"From the Pulpit" - reflections on the weekly texts, from Pastor Greg at Living Lord Lutheran Church
James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” 36And he said to them, “What is it you want me to do for you?” 37And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” 38But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” 39They replied, “We are able.” Then Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; 40but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”
41When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. 42So Jesus called them and said to them, “You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. 43But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, 44and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. 45For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
Mark 10:35-45
Zebedee Genes
Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father, and the LORD Jesus Christ.
Well, a lot's happened since I last posted here. A hurricane. Power outages all over the place for multiple days. No internet for days or more. Clean up. 4 days in the hospital. Whoa boy!
Sunday's gospel from Mark gets me teed off, when I think about the Zebedee brothers, and how they have the nerve to ask Jesus if they can sit at his right and left hand - places of privilege nearest Jesus. If you look at the first verse above, the text says the two of them "came forward". You may remember a few weeks ago, when I showed you a painting of how the disciples followed Jesus - how any student at the time would follow their rabbi. In a single file. In his footsteps, literally. I'm guessing here, but what the writer is saying is that perhaps James and John, the Zebedee boys, were at or near the back of the line as they walked. The furthest from Jesus, their rabbi. I guess I'd get tired of walking near the back of the line, too, if I were them. They miss out on what Jesus is saying to the guys up front. They probably have least seniority in the group. And so, one day, they come forward, and brazenly ask Jesus if they can sit at his right and left hand. They're going for broke. As a note, Matthew's gospel covers this same story, but there, James' and John's mother actually does their bidding. She approaches Jesus, gets down on her knees, and begs Jesus to let her two sons sit at his right and left hand. Can you imagine the nerve!? The boys want a taste of greatness that they think is coming with Jesus. Greatness, that is, as the world knew it then, and now. Power, fame, recognition, wealth perhaps. Notoriety. People looking at them with envy, wishing they were "powerful" like the disciples.
And instead of dismissing their request, Jesus actually engages them. Asks them what else he can do for them. I don't think I would have been so hospitable or understanding. How about you? Oh, yes, Jesus does lose his cool at times. But this was not one of them.
But his response was, I'm sure, off putting, to the disciples. I'm sure they weren't expecting the response he gives them. He says that anyone who wishes to be great among the group must be servants to all. And anyone who wishes to be first among the group must be a "slave of all." No doubt, cognitive dissonance here. This is not how James and John were imagining greatness. Servant? Slave? Who wants that!?
But, you see, Jesus is having to deconstruct their image of greatness...of what it means to be important. He's having to do it one little piece at a time. The world then and now equates greatness with wealth, power, fame, and the like. Who thinks of greatness then and now in terms of servanthood? Or being a slave to all? Or, poverty? No one!
So Jesus is having to reframe what it means to be great. What it means to have power. Greatness, power, influence, according to Jesus, is in servanthood. Is in serving others. In self sacrifice, even to the point of death, and death on a cross.
Yes, I'm afraid we all have the genes of the Zebedee family. We all seek greatness in our own way. We all want fame and fortune. The world tells us what it looks like. Beauty. Youth. Power. Wealth. Status and recognition. But the kingdom of heaven sees greatness in servanthood. In serving God and neighbor.
Jesus is doing his best here to reconstruct for the disciples, what greatness truly is. He's having to tear down one piece at a time, the Zebedee boys' construct of greatness, and it's difficult. For them and for us. And he's got his work cut out for him, doesn't he? And yet, we confess that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Amen? Amen.
Reformation Sunday is next Sunday. Wear your reddest red!!!
"Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross"
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