Feb. 20, 2011
Background Scripture: Mark 10:35-45
Devotional Reading: John 13:3-16

It is incredible when you think about it: James and John have been part of Jesus’ inner circle for most of his ministry. Whenever he preached to the crowds, whenever he taught the disciples who followed him, they were present. Three times Jesus has told them clearly what his ministry – and ultimately, theirs and ours – is about.

But Mark warns us: “… They did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him” (9:32).

What part of his words did they not understand? At Caesarea Philippi: “And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again” (8:31). Or, descending the Mt. of Transfiguration: “How then is it written about the Son of Man, that he is to go through many sufferings and be treated with contempt?” (9:12).

And again, passing through Galilee: “The Son of Man is to betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again” (9:31).

I think the reason they didn’t absorb what he said is that they didn’t like what he said. Despite his efforts to persuade them that he was not the military Messiah that most of Israel awaited, they wanted to hear predictions of glorious victory and the reestablishment of the throne of David, where their Messiah would sit and bestow blessings.

The business model

We must not be too hard on these disciples because they just wanted to get ahead. They were entrepreneurs, competitors, and competition is the grand old American Way – even if it’s not always God’s way!

“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’” (10:35-37).
You’ve got to hand it to these two: No dancing around the issue for them.
Jesus’ reply is just as relevant for them as it is for us: “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?”

Amazingly, they replied: “We are able.”

The “cup” and “baptism” Jesus speaks of are metaphors for the suffering and death that are facing him. Did they realize that they were vowing to suffer and die with him? No, I think that they believed he was speaking of the struggle that would precede his marvelous victory.

How often have we lustily sung, “’Are ye able,’ said the Master, ‘to be crucified with me?’” And how often have we boldly replied, “Lord, we are able,” not really knowing where that pledge could lead us?

Sins of the ego

So, two conclusions to this episode. First, while the churches almost entirely warn us against sins of the flesh, it is the sins of the ego that are even more dangerous. The ego drive for honor, power and status are equal to and, I believe, exceed the drive of physical lust, which is rarely honored in our society.

But we do honor those who are ambitious to gain the world’s acclaim and the power to move and manipulate others – even, maybe especially, in the church itself. That which has undermined the gospel over the ages is more likely to be the struggle for power by clergy and laity alike.

Secondly, the gospel is full of a message we manage to ignore: As Jesus overturned the tables in the Temple, he turns the world – its values, goals and methods – upside down.

He demolishes the subtle. yet ruthless strategies that rule our lives and are in charge of the church and the world. Like the disciples who walked the dusty roads with him, we manage to not understand who he is, why he came and what he expects of us.

In Frederick Buechner’s memoir, Telling Secrets (Harper Collins, 1991), he says he believes the church has an enormous amount to learn from organizations such as Alcoholics Anonymous: “I also believe that what goes on in them is far closer to what Christ meant his church to be, and what it originally was, than what goes on in most churches I know.

“These groups have no buildings or official leadership or money. They have no rummage sales, no altar guilds, no every-member canvases … They make you wonder whether the best thing that could happen to many a church might not be to have its building burn down and to lose all its money. Then all that the people would have left would be God and each other.”
And in Jesus’ upside-down world, that likely is enough.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Rev. Althouse may write to him in care of this publication.