Sermon October 19, 2003

"Going to School - Again"

Mark 10:35-45

A Sermon Preached By

Rev. Peter W. Shidemantle

29^th Sunday in Ordinary Time, October 19, 2003

PEBBLE HILL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

5299 Jamesville Rd., Dewitt, NY 13214 Phone: 446-0960

phillchu@twcny.rr.com

As Mark tells the story of Jesus, Jesus has just predicted for the third and final time before his disciples "what was to happen to him" (Mark 10:32-33), that he will be "delivered up" to the authorities, condemned to death, handed over, mocked, spit upon, scourged and killed, and then after three days, to rise. After this, there will be no more predictions, no more private instructions to the disciples. One more healing encounter at Jericho, and they are on to Jerusalem where what he has predicted will come to pass.

The first time Jesus told them what was to happen to him Simon Peter objects and rebukes Jesus. The second time the disciples act like they don’t even hear him and engage in a discussion of who among them is the greatest disciple. And now, in our text for today, after Jesus’ third prediction, James and John ask for favored positions in his ruling cabinet when he takes over for good. Once again, they don’t seem to "get it." The other ten disciples apparently overheard their question, and were indignant about it, like children reacting to other kids jumping into line ahead of them. Jesus sees yet another "teachable moment," sits them all down, and then teaches that this is not how it will be among them. Once again, he says, "greatness" for them is not to be about how close you can get yourself to those who exercise power over others, but just the other way around. Greatness comes about in serving others - just as he came not to be served but to serve.

School is out after this. The predictions are past. Instructions about discipleship are past. I guess you could say the disciples have "graduated," even though they seem not to have learned all that much. I am reminded of one of our favorite professors addressing us during the baccalaureate service at our graduation from seminary, most of us with our Master of Divinity degree. With his tongue firmly planted in his cheek, he congratulated us for now being "Masters" of divinity, reminding us at the same time that "mastery" of the faith is not, of course, something that is within our grasp. We always remain students, and the lessons learned must be re-learned over and over again as we are confronted, in so many different ways, with the lure, the attraction and the appeal of the world’s understanding and practices of greatness, power and authority.

We don’t have to look very deeply into ourselves to know how hard it really is to "get" what Jesus so consistently taught and lived about these things, so we shouldn’t be so surprised that his earliest disciples had such trouble with it. We know what he taught about true greatness, about the first being last and the last being first, and all that. But, let’s face it, that is not how the world works. That stuff might be OK for saints who have the luxury or the time to pursue their "bliss," but most of us have to live in and deal with a world where the mortgage has to be paid and kids need to be raised, and all the rest. "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask you to do." We want you to serve our interests, to meet our needs, to protect us, to assure our promotion, to help us win.

James and John wanted to sit, one at Jesus’ right hand, and one at his left, in his glory. He asked them what they wanted him to do for them, and they told him. Then he asked them if they could pay the price. We have to pay the price for anything we really want, don’t we? If you want to be the best athlete you can be, or become a musician, or reach a professional goal, or get that promotion at work - all these things require a price of time and work and effort. Other things have to be set aside in order to pursue them. So it is here - or do we think there should be no price to pay?

Now, we could get all theological here, and talk about the different theories that have come out of consideration of the last phrase of our text this morning, that the "Son of man...came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." - theories about how Jesus paid the price for us, about how the death of one man somehow covers the sinfulness of everyone. Theories of "atonement" they are called. They are interesting, and they’ve been debated for centuries. I love that stuff, and it has had a lot to do with drawing me deeper into the faith. But all of that can serve to distract us from the actual teachings of Jesus himself, which are frequently forgotten when we debate the nature of Christ, or our interpretation of the scriptures, or the authority of the Bible itself.

Are not his disciples still arguing who among themselves is the greatest? Are not we still asking Jesus to confirm us in our interpretations and vying for the best seats in his kingdom? And do we not look to outward signs, signs that our faith would be confirmed by the world as indicating "success?" Do we not harbor resentment in our hearts for those who seem to receive blessing upon blessing, that we’re somehow being left out? We know the need, do we not, for some continuing education in these things.

When Karen and I lived in Cleveland we tackled the renovation of an old house in the inner city that had been the manse of the church that housed the offices of the organization we worked for, called Lutheran Metropolitan Ministries. We got to live there in exchange for working on it. One of the programs of that organization was the Lutheran Housing Corporation. The director of that program came over to help us determine how we might go about this momentous task. We hadn’t done much of this work before, so he suggested that we "go to school" on it. He went around the place with us and broke down the work into three categories - "must do," "should do," and "could do." We learned that this was a helpful way to organize and prioritize our work on the house. With a lot of instruction from people who knew what they were doing, and a lot of help from our friends and co-workers, we managed to get most of the "must do" work done, some of the "should do," and a little of the "could do." It was very much a learning experience.

It strikes me that we often put these "baseline" teachings of Jesus about true greatness and about power more in the category of "could do" than in the category of "must do" where Jesus would prefer we put them. Instead of seeing them as essential to the maintenance of our faith, they are the "extras" that we can’t afford just now. But Jesus continues to take us to school, if we’re willing to engage in some real experiential learning, and over time, under his tutelege, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we gradually come to learn - because we have experienced it - where true greatness is to be found. We come to learn, and learn again, that the power to serve others is the power Jesus urges us to use: "If anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second..." "If anyone asks for your coat, give him your shirt as well..." He doesn’t counsel us to be a doormat, but to exercise our servanthood as a power that becomes for us, not a "could do" but a "must do" - precisely because we choose it. Servanthood in the name of Jesus is the chosen way of one who is in it not for the reward or for the recognition, but for the love of God. Jesus said "I have the power to lay down my life, and the power to take it up again." He gives his followers that power as well.

This is the only example of power that Jesus will give us, which should make us wary of amassing worldly power in his name. The popes who commanded armies, the crusaders of old who demanded conversion at the point of a sword, or crusaders of many stripes since who would enforce their power over others in the name of Christ - all claim positions that Jesus himself said were not his to give. Instead, he continues to feed us, serve us, give himself away for us. We can be sure that the real power that is transforming the world is working not from the top down but from the bottom up. The only power that will get it done, in the end, is the power to serve. It is the strongest power in the world. It is the power that can turn around the question that James and John ask of Jesus - not, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you," but "Teacher, we want to do whatever you ask of us.

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