From the Pastor |
Mark 10: 35-45
Can you imagine the audacity of James and John? They are walking along with Jesus, and actually say to him “do for us whatever we ask.” Then they issue their request “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.” In today’s world of politics it is as if they are saying “Lord, when you are elected Messiah, we want you to put us on your Cabinet!” They obviously felt that they were worthy to make such a request… they must have felt pretty special. I mean… they had left their father, their jobs… their lives… everything they knew and have been faithfully following Jesus for quite a while now. They believe that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah, the great leader who would come in, and lift up Israel… out of oppression to once again be a great nation under God. But Jesus replies to this request by saying: “You don't know what you're asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink? Are you able to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” To which, James and John answer “We are able.” They felt that they would be able to endure whatever was coming… they could follow wherever Jesus was going. Looking back, we know that the disciples just don't yet get it. The road that Jesus was walking was a road that led to torture, humiliation, pain and death. The "cup" that Jesus was to drink was the cup of horrible suffering. The "baptism" that he was to be baptized with was not found in the Jordan River, but on a hillside… on a cross. James and John did not yet realize just how great the cost of following Jesus can be. Jesus does not promise his disciples easy, safe lives… Instead he warns them that, regardless of what position they will eventually gain, they will inevitably suffer, perhaps even die, for following him. That’s the meaning of drinking the cup and being baptized with Jesus’ baptism. It turns out that all the apostles suffered terribly for the sake of the gospel. In fact, James was to be the first, among the faithful 11, to lose his life for Christ (Acts 12:2). It is believed that John was probably the last; still the Bible tells us that every Christian will suffer to some degree in this world, if he or she seeks to follow Christ instead of the ways of the world. This reminds me of the hymn Are Ye Able? Where we sing: “Yes,” sturdy dreamers answered, “to the death we follow thee.” But how often do we really reflect on those words? Are you able to receive the peace, the benefits, the joy, the sense of deeper meaning, the reassurance or whatever it is that Jesus is giving out this week? "Oh, sure! We are able!" we answer. "Are you able to be crucified like I am to be crucified, to suffer, to be rejected and disappointed like I am to suffer and be rejected?" Jesus asks. That answer is a little harder for most of us. Following Christ in all his glory is something we all would like to get in on -- entering into his suffering is another matter entirely. Mark Twain once said, "It's not what I don't understand in the Bible that bothers me; it's what I understand too well." Sometimes we have a tendency to try and transform Jesus into what we want him to be. We can be active in the church, hear many sermons and Bible lessons, we can read the Scriptures but still miss the point. How many times are we guilty of expecting special treatment because we call ourselves Christian? Just like James and John, we expect a special place because we believe. We often think in terms of privilege, not sacrifice… being served, not serving. But our gospel lesson today calls us to task. He reminds us we must be servants. He reminds us that we are on a journey; that faith is in the following. God calls, we answer. That call may involve trouble, pain, and suffering -- but the glory is God's. God calls us to follow Him. It is not an easy way, it is not a painless path, and it is not smooth sailing. Jesus’ way is the Way of the Cross. But the joyous paradox and mystery of the Gospel is – the way of the cross leads home. Think about this: Whatever is the worst that you have been through; no matter how scared, lonely, lost and forsaken you have been; Jesus has been there! If you ever felt abandoned by God… Jesus has been there! Have you ever wondered how you were going to make it one more day? Jesus has been there! Jesus is our great example As Disciples of Christ we need to remember that Jesus is not a technique for getting what we want out of God; Jesus is God's way of getting what He wants out of us. God wants a world that is redeemed, restored to God. And the way God gets that is with ordinary people like us who are willing to walk like Jesus, talk like Jesus, yes, and even if need be to suffer like Jesus. In the circle of God’s reign, in the community of believers, the great one must be a servant and the one who covets first place must be a slave -- of ALL. “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve...” Greatness is not about power and prestige…but about service and self-giving love. The challenge for us in this life is to become the person God wants us to be, not necessarily the person we want to be, to find our place of service in his kingdom, not his protection in this world. To learn that if we listen, truly listen, we will hear the command to love one another, not to expect others to do for us. We will hear the challenge to seek, to serve, and not to be served--to give with no expectation of return. We, too, are challenged with the question, "Are ye able?" Still the master whispers down eternity, and heroic spirits answer, now as then in Galilee. Lord, we are able, our spirits are thine. Remold them, make us, like thee, divine. Thy guiding radiance above us shall be a beacon to God, to love, to loyalty.
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Yeon Shin
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