Pentecost 20

Pentecost 20 WHAT ARE WE ASKING? 10/19 & 22/06

Our Gospel lesson presents a deep, telling, personal, and rather rare, insight into the life of the original twelve disciples. The very fact that the author includes this far from complimentary view further substantiates the authenticity of the account. If you were writing about your life for all the world to read until the end of time, would you include incidents about which you are ashamed…events when you, frankly, looked and acted selfishly and w/o compassion? James and John, in these verses, look really bad!

Now, granted, they were members of the “inner circle” of Jesus’ disciples. When Jesus wanted to reveal something important about himself or his mission, he usually pulled James and John—along with Peter---out of the pack for a special viewing and or teaching. These three accompanied Jesus to the Mount of Transfiguration and were the only three disciples to actually see Moses and Elijah and the transfigured Jesus that day. These three accompanied Jesus to the inner-sanctum of the Garden of Gethsemane on that evening of Jesus’ arrest outside the city walls of Jerusalem.

James and John may have thought it not out of line to ask Jesus for this one special favor. Listen to what they are recorded to have said to Jesus: “Master, we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” (Mk. 10:35) Interesting combination of words in this sentence, calling Jesus “Master” and then telling him what to do! It is precisely at this point that we are confronted with a timeless truth: We want God to be Almighty and to follow our orders!” Can we see the fallacy of such an approach to faith?

“We read in Hebrews 5:2/ “He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray.” We see this demonstrated, as Jesus asks James and John: “What do you want me to do for you?” (Mk. 10: 36) James and John respond, “We want to sit on the thrones next to yours in your kingdom, one on your right and one on your left.” (Mk. 10: 37) This request, in any context, is nearly unbelievable in its selfishness and ignorance. This truth only multiplies when we consider the context of this recorded conversation. Remembering that James and John make this request in Mark 10: 37, I remind us what Jesus has revealed to them in the verses immediately preceding this one: “I will be arrested and taken before the chief priests and the Jewish leaders, who will sentence me to die and hand me over to the Romans to be killed. They will mock me and spit on me and flog me with their whips and kill me.” (Mk. 10: 33-34) Jesus, with details and images His first disciples would fully understand, explains what is about to happen to Him in Jerusalem…an arrest, mocking, spitting, flogging, and death by crucifixion…and all James and John can say, in a rather loose paraphrase, is: “When you die and go to your kingdom, save us the best seats!”

Jesus responds to their request in a way similar to His response to many requests you and I might make of Him: “You don’t know what you are asking.” (Mk. 10: 38) Again, as paraphrase, Jesus says to His demanding, deluded disciples: “You don’t have any idea what you are asking for!” And, at least in my prayer life, this is too often true! Our wisdom, Scripture reminds us, is foolishness to God. Like the story about a man who is talking to God, and he said, ‘Oh Lord, how much is a thousand years in your sight?’ ‘Ah, a thousand years is but a second to me,’ the Lord replied. The man asked, “Oh Lord, how much is a million dollars in your sight?’ The Lord replied, “A million dollars is but a penny in my sight.’ Feeling a false confidence, the man said, “God…I want you to give me a penny!’ ‘Certainly!’ said the Lord, ‘Give me a second!’ ---------------

Learning of the request made by James and John, the other disciples are “angry”… “highly indignant.” (Mk. 10: 41) Jesus calls them together and attempts to correct James and John’s misunderstanding of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus, telling them not to act like the unbelievers and their “high officials”. “Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.” (Mk. 10: 43) They could not have seen that one coming! It must have hit them right between the eyes! Wham! “Your actions and attitudes are the polar opposites of what I expect of my disciples! You guys could not be acting in a way any more distant from the truth I am attempting to teach!” Then Jesus presents them with the most powerful and convincing example ever available…Himself: “For even I, the Messiah, am not here to be served, but to help others, and to give my life as a ransom for many.”(Mk. 10: 45) It is Mark Twain who once said: “Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example!” How true this has proven in every generation since Jesus first offered Himself as the example for us to follow! We can either follow Jesus, or go our own merry way…but, we cannot do both! What are we asking of Jesus? Let us pray: Father God, draw our hearts to you, guide our minds, fill our imaginations, control our wills, so that we may wholly yours, living and serving to your glory alone. Amen.