Children of Zion

Scripture

Mark 10:35–45 NRSV

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.”

Introduction

What is success for a Christian? Is it amassing more wealth? Is it getting the promotion? driving a better car than your neighbors? Retiring early? recognition of achievement from your peers? Is success defined in our eyes or in the eyes of others. Some people say that whoever dies with the most toys win. This is the motto of our consumerist culture, success can be purchased. In the book “The Abundant Community” the authors make the argument that what has destroyed communities and especially families is that communities and families have lost their function.

We expect the school, coaches, agencies and sitters to raise our children.

We expect doctors to keep us healthy.

We want social workers and institutions to take care of the vulnerable

Instead of taking responsibility for these things, we throw money at them. This is a life of scarcity rather than abundance. This consumerist culture, based entirely on “what’s in it for me” leads us to believe that resources are scarce and we have to beat out the other person to get our fair share, thus we have unhealthy competition. We have the Lombardi’s that say “Winning isn't everything, nor is it the only thing. "Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing." Good advice for football, where a score is kept, but is it good advice for life? or business for that matter? I was taught in college the the goal of a business is to make a profit and survive. Is that the only goal of a business?

Jesus tells us this:

Mark 10:42-

Mark 10:

Mark 10:42–45 NRSV

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.”

Mark 10:42–45 NRSV

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.”

Jesus didn't live in a consumerist culture. But he did live in a scarcity culture that saw only rich and poor and the people thought that resources were limited, and the only way to success is to get above the other person. Jesus tells us, that this is not the way of a Christian. Let’s take a look at what he says, and what it means for our lifestyles.

Background

You may remember that most scholars believe that Mark was written during the persecutions during Nero’s reign. It was a time when the church resorted to hiding in the catacombs. They were being rounded up, their property confiscated and many were killed in horrible ways. Mark wrote to these mostly gentile Christians to show them that they weren't experiencing anything that Jesus had not already suffered. Mark traveled with both Paul and Peter, but most scholars believe the gospel he wrote was given to him by Peter who was in prison during this time, soon to be crucified by Nero.

This text come shortly before Jesus entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. We need to talk a little about what leads up to John and James making such a bold request. Prior to this:

Mark 10:32–34 NRSV

They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them; they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them what was to happen to him, saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death; then they will hand him over to the Gentiles; they will mock him, and spit upon him, and flog him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise again.”

So Jesus has just told the disciples, for the third and last time, about his death and resurrection. it is obvious they do not get it. One of the themes in Mark is that the disciples never get it, they are always clueless. No where is it more obvious then in verse 32-45.

Exegesis

So, Jesus has told them this as they continue their walk to Jerusalem. it says that jesus was walking ahead of them and the 12 were somewhat behind amazed and afraid mark says. So where does this bravado of James and John come from? How do they have the audacity to ask Jesus for such a thing? can’t you see them talking as they follow, and they run up to Jesus to make this request.

Evidently they know the outrageousness of what they are goin to ask for, so they try to manipulate Jesus.

“Teacher we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” That is not a question, that a command. Who do they think they are. What would you do if your child comes up to you and asks yo that? Jesus replies with a question, “What is it you want me to do?” Wait for it . . . .”we want to sit at your right and left hands when you come into your glory.” This puts the two of them in such a bad light, that Matthew tells this story differently and has their Mother ask for these positions for them!

Sitting at the right and left were places of honor given by a King. They person at the right hand was the number 2 person and the one at the left just under that. I wonder why they didn’t ask for specific seats, don’t you know if they were trying to get a head start on the other ten, they wanted to get ahead of each other.

You know this is not much different than politicians today who promise jobs to those that give them political support. We live in a tit for tat world, that is why it is so hard for people to believe that God forgives us without having a price to pay, because Jesus was a ransom for many he says here. In a consumerist culture there is no such thing as a free lunch, there is always a personal cost involved.

Jesus tells them he has no idea who will be on his right and left, that has been prepared by the Father.I have always thought it kind of ironic that the people on the left and right of Jesus were two criminals. One who cursed and one who asked Jesus to remember him. You see jesus did have a throne when he arrived in Jerusalem, the throne was the cross on which he was nailed.

Poor James and John, they have no idea of Jesus’s cup and baptism. But they are eager to jump in the water and drink for that cup aren’t they? Brave men indeed, who will scatter when the drink and the waters of baptism come. Be careful what you ask for!

The other ten over hear this exchange and are mad that they didn’t ask first. The motivations here reflect the sinfulness of all of us. Success is beating the other person to the punch. Looking for that edge to get ahead. Now what comes next turns their whole world upside down.

My followers are different, he says. if you want to be successful, if you want true greatness, you will love like I do and give up your life for your brother and sister. You will be a servant, just like I am a servant. In fact you will be a slave to each other! Wait, Jesus you mean success is judged nit by the power or fortune or accolades we receive, but by giving our lives as servants to others!? What if I don’t like them? What if they look different form me? What if they are sick, or in prison, or are a stranger? Don’t I need to take care of myself first? I mean that’s what you do on an airplane if the oxygen masks drop, right? I put it on me first, then my child?

I am here to tell you this morning, the man meant what he said. believing in jesus is easy, giving up your life, not so much.

Application

This was as radical then as it is now. You see the disciples wanted to dominate, be in power. What we want to do now. Our culture loves winners. They did too, they did not want a messiah that would suffer and die! They want a messiah that would answer all their heart’s desires. And isn’t that what we chase? We want something that will answer all our heart’s desires? We want it all and then some. But the reality of it is, “that jesus bid a man come and die.” if we follow Jesus we “pledge our selves to drink the cup and accept our baptisms that mean we live and die by the pattern of the cross. I like how this commentator puts it:

“ This passage forces Christians to reflect on what it means to have a servant for a Lord. Can they shamelessly seek after glory and honor when our Lord has given his life in a shameful death?The road to the cross leads in a different direction from the road to success. If one follows Jesus along his road, seeking glory for oneself is out of place. “

Sitting in glory is not what we think it is.

(Video of Rev. Gary Davis) talk about glory.

Jesus tells John and James that they will indeed drink of his cup and experience his baptism. Which on the service looks like they are goin to suffer. James certainly did, he died a martyr. John lived into his 90’s but died a martyr also. But, we are not our own, we were bought for a price St Paul says in 1st Corinthians. This fact holds and extraordinary promise to the followers of Jesus. Scholar Charles Campbell writes

“You will not always be driven by your fears and your need for security. Rather, you will be empowered to take up your cross and follow me. You will be faithful disciples even to the end.” Here is the great promise for the church. We need not always live in fear; we need not continually seek our own security. Rather, we have Jesus’ promise that we can and will live as faithful disciples as we seek to follow him. It is an extraordinary promise made to such a fumbling, bumbling group of disciples—then and now!

Have joy dear Christian, Jesus has overcome the world. Success awaits, but its not what the world wants, its what Jesus wants. Put me in that water and let me drink from that cup.