Lent II, March 8, 2009
Mark 10:32-45

MARK 10:32 They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. 33 "We are going up to Jerusalem," he said, "and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, 34 who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise."

Today's Gospel lesson is very important for us to understand. We have here a prediction by Jesus about his death on the cross and his resurrection on the third day. It is important to understand that Jesus knew what he was doing when he died on the cross. It was not just some horrible accident or miscarriage of justice. Jesus died on the cross willingly as a sacrifice. It was the plan of God to save sinners like us. Today's Gospel lesson is the third time in Mark's Gospel when Jesus predicts his death and resurrection. Each time the disciples don't quite understand.

Our lesson begins with Jesus on the road to Jerusalem. It says that the disciples were astonished and afraid. Even if Jesus had not predicted his death, the disciples would have been afraid, because they knew that the Jews in Jerusalem were waiting to arrest Jesus as soon as he stepped into their jurisdiction. But Jesus was out in front, leading the way. During the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960's, The Blacks, led by people like Martin Luther King, were marching to Selma, Alabama. The mayor and police of the city had warned them not to march to Selma. They said that would stop them. The marchers knew what waited them at the bridge: police with Billy clubs and thugs with axe handles. But the leaders marched on, because they knew that this was the will of God. The followers were afraid, but in prayer and song, they moved toward the bridge. Was Jesus like this? Maybe. But Jesus knew for sure what was waiting him: betrayal, arrest, condemnation, death on the cross, and one more thing, resurrection on the third day.

It is hard to know how much the disciples really understood at this time. But it seems that they had the idea that Jesus would use his power as Messiah to set up an earthly Kingdom of God. Jesus would be the King, and he would have servants and ministers and heads of state around him. James and John seemed to have this sort of a picture, and they were ambitious. They wanted to be high in this government "Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory" they asked. They wanted to be prime minister and secretary of state. They really do not know the character of the Kingdom of God. "You don't know what your are asking,Esaid Jesus. "Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?" Here the word "baptism" does not mean the sacrament. The word "baptize" means to wash or bathe, but it also meant to experience something, to get involved, to get immersed in something. And Jesus means his suffering and death. It is baptism perhaps in the idea of a blood bath: Jesus' blood, the disciples' blood. They said they could receive that Baptism, and Jesus promises them that they will, and also drink the same cup of suffering. In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus prayed to have that cup removed, but because it was the Father's will for our salvation, Jesus drank it by dying on the cross. These two brothers did suffer much for Jesus. James was the first apostle to be a martyr, dying for preaching the Good News. John lived to old age, but suffered and was persecuted and was on Patmos Island in Exile.

Then Jesus said, "but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared." If you don't know the rest of the Gospel story, you may wonder who those two folks at Jesus' right and left will be. Who have the places of honor when Jesus is "in his glory"? Who will it be? Two of the other disciples, like maybe Peter and Matthew? How about an Old Testament saint like Moses and Elijah who were with him in shining glory on the Mount of Transfiguration? Or maybe some one in the future church, like Augustine or Martin Luther? Maybe you would like to have that honor?? Everyone dreams about having honor and prestige. You believe in Jesus, he has saved you, wouldn't it be nice if you could serve Jesus as a leader in the church? Who do you think this position of honor goes to? Look at the qualifications for the job: you have to drink the cup that Jesus will drink and be baptized with the baptism he will be baptized with, that is, you must suffer and die like Jesus. Another qualification is that you have to be with Jesus in the hour of his glory. When was the hour of glory? That would be the time when Jesus did the most glorious thing as Messiah-Savior. That would be the time that we all look to and praise God for. That hour of glory is when Jesus was on the cross. That is the time when He is doing the wonderful work of salvation for us. That is when he is the glorious Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. Now most people, including the disciples and us, think that the hour of glory is different, e.g., the Resurrection or Second Coming. When is the hour of glory for an athlete, when he or she crosses the goal line in a record time or at the awards ceremony? When is the hour of glory for a soldier, when being a hero or when getting a medal? JesusEtime of glory is on the cross when he has the weight of the sin of the world on himself and he is the sacrifice that forgives that sin. And at that time, who was with Jesus? The disciples had all run away and were hiding from the Jews, lest they too be captured and crucified with him. On the right and left of Jesus were two robbers. They were the ones to be in the place of honor!

Now when the other ten disciples heard about the request by James and John, they were indignant. They were angry because they had coveted the places of honor. They were afraid that the two brothers might have gotten the best places by privately talking to Jesus. Everyone wanted to be a big shot in Jesus' Kingdom. In the days of Jesus, a high-ranking government official had money and power and slaves to do whatever he commanded. Their words carried life and death. And so Jesus had to tell them clearly about leadership in the Kingdom of God. It is not like earthly kingdoms where people are power hungry and greedy. It is a rule based on love and service. It is like the love and service of Jesus. He said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

So, the most honored in the church are the persons who seem to be the lowest. "The last shall be first,EJesus said. The servant is helping and serving other people. The slave is not a worthless high-society bum who can do nothing. In the Church, in the Kingdom of God, the most honored are those people who serve the church most, who do the most for Jesus. This is not just the professional pastors, but all believers, all who are disciples and followers of Jesus. But it is interesting to note the Latin translation of this verse. The English reads, "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" and the Latin word for serve here is "ministraret" from which we get words like "to administer" or "minister." So the word for "pastor," "minister" means "servant." And that is something that all pastors and ministers need to remember. In countries with parliaments, the departments are called "ministries" and the government leader is called the "prime minister," the "servant of servants," about the lowest position possible, the "slave of slaves." And a good prime minister or president, or any good "public servant"knows this to be true!

And what is the highest service? It is like Jesus to give his life as a ransom for many. Ransom means a sacrifice. Something is paid so that someone can go free. Money is sacrificed, paid in exchange, so that a kidnapped person might go free. Jesus became our ransom, not paid in silver or gold, but with his precious blood and life. We were the captives of death and the devil, but Jesus took our place and we were set free. But then after dying and setting us free, Jesus escaped from death: he rose from the dead on the third day! In this way we know that our ransom was complete.

Following Jesus might well be fearful, we may have to experience his baptism of suffering or his cup of death and sorrow. But when we follow Jesus, we follow also to his resurrection and eternal life. We may not be to the immediate left and right of Jesus, but we are in all that throng of heaven who sing his praises of glory!

Amen!

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