September 20, 2009
The Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost
In our schools, teachers have classrooms with blackboards and bulletin boards and other teaching aids. Jesus was a teacher, but he had no classroom. It was common in those days even in learning centers like Athens that many teachers or philosophers did not have classrooms. They would teach outside in parks and in the fields. Many teachers would just walk down the street and the students would follow along behind listening as the teacher spoke. They were gfollowersh in the literal sense. This is how Jesus often taught his followers. As they traveled from town to town, Jesus would reveal to his disciples the Word of God.
As Jesus and the disciples passed through Galilee, away from the crowds of the towns, Jesus taught his disciples in private. He told them what would happen to himself. He foretold his betrayal, passion and death and resurrection. gThe Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.h But his disciples could not understand this. They could not imagine that their beloved teacher would be killed. They could not believe that anyone who was crucified could resurrect after three days. And so like ordinary students who cannot follow the lesson, they started to talk among themselves.
Of course every elementary school teacher knows when the students are not paying attention. And sometimes, it can present a teaching moment. So Jesus, too, turned this into a teaching moment.
The disciples were arguing about who was the greatest, who was number one. This was just the opposite of what Jesus had been talking about. When the got back home, Jesus gave them a new lesson. Mark 9:35-37. 35And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, gIf anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.h 36And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37 gWhoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.h
We usually think of a great person as someone who is served by everyone else. Everyone works for that person. But Jesus says it is the opposite. The great person serves everyone else, works for everyone else. In that sense, the President of the USA should be the greatest "public servant," as he serves everyone in the country. Politicians know this, if they don't work for the folks in the home district, they won't be elected next time. Even ordinary salesmen know that they have to serve the customer. Jesus says that his disciples must be so great that they even serve the lowest people in society. A little child has no power and can give nothing in payment, but the disciples of Jesus should be so great that they serve even them. That is what Jesus means when he says that the disciples should "welcome the little children." When we welcome someone into our homes, we serve them something to eat and drink, we make sure our guests are comfortable. The guests don't serve the hosts. And the word "welcome" suggests that it is an honor to serve that person. That is the attitude of greatness that Jesus wants to give to his disciples. He is not talking only about helping children and orphans, but all the poor of society. And in our pride which thinks of ourselves as the greatest, then to serve anyone is to put ourselves last rather than first.
"Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me." How does welcoming, or serving a child serve Jesus? Because at that time we are doing the work of Jesus. And when we serve Jesus, we serve his Father, also. Jesus served us when he taught and healed and died on the cross to forgive our sins. We serve others when we do good things for them, and especially when we bring the Gospel of the forgiveness of sins to other people; when we forgive them from our hearts and when we tell how God forgave them from his heart. Jesus was so humble in his greatness, that he suffered and died on the cross. And the greatness of his resurrection is that he still is serving us. He sends his Holy Spirit to give us grace, comfort, and the joy of life. Jesus said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all." We can understand how this means with our relationship with God and other Christians, but does it really work in "real life." Do we feel "great" when we serve others, when we put ourselves last? Is it efficient in our work or social life when we humble ourselves? When we share and care for others, do people think less of us? Do we feel the greatest when we are being the most humble? Does being last make us feel first? Ask any Olympic competitor. There is no medal for coming in last place. But the honor is for that person or team who did their best to show the world the excellence of their sport. The medal comes from hard work. Maybe the Olympic competition is a poor example, because these are people who work hard not to be last, they want to be first. However, St. Paul used the example of the Olympic champion. (1CO 9:24-27) "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize." Isn't this the real greatness that we all want? It is to receive the crown of eternal life. It is given to us by Jesus Christ. He gives it to us by serving us, by dying on the cross to give us forgiveness and eternal life.
In our work, families, and social groups, will being last make us first in the eyes of those around us? Sometimes. And if it doesn't, it is because they don't know the powerful Gospel that upsets the ways of the world. We don't have to be welcomed by the world, because Jesus in his love and mercy has already welcomed us. He has served us, children of the eternal Father.
Amen.
Michael Nearhood, Pastor
Okinawa Lutheran Church