St. Mark 10:35-45
Dearly beloved,
St. Mark’s gospel has its own distinct focus into the life of Christ.
It is like the other gospels in that it is all about Christ’s life,
death, and resurrection. But, it is also distinctly Markan. It is
Holy Scripture divinely written and communicated by the power of the
Holy Spirit, and yet distinct to its earthly author, Mark, at the same
time. Perhaps Mark emphasized some things that were needed for the
church to hear.
We can surmise that Mark may be thinking of his own weaknesses when
he emphasizes certain things in his gospel. For example, we learn in
Acts 15 that Paul and Barnabas were ready to travel to more regions to
preach. We are told that Barnabas wanted to take with them John
called Mark. This is the evangelist. But Acts 15 records that Paul
did not want to take Mark because he had withdrawn from them in
Pamphylia and would not continue on the mission.
This became such a contentious situation that Paul and Barnabas even
parted ways. There is also something unique when Jesus was arrested.
Mark’s gospel points out that there was a young man who followed Jesus
when he was arrested. The guards tried to seize the young man and
they grabbed hold of his linen garment, but he escaped, running naked.
Church history claims that this was Mark. These things being the
case, we see that Mark was a bit timid and unsure. He had a difficult
time doing what he should have done for the gospel.
Perhaps Mark’s own sin and weakness colors certain emphases in his
gospel. One of the things that makes Mark’s gospel somewhat unique is
how time and time again, people are told to do things, but they do the
opposite or they completely misunderstand. For example, Mark’s gospel
is the only one of the gospels that records the women at the empty
tomb departing in fear and telling no one for a time.
Our gospel for today focuses in on two disciples who want to do just
the opposite of what they should do. What stands out in Mark’s gospel
is chapter 8:34. Jesus says, “If any man would come after me, let him
deny himself, and pick up his cross and follow me. For whoever would
save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and
the gospel’s will save it.” This is the crux of the gospel, yet we
see over and over again in the gospel how the disciples and others
actually fail to properly pick up their cross and follow Jesus.
We see people more concerned with saving their lives, rather than
losing their lives for Christ’s and the gospel’s sake. This is
exactly what is happening in the gospel for today. James and John,
sons of Zebedee make a request to Jesus. Matthew says that they have
their mother make the request. Mark gets to the heart of it, because
its’ really James and John who want it. “Grant us to sit, one at your
right hand and another at your left in your glory.”
This comes right after another one of Jesus’ passion predictions.
Jesus foretold his death and resurrection. James and John let sinful
ambitions get the better of them. They were probably thinking that if
all this was really going down, then they better get there ducks in a
row. After all, there is always a certain pecking order of sorts, so
they thought they would try to show some initiative and leadership.
They wanted to be co-rulers and co-heirs with Jesus in glory.
Did they really understand heaven or the kingdom? They didn’t know
what they were asking, because to sit with Jesus in glory was to put
themselves equal to Jesus. Jesus understood these two brothers, and
He knew that they didn’t really know what they were asking. Jesus
asks them a question which could be taken a couple of ways. Jesus
asks, “Are you able to drink the chalice that I drink, or to be
baptized with the baptism that I am to be baptized with?” They
correctly answer yes, but they meant something different than Jesus.
Christ’s chalice, or, cup, was the cup of suffering. Christ’s
baptism was a baptism in His own blood. James and John could not go
there. They were sinners. They could not redeem mankind from sin.
Only Jesus could do that. But Jesus says to them, “you are correct,
the chalice that I drink, you will drink and the baptism that I am
baptized with, you will be baptized with.” But Jesus meant this by
means of transferral.
Christ’s cup and baptism consisted of His cross. His cup was His
pain and suffering and the Father’s removal of Himself from Jesus on
the cross. James and John would participate in this cup and baptism
through the sacraments which were instituted. The reason is simple.
Jesus instituted the sacraments of Holy Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
because His merits won on the cross are poured into the sacraments.
Therefore, when James and John would later gather around an altar with
the church and participate in these sacraments, they would drink the
cup of Christ and be baptized with His baptism.
James and John resemble us. We want to be lords, every one of us.
We want to be heard, we want the glory. It is this way in the church.
Get a bunch of people together in the church and you can bet that
there will be some problems. Sin is selfish. Adam and Eve wanted to
be like God. This is how sin entered the world. They took of the
tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil because they wanted something
that was not theirs to have. Satan is the same way.
James and John wanted what was not theirs to have. The rest of the
disciples were angry at the brothers’ request and rightly so. But
Peter was no different and neither are you. Who rules the church? Who
sits with Jesus? Who deserves to sit with Jesus? This way of thinking
and practicing one’s life will destroy faith and the church. This is
why Jesus follows up by saying, “whoever would 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 as a ransom for many.”
The Beatitudes speak the same way. Therein lies the pattern. The
greatest of the saints are the humble. It is often the quiet ones,
the prayerful ones who do the most for the kingdom. It is the gentle
and lowly who are the greatest. Why? Is it some great act that they
perform? No. It is because they trust in the Lord and take their
problems and the problems of the church to the humblest and greatest,
Jesus Christ. This theme runs all throughout the book of Proverbs. I
often think of Proverbs 22:3, “A prudent man seeks danger and hides
himself; but the simple go on and are punished.”
There is much to this and this is what Jesus is discussing. The
nature and character of the church is to do what St. Paul says, “to
lead a quiet and peaceable life, godly and respectful in every way”(1
Tim 2:2). To the Thessalonians Paul says, “But we exhort you,
brethren, to aspire to live quietly, to mind your own affairs, and to
work with your hands, as we charged you…”(1 Thess. 4:11).
The gospel indicates that it is Christ’s will that the church not be
like the world. The world is full of rulers. The church is the
gathering of the humble servants of Christ. Prayer on our lips,
forgiveness ready when there is repentance, and love that overflows.
You cannot do this on your own, however. We enter this beautiful body
of Christ through baptism, but we enter with sins. Repent of them,
all of them.
Jesus forgives you of your sins. He died on the cross and was the
only true servant that this world has ever seen, and He did it for the
sins of the world, even your sins. To become a peaceful, quiet
Christian and then Church takes the Holy Spirit’s leading through the
word and sacraments. It can be done. Jesus must do the leading and
the following. This is why we drink of His cup and pick up our
crosses and follow Jesus through Holy Baptism. The love of Christ and
the merits of His cross make your soul and this church a beautiful,
quiet, pleasant place that gives us a brief respite from the world
while we sojourn on this pilgrimage. Amen.
--
Rev. Chad Kendall
www.frchadius.blogspot.com
Trinity Lutheran Church
Lowell, Indiana
www.trinitylowell.org
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