uses the illustration of a child because in the Greco-Roman and Jewish culture of that day children were the "least" they were not great at all. So what Jesus was saying was "greatness comes from having the ability and the heart to serve and help what society considers not great"

We do not fully comprehend a society that says children are the least, but we also don't have a society that places much value on those who have not accomplished anything or proved their self worth.

An illustration of this is what we pay people who work with children and what we pay people who provide us with entertainment.

In our servanthood, we value the least of men, not just those whom the world considers important. Teachers Commentary

-We are all "somebodies" because of Jesus Vrs 37b ???
You see where this is going??? nobodies are somebodies to Jesus. Nothing about this child in the worlds eyes makes him a "somebody" but to Jesus He is saying he is so much a "somebody" that if you don't help him you are making yourself a "nobody" because you are trying to be a "somebody". (talk about children's ministry)

Ronald Regan said "there is purpose and worth to each and every life"

The trap
-We can be "somebodies" that act like "nobodies" Vrs 38-41
This is what the disciples were doing. They wanted to stop others from doing the work of the Lord because they did not follow "them"

This incident revealed the Twelve’s narrow exclusiv-ism. Remember this was on the heals of the disciples not being able to cast out the demon from the boy. They were thinking of themselves and how they can be "Somebodies" But because of their focus on themselves they became narcissistic. (extreme interest in oneself)

Dr. Drew Pinsky in his book "The Mirror Effect" Stresses that narcissism isn’t simply supersized ego, but supersized ego mixed with low-self esteem.

The disciples may have been thinking..."I don't feel great but I want to be great. OR I feel like a "nobody" and want to be a "somebody"." In this they were acting like "nobodies"

Jesus the ultimate "somebody" became and "nobody" so we can be "somebodies", now we need to act like "somebodies".

Here is how we do it...by contrast.

Nobodies....
-Want their way.
-Want attention.
-Have and unhealthy love for themself.
-Focus on what they can get from this life.

Somebodies...
-Want the will of God and the good of others.
-Want to bring attention to Jesus & Give attention to those who need it.
-Realize that it is all about loving Jesus and others. Fuller states "rankism kills love"
-Realize that acts of service to Jesus and others results in rewards for the next life.

Who are the people around us that we need to treat like somebodies to bring them closer to Jesus.