Mark 10:35-45 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
The Request of James and John
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.” And he said to
them, “What is it you want me to do for you?” And they
said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at
your left, in your glory.” But 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?”
They 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; but 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.”
When the ten heard this,
they began to be angry with James and John. So 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. But it is not so among you; but
whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and
whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For
the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his
life a ransom for many.”
They
were wholly unaware of what they were asking for. They thought they
were asking for places of glory in an earthly type of kingdom. They
didn't fully grasp what was about to take place. This Jesus, whose
power they have witnessed firsthand. They were there when the water
was turned to wine. There when he healed. There when he cast out
demons. They were present at the Transfiguration! James and John saw
Jesus talking with Moses and Elijah. They could see the crowds and
felt awe and wonder. Not that Jesus hasn't been trying to get through
their thick heads...
Just
one chapter back in Mark 9 he
was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is to
be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days
after being killed, he will rise again.”
But
they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask
him.
And
in the verses just prior to today's Gospel lesson, from The Message:
Back
on the road, they set out for Jerusalem. Jesus had a head start on
them, and they were following, puzzled and not just a little afraid.
He took the Twelve and began again to go over what to expect next.
“Listen to me carefully. We’re on our way up to Jerusalem. When
we get there, the Son of Man will be betrayed to the religious
leaders and scholars. They will sentence him to death. Then they will
hand him over to the Romans, who will mock and spit on him, give him
the third degree, and kill him. After three days he will rise alive.”
In
the next moment, James and John (possibly encouraged by their mother)
make their “request.” And it is no small favor they are asking
for. Not asking for help moving to a new tent. They don't realize
what they are asking for...like most of us, they don't see the bigger
picture. We are great at asking for stuff – but not very good at
knowing what we need.
I
am not a parent, but I am the aunt to three brilliant and handsome
nephews and one vibrant and creative niece. So I've witnessed a LOT
of asking. And begging. And negotiating... And some of those times,
I've known that what they were asking for wasn't going to meet their
expectations. Out of the four of these, I've had to talk at least two
out of ordering Sea Monkeys from the back of a comic book. I know how
great the ad looks – and I understand when they describe their
futures as professional sea monkey trainers teaching them to do
tricks and ride on a tiny sea monkey ferris wheel. But I've got a
little more information than they do – and perhaps some first hand
wisdom. Because I already tried to become a world famous sea monkey
trainer and found that dried up brine shrimp are not adept at
learning to juggle. I remember another occasion where one nephew
negotiated an advance on future earnings in order to buy “the
funnest toy EVER!” A marshmallow gun. Ten dollars later he is the
proud owner of the funnest toy ever. Then he begs for money to buy a
big bag of marshmallow ammunition. Ten minutes after that – all the
adults have tired of being pegged in the head with increasingly dirty
marshmallows. The funnest toy ever lasted about two days and then
after attracting ants – was declared “stupid.”
Nope,
we don't always have the whole picture of what we THINK we need. And
sometimes the stuff that we want – isn't going to be nearly as cool
as we THINK that it is. All the stuff in the world...where would you
put it?
I
have always LOVED the story of Job. Wondered if I could have held up
against that level of pressure from the devil. Hoped that I could.
But had some serious doubts about it when things continue to ramp up.
Job
was SERIOUSLY good. This is a guy that used to get early in the
morning after a celebration and give burnt offerings in the name of
his children just in CASE they had sinned inwardly. He was totally
devoted to God and hated evil. I like to think of myself as a good
person, but I don't think I measure up to that guy. He was, in fact,
SO good that when the angels came to give a report to God that God
himself pointed out what a good guy Job was. And that was just the
challenge that the designated Accuser, Satan was looking for. He said
that of course he's good, he's treated like a pampered prince –
he's got everything he wants. It's easy to be good and righteous if
you're on top of the world. BUT...he slides in...if you reached down
and took it all away, he'd curse you right to your face.
No
way...God said...go ahead and try it, but don't hurt him physically.
So one messenger after another comes to Job reporting the loss of his
oxen, donkeys and field hands by a murdering band of Sabeans...then
lightning strikes killed the sheep and shepherds...Chaldeans killed
the camels and camel drivers. And then the toughest message – a
tornado killed all of his children and their families. But Job
doesn't curse God.
He's
crazed with grief – tears his robe and shaves his head – but he
doesn't blame God. And God points this out to Satan. Satan ramps up
the intensity of the test by saying that a man will go to any lengths
to save his life – take away his health and Job will curse you.
Satan is certain. And God agrees, but don't kill him. So Satan causes
terrible sores to afflict Job and when he is sitting on the ash heap
scraping the sorts...Job's wife has had enough. She wants Job to just
curse God and get this agony over with. But no deal.
Job
doesn't curse God, doesn't blame God...he says we take the good days
when God gives those, why not the bad days too?
Three
of his friends arrive – and most of us remember that they weren't
very supportive, right? But maybe we read the abridged version of
Job? Because the first thing these three friends do is to cry out in
lament, tear their robes as a sign of grief and sit with him. For
seven DAYS. In silence. They could see that their friend was
suffering and they wanted to be there for him. And they were...for
awhile.
And
then the damn breaks. Job starts to talk. And vent and curse the day
he was born. And he goes on for 26 verses of Chapter 3 to express how
miserable he is...ending with I
have no rest; but trouble comes. Sometimes
it feels like that. The night never ending – not feeling rest or
comfort.
Then
the friends start to weigh in on the situation – as friends are
likely to do. But the first reaction is to ask what Job has done to
cause such a thing. Surely someone as devout and exemplary as you
appear to be wouldn't have such calamity thrust upon them...what did
you DO? And they have plenty of advice...figure out what you did
wrong, who you offended, appeal to the right angel for intervention,
go to God and thank him for this suffering...since you clearly
deserve it for whatever it is that you did.
Then
Job defends himself to his friends and whines some more about how
this isn't his fault – he's innocent and suffering. If God would
just squash him like a bug then at least he'd be dead but he wouldn't
have blasphemed the Holy God. And he basically tells his friends that
they aren't helping. And he can't believe they don't believe him when
he says he didn't DO anything!
The
debate between Job and his friends then Job crying out to God go on
for chapters...the questions and answers go back and forth from
Chapter 4 through Chapter 31. And then a fourth friend steps in.
Chapter 32 brings Elihu, a man younger than the other three who has
held his tongue out of respect for his elders. Now he blows up with
the pent-up anger of his youth and blasts the others for not coming
up with answers but not giving up on trying to prove Job wrong! And
he speaks honestly from his heart and brings new perspective into
this argument.
That
is often what we need. A new perspective. Some new piece of wisdom to
illuminate the situation. Elihu inserts himself into this with
humility but firmness – asks Job to listen and then lays out some
of the facts as he sees them. Some of the gems from Chapters 33-37
include:
- God always answers, one way or another.
- It is impossible for God to do evil.
- God is always working behind the scenes. We have his attention.
- You can learn from the suffering you are going through.
- Don't get obsessed with placing blame.
- Look around you. See the evidence of God and his power all around you. Is this who you want to confront?
Maybe
Job needs to reconsider his choice of confronting God? Elihu wraps up
by saying, “Mighty
God! Far beyond our reach! Unsurpassable in power and justice! It’s
unthinkable that he’d treat anyone unfairly.
So
bow to him in deep reverence, one and all! If you’re wise, you’ll
most certainly worship him.”
Now
God speaks to Job directly. And in the scripture that Ida read for us
earlier, God pretty much asks Job just who he thinks he is. Sounds
like a father talking... You all know my Dad as a kindly fellow who
will help with anything you ask him to do. Need a hand moving some
tables? Call Carl. Need your window air conditioners taken out and
put back in the closet? Call Carl. He's a generally agreeable man but
I can remember some times as kids that he would have uttered the
classic line, “I brought you into this world, I can take you out.”
Job
and his friends have discussed the character of God and his part in
Job's suffering for about 35 chapters. Questions, challenges,
assumptions, accusations and God weighs in.
God
finally responds to Job in a storm outlining the God's presence in
all creation. He shares the wisdom of how all things are divinely
inspired and influenced, from the earth’s foundation, to the
boundaries of the sea and sky, and the ordering of the day and night.
How GOD structured the heavens and the earth, the water and the land,
the day and the night, humanity and heavenly beings, and everything
in between. Job, where were you when I created the earth? Since you
are so smart, tell me who decided what size it would be...how the
foundation was poured...who set the cornerstone. Huh? Tell me smart
guy, since you seem to know so much. Where were you when the morning
stars sang in chorus and the angels shouted praise?
God
responds to Job in a storm, true to biblical tradition, illustrating
a divine appearance. This whirlwind is similar to other Old Testament
texts like in Ezekiel when God is present in the windstorm with a
flashing light or Nahum experiencing God’s power in the storm and
clouds, Zechariah witnesses God in lightning as loud as a trumpet, in
2 Kings, God appears in a chariot of fire.
Job is
now confronted by God; and where Job once had questions, concerns,
and complaints, he is now silent. In previous accounts, Job is left
with inquiries and thoughts of loneliness; but now God is actively
present, face-to-face with Job. God’s presence is undeniable,
meaningful, and profound. God as master architect whose wisdom and
resourcefulness cannot be matched or understood. We see in each verse
that God measures, aligns, stretches, and builds. God lays
foundations and constructs footings. We see an image of God that is
meticulous about the details and precise in design for the cosmos,
for the heavens, and even for humanity.
This
is a mighty God we serve. God goes on to realign Job's perspective
through chapters 38 and 39 with some powerful questions. Do you have
any idea how big the Earth is? Do you know where light comes from and
where darkness lives? Can you get the attention of the clouds and
commission a shower of rain? Did you command the eagle's flight, and
teach her to build her nest in the heights of a cliff's face? But
then God asks the big one. The one that he asks whenever we give into
that very human inclination to blame God or to ask why he has let
something happen. God asks at the beginning of Job 40, “God
confronted Job directly: Now what do you have to say for yourself?
Are you going to haul me, the Mighty One, into court and press
charges?” Well...what do we have to say for ourselves?
And
like so many times in the Job story, I hope I would respond this way:
Job
answered: I'm speechless, in awe – words fail me. I should have
never opened my mouth! I've talked too much, way too much. I'm ready
to shut up and listen.”
I'd
like to think I could be as wise and mature as Job in this moment.
I'm not real sure. It is hard for me to admit when I've talked too
much, let alone WAY too much. When will I be ready to shut up and
listen? Can I at least try?
Can I
be wise or will I be like my nephew who just knew that marshmallow
gun would bring unending happiness into his life. Unwilling to hear
that isn't wasn't worth the cost. That he'd be tired of it long
before his dream of taking it off to college to amuse his fraternity
brothers. That I could see from a different perspective of previous
unwise purchases. That maybe he didn't know best. Maybe his mom
saying, “no” was the better choice.
We are
all going to stumble and desire things or people or situations that
although we are sure they'll bring us great joy or satisfaction...we
don't always know what we are asking for. Which brings us back to
James and John and the favor that they asked of Jesus.
“Teacher,
we have something we want you to do for us.” “What is it?”
“Arrange for us to be awarded the highest places of honor in your
glory” “Dudes, you don't know what that even means...can you
drink of the cup I drink, be plunged into the baptism I'm about to
plunged into?”
They
answer quickly, “Sure, bring it on.” And Jesus said, “come to
think of it...you will drink of this same cup...but awarding places
of honor isn't my business. That isn't up to me.”
And
although they didn't drink of the exact same cup...neither James nor
John were crucified (although we know that at least Peter and Andrew
did suffer that same fate). James' death at the hands of Herod is
reported in Acts 12. He was likely stoned or clubbed to death. But
all of the apostles and followers suffered persecution and were in
constant danger. This was by no means a place of honor at the right
and left hand.
We
even see that this request brought friction and division among the
disciples. When the other ten heard about it, they lost their tempers
with James and John. Who do you guys think you are? Do you think you
are a level above us? Before the division and debate can poison their
attitudes completely, Jesus steps in. Are they ready, like Job, to
shut up and listen?
“You’ve
observed how godless rulers throw their weight around,” he said,
“and when people get a little power how quickly it goes to their
heads. It’s not going to be that way with you. Whoever wants to be
great must become a servant. Whoever wants to be first among you must
be your slave. That is what the Son of Man has done: He came to
serve, not to be served—and then to give away his life in exchange
for many who are held hostage.”
We
don't need to be power-mad. If we want to be great, we've got to let
all that go and become a servant. Want to be first? Want to be at the
right and left in places of honor? You only think that is what you
need...but I have more information. I've got the bigger picture. More
power just leads to the desire for more power. It's a hamster wheel
you'll never get off. Empty calories. You want to be great? Then flip
the whole thing upside down – the real winner is the one who is
humble enough to serve, not be served.
There’s
a story about a little boy named Billy. Every day on the walk to
school, Billy’s grandfather would stop at the neighborhood store
for a newspaper and cup of coffee. As Grandpa approached the
register, Billy would point to large bins filled with candies, gum,
and other treats displayed. The cashier grew a heart of compassion
toward Billy. One morning when Grandpa and Billy approached the
register, the cashier said, “Good morning Billy, today you can
reach in and get the candies you want with no cost.” Billy smiled
with joy; his persistence had finally paid off. He went to pull out a
candy, but snatched his hand back abruptly. He then grabbed Grandpa’s
hand and shoved it into the large bin. Startled, Grandpa pulled out a
fist filled with assorted sweets.
Billy
giggled with glee. As they continued the walk to school, Grandpa
asked, “Billy, why didn’t you pick out your candies? This was
want you asked for every day.” Billy looked up to Grandpa with the
sun glistening in his eye, “Yes, Grandpa, but your hands are much
bigger than mine. My hands are too small to get all the candies I
wanted.”
There
are times in life that, as believers, we should embrace Billy’s
kind of wisdom. God’s hands are much bigger, capable, and able to
provide everything we need. Our hands, our thoughts, and our
understanding are limited in comparison to God’s vast knowledge and
powerful hands.
It is
refreshing to know that in spite of all Job experienced and all the
pain he endured, he was not too proud to be silenced. Job is silenced
by the images of morning stars and heavenly beings rejoicing in God’s
glory. Job is silenced by God’s grace that is uniquely woven into
the tapestry of all God’s creation. Job is silenced by God’s
wisdom, knowledge, and love that is unexplainable and uncontainable.
Job is silenced as God reveals the unlimited ability to be present in
all things.
God
can get tiny if we're not careful. Too often we fall into the trap of
God being made in our image – instead of the other way around. We
relate to God in our human understanding, putting God in a box that
he simply can't be contained in! The hope is that our sense of God
will grow as expansive as our God is. Each tiny
conception
gets obliterated as we discover more and more the God who is always
greater.
We
worship an awesome God. One who desires great things for us, not
necessarily in the cars we drive or how many camels and sheep we have
– but he wants good things of substance for us. The joy of a
servant's heart focused on what is really important. We have to let
go of the fleeting things of today and embrace our reason for being.
To
love God and to spread that love throughout the world. In every
situation, to all the people we encounter. Amen.
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