The Rightside Up

Evil From Another Dimension

Thanks to “Stranger Things,” the idea of the Upside Down sends shivers up and down our spine. 

For the three of you that may not have seen this show on Netflix, a group of kids in a small Indiana town come face-to-face with all sorts of supernatural evil from another dimension.

This other world looks just like ours except everything thing is horribly wrong, unbelievably broken, and extremely dangerous. It’s the home of creepy creatures like the Demogorgon and the Mind Flayer.

The Rightside Up

When I read the words of Jesus in Mark 10:35-45, I’m convinced the Duffer Brothers are really onto something. The only problem is their view of the Upside Down is, well, upside down.

What if we’re the ones living in a dimension that’s wrong, broken, and dangerous? What if we’re in the Upside Down and Christ has come to the rescue and flip it all back the way it was supposed to be?

What if God’s Kingdom is actually the Rightside Up?

Jesus’ Ragtag Team

Before we get there, let’s get caught up on what’s going on in the story. Think of this as “previously on the Gospel of Mark…”

Jesus has handpicked a ragtag team of rejects from the backwoods of Galilee. Not exactly a fantasy draft anyone would brag about. But somehow He will use them to change the world with His message.

Front Row Seats

He’s wrapping up their three-and-a-half year training as they head for Jerusalem. Along the way, the disciples have a front row seat for all sorts of mind-blowing miracles and teaching like no one has EVER heard before.

Folks have spent much of the time trying to figure who the radical Rabbi/Carpenter really is. The outcasts absolutely love Him! Religious leaders think He’s demonic (Mk 3:22). His family thinks He’s a few sheep short of a flock (Mk 3:20).

The Hero from Heaven

Jesus eventually tells His personal posse exactly who He is and what He’s come to do. Not once. Not twice. But three times (Mk 8:31; 9:31; 10:33-34).

He’s the Son of Man. That’s a code name from the Hebrew scriptures for Messiah (Dan 7:13-14). He’s the Hero from heaven the world’s been waiting for ever since Adam let his wife chat it up with a satanic snake back in the garden (Gen 3:1-15).

Three times Christ tells them. Three times they swing and miss. How do we know? Well, just look at their response the third time He reveals this truth here in Mark 10:35-45. 

A Trip to the Big City

The Son of Man wants to serve. The sons of Zebedee want to serve themselves. James’ and John’s power grab leads an angry squabble among the disciples. Not exactly the kind of thing you hope to see from the folks God will use to spread His Gospel. 

We see from earlier in the chapter that they’re on the road headed to Jerusalem (Mk 10:32). Jesus has just told them a third time that He’s Messiah and what they can expect when they hit the big city (Mk 10:33-34). 

It won’t be pretty. Betrayal. Torture. Humiliation. Murder. And resurrection. Don’t forget resurrection. 

A Question from Zeb’s Boys

You would think the questions would be swirling in their heads about all this. Oh, they have questions, alright. But NOT the kind of questions you would expect.

“Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came over and spoke to Him” (v35). If you’ve been following along in Mark’s bio of Jesus, you’re familiar with Zeb’s boys.

The Thunder Brothers

Christ calls these two commercial fishermen to be some of the first members of His crew (Mk 1:18-20). He later nicknames them the Thunder Brothers (Mk 3:17). Makes you think they have quite a rep as a couple of loose cannons.

Jim and Johnny are also members of Jesus’ inner circle with a fellow fisherman named Peter (Mk 5:37). So much so that the Messiah invites them to be part of His mountaintop meetup with Moses and Elijah (Mk 9:2-8).

Sneaking a Meeting with the Boss

As we pick up the story, they apparently leverage their relationship with the Lord to sneak a meeting with the Boss. The brothers look for just the right time to make their move when nobody else is looking.

The Thunder Brothers want our Savior to do them a solid. “Teacher…we want You to do us a favor” (v35). The ESV reveals just how self-centered is their request. “WE WANT You to DO FOR US whatever WE ASK of You” (v35 ESV, emphasis added).

A Big Mistake

Jim and Johnny’s big ask is a big mistake. It’s all about them. Before you get cocky and think you’d never do the same, how many of your prayer requests are all about me, myself, and I? Yeah, that’s what I thought.

Our Motives Are All Wrong 

A few years later, Jesus’ kid brother, who’s name also just happens to be James, says we’ve turned the whole idea of asking God for stuff upside down. 

“You don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure” (James 4:2-3).

You see, in God’s Rightside Up, we don’t make requests to Him for ourselves but for others. It’s not about me. It’s about what I can do for somebody else.

When Mom Gets Involved

These guys just don’t get what Jesus says He’s come to suffer and serve (Mk 10:32-34). If they did realize what He was doing, would they really be asking for favors?

As if this isn’t crazy enough, Matthew tells us it’s actually their mom who asks the Lord for them (Mt 20:20-21). Can you say “Mommy Issues?”

Jesus Hears Them out

Instead of blowing them off, the Son of God hears them out. “What is your request” (v36). He asks them what they want (as if He doesn’t already know!). He wants to hear them say it out loud. Sure, I’ll bite. What do you two want?

Sweet, they say to themselves. He’s gonna do it! So they ask, “When You sit on Your glorious throne, we want to sit in places of honor next to You, one on Your right and the other on Your left” (v37).

Stroking Our Savior’s Ego?

Do you notice how Zeb’s boys attempt to couch their request in terms of Jesus’ glory? Come on, guys. You don’t think anybody’s pulling a fast one on our Savior by stroking His ego, do you?

While Jim and Johnny have missed the whole betrayal/torture/murder part, they clearly get the part that Jesus is Messiah. In their minds, now is the time to lobby for positions of power and influence. If they wait until they hit Jerusalem, it could be too late.

An End Run around Rocky

As members of the Son of Man’s inner circle, do you notice who’s missing from their request? Yup, that’s right. Their buddy Pete. Is it possible the Thunder Brothers are making an end run around Rocky, the leader of their merry band?

Let’s face facts. You and I would probably do the same thing. We all have a desperate drive to be significant. But we need to remember there’s no greater significance in the universe than being a child a God (Jn 1:12).

Pumping the Brakes on Ambition

Take it from Solomon, one of the most smartest and most powerful leaders in world history. He says we should all pump our brakes when it comes to our personal ambition. 

“Don’t demand an audience with the king or push for a place among the great. It’s better to wait for an invitation to the head table than to be sent away in public disgrace” (Prov 25:6-7).

The Dark Side of Their Demand

Instead of telling these two to pull up a chair, Jesus tells them to slow their roll. “You don’t know what you are asking!” (v38). He wants them to know there’s a dark side to their demand.

In order to clear things up, Christ has a couple of questions for them. “Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink? Are you able to be baptized with the suffering I must be baptized with?” (v38).

The Big Gulp of God’s Wrath

He wants them to know that what they want comes with free drink and complimentary dunking that actually come at a HUGE cost. Jesus’ road to glory goes straight through the pain and suffering of Death Valley.

What’s He talking about? Let’s start with the “bitter cup of suffering” (v38). This is the Big Gulp of God’s wrath toward sin and rebellion that’s predicted all throughout the Hebrew scriptures (Ps 60:3; 75:8; Jer 49:12; Obad 16).

Filled to the Brim

Over and over, God makes it clear somebody someday will chug this “cup of terror” (Is 51:17, 22) which is “filled to the brim with My anger” (Jer 25:15-6). This massive mug is loaded with pain and punishment for our sin.

That’s what the Christ is pleading with His Father about the night before His crucifixion. Dad, is there any other way out of this?!? Please take this cup away! (Mk 14:36; Lk 22:42).

Later that night when the Son of God leaves Gethsemane, He’s ready to guzzle His Father’s fury for us so don’t have to (Jn 18:11). If we’ve placed our trust in what He’s done on our behalf, we never have to taste one drop from that nasty cup!

Drowning beneath Heavenly Fury

Christ also mentions the “baptism of suffering and death” (v38). Now He paints a picture drowning beneath wave after wave of heavenly fury against those who shake their fist at His authority.

In one his top tunes, King David sings to God, “Your anger weighs me down; with wave after wave, you have engulfed” (Ps 88:7).

A White Hot Waterfall

From the gut of giant fish, Jonah prays something very similar. “The mighty waters engulfed me; I was buried beneath Your wild and stormy waves” (Jonah 2:3).

Once again, Jesus makes it clear that He’s willing to stand under this white hot waterfall of hatred of sin in our place. “I have a terrible baptism of suffering ahead of Me, and I am under a heavy burden until it is accomplished” (Lk 12:50).

You gotta love Jim and Johnny’s response to what Christ tells them. “Oh yes…we are able!” (v39). Bring it! We got this! The Thunder Brothers still don’t have a clue, do they?

Bearing the Brunt of God’s Anger

The Lord lets them know they’d better get ready. “You will indeed drink from My bitter cup and be baptized with My baptism of suffering” (v39).

Oh, they will…whether they want to or not! They’ll get the suffering part. Even then, Zeb’s sons will only take a small sip of Jesus’ guzzles. The Lord will bear the full brunt of God’s anger toward their sin. 

In a letter to Jesus’ followers in Rome, the Apostle Paul says the path of greatness in God runs right through pain city. “But if we are to share in His glory, we must also share in His suffering” (Rom 8:17).

Predicting Their Future

My guess is Jim and Johnny can’t wrap their brains around the fact that Jesus is being very prophetic here. He’s actually predicting their future.

Just a few years later (around 41-44 AD), King Herod Agrippa will execute James by chopping off his head (Acts 12:2).

John goes on to outlive his big brother but ends up doing time in solitary on a small, rocky island off the Greek coast that’s the Roman version of Alcatraz. 

That’s where he will write to the followers of Jesus that he is “your partner in suffering” and “I was exiled to the island of Patmos for preaching the word of God and for my testimony about Jesus” (Rev 1:9).

Saving Their Seats

While the brothers will suffer, Christ can’t promise to hold the seats they’re asking for. “But I have no right to say who will sit on My right or My left God has prepared those places for the ones He has chosen” (v40).

Who sits where is not His call. That’s His Dad’s decision. Jesus is fully God but there are different roles within the Trinity. The Father, Son, and Spirit all have the same divine authority. However each has His own responsibility.

The Power Move Turns Ugly

Suddenly the power move turns ugly when the other disciples get wind of what’s going down. “When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant” (v41).

The rest of the team hits the roof when they hear what the brothers are trying to pull. Just one more example that these so-called spiritual superstars are flawed and fallen just like the rest of us.

A Teachable Moment

Christ puts a stop to all their petty jealousy and power plays and turns this into a teachable moment. “So Jesus called them together” (v42). 

Despite having just huddled up for His third announcement of His messianic mission (Mk 10:32-34), He calls a time out. With things obviously going off the rails, the Lord decides the whole crew needs to hear what He has to say.

The Way the World Works

The Son of God starts by reminding His guys the way the world works. “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them” (v42).

What in the wide world of sports does it mean to “lord it over” folks? That’s not exactly how we might say that a couple thousand years later.

Pushing Down with Power

This is actually the Greek verb κατακυριευω/katakurieuo. It’s a compound word which describes sending down (Gr. κατα-/kata-) superior power upon others (Gr. -κυριευω/-kurieuo) for your own personal advantage.

It means to overpower, subdue, and dominate. Picture someone on top and then using that leverage to push everyone else down and keep them down.

Being a Bulldozer

If that’s not enough, Jesus talks about how people in power “flaunt their authority (Gr. κατεξουσιαζω/katexousiazo)” (v42). This is the idea of being a bulldozer with no concern for who gets hurt.

We don’t need to use too much imagination to understand what Christ is talking about. We’ve all seen it happen. Shoot, most of us have been on the receiving end of one of these power plays.

Looking out for Number One

But let’s turn it around. Take the victim hat off and put yourself in the position of power. What’s that you say? You’d NEVER do that! Sorry, I must have you confused with someone else. 

I hate to tell you, home fry, but we’ve ALL done it. Yup. Every single one of us. We’ve all selfishly looked out for number one along the way. 

Here’s a simple self-check. How do you treat folks in the service industry like servers and custodians? Do you tip generously? Do you thank them for what they do? Do you treat them with the same respect as your supervisor?

Topsy Turvy 

That may be how this world works, Jesus says. He’s got a different model in mind for His followers. “But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant” (v43).

In one of the major moves in turning our broken world of the Upside Down topsy turvy, Christ calls those who place their faith in Him to be completely different from everyone else.

Greatness in God’s Eyes

Wanna be in the lead? Then start serving. Check out the word the NLT translates as “servant.” It’s διακονος/diakonos, which is the job description of a table waiter or server in the Greco-Roman world.

First of all, did you catch that it’s okay to want to be great in the eyes of God? But it sure looks a lot different in His kingdom than it does in the corporate or political world. 

It’s Not about You

How? The key is actually who. Is your pursuit of greatness all about you? Or are you seeking leverage in order to help and serve others? As Rick Warren writes in A Purpose Driven Life, “It’s not about you.”

Flipping the Org Chart

Jesus then takes it a step further. “And whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else” (v44). Servant leaders flip the org chart upside down.

The Greek noun here is δουλος/doulos. That’s someone enslaved or in a subservient position. Historians estimate somewhere between 20-40% of the Roman Empire in the time of Christ was made up of slaves.

First Century Slavery

We need to know that slavery in the First Century was something different than the atrocity that happened in the American South. There were all sorts of slaves in Rome but rarely along racial lines. 

As matter of fact, Roman slaves were some of the very first followers of Jesus (1Cor 7:22; Eph 6:6-9). One of Paul’s good buddies was a bondservant named Onesimus. Check out the apostle’s letter to Philemon. And there are those who think Dr. Luke was also a slave.

Sliding down into Service

Jesus’ big idea here is that we should ALL be servants and slaves. Instead of climbing the ladder of success we should be sliding down pole into service. Talk about turning things upside down! 

The Servant of Servants

To drive His point home, He provides His personal example. “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many” (v45).

In other words, Christ doesn’t ask us to do anything He’s not willing to do Himself. Think of it this way, the King of Kings actually became the Servant of Servants. I told you He’s flipping this world on its head.

The Humility of Jesus

That’s the whole point of the early praise song Paul quotes in a note to his friends in Philippi. It goes a little something like this…

“He gave up His divine privileges; He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When He appeared in human form, He humbled Himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross” (Phil 2:7-8).

There’s no greater example of humility and serving others than what Jesus does for you and me on the cross! On a bloody Roman cross, gladly coughed up the ransom to buy us our freedom from our own sin and rebellion.

Serving and Giving

Christ came to serve and He came to give. He came into our Upside Down to come to our rescue because we could never escape on our own.

He served us by living the perfectly obedient life we failed to live. He served us by dying the death we should have died for our sin. He served us by giving us the glorious new resurrection life we don’t deserve. 

Our Rescue from the Upside Down

That’s the first part of His plan to rescue us from the Upside Down. Someday soon, Christ will come back flip creation back the way it’s supposed to be before we jacked it all up.

What do we do in the meantime? Well, Jesus likes to say that the greatest command is the combo of loving God and loving people (Mt 22:37-40; Mk 12:30-31). Think of it this way. We love God BY loving and serving the people He places around us.

The Demogorgon, the Mind Flayer, and Me Monsters

In the TV series, the Demogorgon and the Mind Flayer are evil predators from an alternate dimension. In our real and fallen world, billions of Me Monsters kill and crush anyone in their self-absorbed and self-centered push to the top. 

Forget “Stranger Things.” There’s nothing more terrifying than the Upside Down. But our Hero is in the process of setting everything straight.

©2019

Jay Jennings